- Smart glasses to be banned in all WA public schools from the first day of Term 4
- Ban extends to students, staff, parents, carers, visitors and contractors on school sites
- Preventative measure to protect school students and staff
Education Minister Sabine Winton has today announced that smart glasses, which can secretly record images and voices, will be banned at all Western Australian public schools from the first day of Term 4.
Emerging community concern about the risks of careless, criminal or malicious use towards students and education staff has prompted the ban, as these devices become more widely accessible.
The Director General of the Department of Education has today issued a CEO Instruction to all WA public school principals to ban students, staff, parents, carers and visitors from wearing, using and storing smart glasses on school sites.
The ban will apply during all school activities on school grounds, and when students and staff are representing their school offsite.
Exemptions can be made by principals for students with special circumstances such as medical conditions, and the Department has developed communication resources to assist schools with informing students, families and staff about the ban.
Schools will be supported to implement the change through existing policies and procedures to ensure a consistent and practical approach.
The smart glasses ban builds on the Cook Labor Government’s strong stance on personal devices in schools, including the ‘off and away all day’ policy, which has prohibited student mobile phone use during the school day since 2020 and requires smart watches to be set to airplane mode.
The Cook Labor Government will continue to prioritise measures that create safer WA communities, and support safe and respectful school environments.
As stated by Education Minister Sabine Winton:
“Keeping students and staff safe at school is a priority for the Cook Labor Government. This ban is about taking a common sense, preventative approach.
“We know that smart glasses are becoming more accessible and can have a detrimental impact on people’s privacy and wellbeing.
“Students should be able to focus on learning, and teachers should be able to do their jobs without worrying they are being secretly recorded.
“Technology can be a great asset to teaching and learning, but there needs to be clear boundaries when it comes to devices that can make others feel unsafe.”
Comments from Department of Education Director General Jay Peckitt:
“The misuse of smart glasses can have dangerous and long-lasting implications for school staff and students.
“I am confident schools, staff, students and families will support this change, which is designed to protect privacy and help keep school communities safe.”
