Protecting our students in a changing digital world

Over the past six months, you may have noticed a gradual change in the way St Columba’s College shares content across our public social media channels. This has been an intentional shift, reflecting our commitment to staying ahead of the rapidly evolving digital landscape and placing the safety and wellbeing of our students at the centre of every decision we make.

At the beginning of the 2026 school year, we also introduced a shared parent and student photo consent model. Rather than this being a decision made solely by parents and carers, families were invited to have meaningful conversations together about digital privacy, consent and how students wish to be represented online. We believe these are important discussions that prepare young people to navigate the digital world thoughtfully and responsibly.

Technology is evolving at an extraordinary pace. Advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have made it increasingly easy for publicly available images to be copied, manipulated and redistributed without permission. Across Australia and internationally, there have been growing reports of children’s images being used to create deepfakes and other harmful content, highlighting risks that simply did not exist a few years ago.

At the same time, recent Australian legislation restricting social media access for people under the age of 16 has prompted schools to reconsider the role that public social media plays in showcasing student life. As educators, we believe it is important that our practices reflect both the changing legislative environment and the emerging risks facing young people online.

Our public social media channels will continue to celebrate the life of the College, however the way we tell our story has evolved.

Where possible, imagery shared publicly will focus on:

• Group moments where individual students are not easily identifiable.
• Side profiles, silhouettes or photographs taken from behind.
• Wider shots that capture the atmosphere of College life.
• Images of learning spaces, performances, events and experiences.
• Photography featuring staff, facilities and approved promotional imagery.
• Continuation of our practice of not using student surnames in public communications

Our focus remains on sharing the rich opportunities available at St Columba’s, celebrating student achievement and giving prospective families an authentic insight into College life, while taking a more considered approach to protecting student identity online.

This approach reflects our ongoing commitment to:

• Safeguarding the privacy and wellbeing of every student.
• Promoting respectful digital citizenship and informed consent.
• Leading with best practice as technology and online environments continue to evolve.
• Continuing to share the vibrant story of St Columba’s in ways that are purposeful, engaging and appropriate.

We recognise that this represents a significant change from the way schools have traditionally used social media. However, we believe schools have an important role to play in modelling responsible digital practices and responding proactively to emerging challenges.

At St Columba’s College, our priority will always be creating an environment where students feel safe, respected and supported, both on campus and in the digital world. While the way we share our story may continue to evolve, our commitment to celebrating the achievements, experiences and spirit of our community remains as strong as ever.

Rita Grima
College Principal