TOUGH STANCE TAKEN ON CYBER BULLYING IN STATE SCHOOLS

Queensland state school students cannot access the video-sharing web site YouTube, Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said today.

“Queensland state schools have rigorous guidelines and systems in place to ensure students cannot inappropriately access web sites at school,” Mr Welford said.

“Education Queensland applies filtering software to school computers which prevents access to certain web sites which could be used for improper purposes.

“When YouTube began gaining people’s attention, steps were taken to ensure the web site was ‘filtered’ so students could not access it.

“The web site was considered unsafe because it was impossible to determine what sort of video material might be accessed by students.”

The Victorian Government today moved to ban the web site from its schools in a bid to clamp down on bullying.

“There’s been no need for me to intervene because the software in our schools has been taking care of the issue for some time,” Mr Welford said.

“My department is constantly monitoring advances in information technologies to ensure the protection of students.”

Mr Welford said schools also closely monitored students’ use of computers to ensure they did not inappropriately use the technologies they access at school.

“Bullying in any form is not tolerated in Queensland state schools and all bullying, including cyber bullying, is taken extremely seriously,” Mr Welford said.

“As part of the new Code of School Behaviour I introduced last year, all schools must implement a behaviour management plan that follows departmental guidelines and policies on bullying, harassment and other forms of discrimination.

“Disciplinary action is taken against any students caught bullying by any method.”

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000