eSmart Schools

eSmart, an initiative of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, uses a cultural change approach to improve cyber safety, increase digital literacy and reduce cyber bullying across Australia.

The eSmart Framework guides the whole school community through a process of developing and implementing change.  It is based on a great deal of research and evidence about what has worked to generate change in schools in Australia and around the world. These depend on the involvement of the whole school since no single prevention or intervention strategy is guaranteed to create safe environments or reduce bullying.

Through the system schools are given a framework organised into six domains:

1. Effective school organisation
2. School plans, policies and procedures
3. A respectful and caring school community
4. Effective teacher practices
5. An eSmart curriculum
6. Partnerships with parents and local communities

Preliminary findings from an evaluation conducted by a consortium led by the Foundation for Young Australians, reveal that:

• 95% of participating schools needed a whole-school approach to cyber safety
• 90% agreed that eSmart helped teachers understand the ways young people are using digital technologies and to embed smart, safe and responsible practices across the curriculum
• Almost 80% agreed that eSmart was effective in changing school culture.

For further information regarding the program, the costs and the benefits involved, please visit the eSmart website.