ACECQA has released a set of recommended child-safe practices for using electronic devices in early childhood education and care (ECEC).
The new voluntary National Model Code represents best practice. It recommends that:
- only service-issued devices can be used when photographing and filming children
- personal devices can only be carried or used in limited circumstances
- strict controls must be in place for taking, sharing and storing images or videos.
The code was developed in partnership with all governments. It forms part of a range of actions in response to the 16 recommendations of the child safety review.
The code is designed to:
- promote a child safe culture when it comes to taking, sharing and storing images or videos of children
- support ECEC educators, as champions of child safety
- complement child safety activities and strategies already in place across the sector.
Many providers already limit or restrict the use of electronic devices. If you don’t, we encourage you to consider and adopt the recommended practices.
The code has been designed for centre-based ECEC services approved under the National Quality Framework (NQF), whose primary purpose is to educate and care for children 0 to 5 years old. However, all care types are encouraged to adopt similar practices within their own contexts.
Find out more on ACECQA’s website.