In a world where technology evolves faster than ever before, St Hilda’s is taking bold, future‑focused steps to protect the privacy, dignity, and digital wellbeing of our girls. From this year, we are adopting a new Social Media Strategy that removes identifiable images of students from public social media channels, setting a new benchmark in online safety for Australian schools.
At St Hilda’s, we want to be a leader in the digital space and remain proactive, responsible, and committed to safeguarding students in a rapidly changing online environment.
Why We’re Taking the Lead
The digital landscape has transformed dramatically in recent years. With the rise of artificial intelligence, photo manipulation and deepfake technology have become increasingly sophisticated, creating risks for young people that did not exist even five years ago.
Around the world, there have been cases where school images were taken from public social media pages, altered using AI, and turned into harmful deepfakes. Once a photo is shared publicly, anyone can download it, manipulate it, or distribute it, and the school or family may never know.
With the new government restriction, which came into effect at the end of last year, under-16s will now be prohibited from creating and holding social media accounts. This means many of our students will no longer be able to legally access the platforms on which schools traditionally share day‑to‑day student life.
As educators and role models, we have an obligation to lead by example and support families in navigating these changes.
A New Approach to Social Media from 2026
From the start of Term 1 this year, St Hilda’s will introduce the following changes:
- No clearly identifiable images of students will appear on public social media channels.
- Imagery will instead feature side profiles, silhouettes, backs of heads, distant group shots, creative filters, or approved stock photography.
- Our storytelling will remain rich and engaging, focusing on the programs, achievements, values, and opportunities that define the St Hilda’s experience.
We will launch a secure password protected photo gallery, allowing parents and guardians to safely view and download photos of their daughter.
This shift allows us to uphold our commitment to safety while continuing to engage parents, prospective families, and the broader community with the creativity and excellence that makes St Hilda’s unique.
How This Supports Our Values
This change reinforces:
- Safety – Protecting our girls from exploitation and misuse of their images.
- 领导能力 – Modelling best practice in online safety and privacy.
- Community Connection – Continuing to share our story, while using private channels for personal student imagery.
Looking Ahead
We understand that this marks a large shift from the way we have previously shared daily life at St Hilda’s online, but it is one that reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the identity, privacy and wellbeing of the girls entrusted to our care.
By embracing this new strategy, St Hilda’s is stepping forward as a leader in digital child safety, responding to real and emerging risks while continuing to tell our story in a way that is creative, intentional, and safe.
