As students have returned back to school, new data shows student behaviour has improved after the Australian Government worked with states and territories to ban mobile phones in schools.
It’s been one year since phones have been banned or restricted in all public schools, after Education Ministers agreed to put the ban in place from Term 1 2024 and schools are seeing the difference.
A New South Wales survey shows 87 per cent of students are less distracted in the classroom and 81 per cent of students have seen improved learning, according to almost 1,000 principals.
In South Australia, there has been a 63 per cent decline in critical incidents involving social media and 54 per cent fewer behavioural issues.
The Australian Government’s world-leading vaping reforms are also making a difference in schools. It’s now been six months since new vaping laws banned the sale of them in corner stores and got rid of flavours like bubble gum and blueberry ice.
Vaping rates have dropped by a third in 15 to 29-year-olds according to the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) when comparing 2024 to 2023.
Suspensions relating to vaping at South Australian schools have dropped by a staggering 50 per cent.
The latest research from the Cancer Council’s Generation Vape study, also shows the number of young people aged 14 to 17 who vape is in decline.
These positive school behaviour results come as the Government has also passed legislation last year that will deliver on its commitment to support parents and protect young people by setting a minimum age of 16 years for social media.
The new laws will come into effect no later than 12 months from 10 December 2024, allowing the necessary time for social media platforms to develop and implement required systems.
Setting 16 as the minimum age for accessing social media complements the work the Government is doing with states and territories to tackle bullying across the country.
This work with states and territories is a national effort to deal with bullying in Australian schools and to provide children and parents confidence that no matter where their child goes to school, if they’re experiencing bullying, it will be managed in an appropriate way.
“Our ban on mobile phones and our ban on vapes are improving behaviour in classrooms. Teachers tell me these bans are making a world of difference,” Minister for Education Jason Clare said.
“This is helping teachers and parents and supporting happier, healthier children.”
