1. Content
Mandated for all government schools
1. Context
1.1 The Director General of Education has authority, pursuant to section 233 of the School Education Act 1999 (SE Act), to issue instructions to persons performing functions in the Department of Education.
1.2 Section 61 of the SE Act provides that the Director General is responsible for determining, implementing and monitoring the standard of care to students in government schools.
1.3 Section 63 of the SE Act provides that principals are responsible for:
a) the day-to-day management and control of the school, including all persons on school premises; and
b) ensuring the safety and welfare of students on school premises so far as that can reasonably be done.
1.4 Regulation 69 of the School Education Regulations 2000 provides that a principal may give a direction to be observed by persons on the school’s premises, for purposes including to ensure the safety and welfare of persons on the school’s premises.
1.5 Regulation 70 of the School Education Regulations provides that a principal may, by order, prohibit an item from being brought onto school premises.
1.6 Regulations 69(3) and 70(3) provide that the direction or order must be publicly displayed on the school premises.
1.7 The ban is intended to be applied in government residential college settings which will be implemented through the appropriate mechanism/s.
1.8 Smart glasses incorporate technologies that may enable audio recording, video recording, photography, artificial intelligence functionality, live streaming, internet connectivity, facial recognition, information retrieval, and communication capabilities.
1.9 The use of smart glasses on school premises may create risks relating to:
a) student and staff privacy
b) child safety and wellbeing
c) unauthorised recording, photography or dissemination of information
d) examination and assessment integrity
e) cyber security and information security and
f) disruption to teaching, learning and school operations.
1.10 To maintain safe, respectful, secure and effective learning environments, smart glasses are banned on any government school premises or at any government school organised event or activity.
2. CEO Instruction to principals
2.1 This CEO Instruction commences on 12 October 2026.
2.2 Principals must ensure that students and staff are not permitted to wear, use, charge or store smart glasses on school premises, or at any school organised event or activity.
2.3 Principals must prohibit smart glasses being brought onto school premises, and to school organised activities by parents, carers, visitors and contractors.
2.4 Principals must ensure that any directions to students, staff, parents, carers, visitors and contractors in relation to smart glasses are publicly displayed on the school premises.
3. Exemptions
3.1 Principals may approve the use of smart glasses for:
a) school approved medical, accessibility or assistive technology purposes
b) educational programs specifically authorised by the principal.
3.2 Exemptions must be considered in accordance with applicable privacy, child protection and information security requirements.
4. Non-compliance
4.1 Principals must ensure that any smart glasses brought onto school premises by students in breach of this instruction are removed, secured or otherwise managed in accordance with the Student Behaviour in Public Schools policy and procedures.
4.2 Principals must ensure that any smart glasses brought onto school premises by staff in breach of this instruction are removed, secured or otherwise managed in accordance with the Staff Conduct and Discipline policy and procedures.
4.3 Principals may direct parents, carers, visitors and contractors to remove smart glasses from school premises or residential facilities and, if they continue to be non-compliant, direct them to leave the premises in accordance with the Visitors and Dignitaries at Public Schools and Residential Facilities policy and procedures.
5. Supporting Information
5.1 Supporting information and guidance for managing smart glasses on school premises can be accessed on Ikon: Access information on the use of smart glasses in schools (staff only).
CEO Instruction: Ban on smart glasses - school premises