At Ravenswood, some of the most meaningful moments in school life are the ones we share together.
Whether it is a Prep student proudly reading for the first time, a sporting team celebrating a hard-fought victory, or the excitement of a Year 12 milestone, these moments tell the story of our vibrant School community. Sharing those experiences helps families stay connected and allows us to celebrate the achievements, character and growth of every student.
As technology continues to evolve, so too must the way we protect our students and staff.
Recent guidance from the Australian eSafety Commissioner has highlighted the growing risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI), including deepfakes and the misuse of publicly available images.
As a school committed to the wellbeing and safety of our students and staff, Ravenswood has carefully reviewed its approach to social media and digital storytelling to ensure we continue celebrating school life while taking sensible steps to reduce emerging risks.
Celebrating School Life Differently
Our focus remains on showcasing the richness of a Ravenswood education, the opportunities available to our students and the strong sense of connection that makes our community so special. What is changing is the way images and information are presented on public channels such as Instagram and Facebook.
You may notice:
- Student imagery will focus on approaches that protect student identity from AI risks. This will include side profiles, backs of heads, obscured images and silhouettes
- More photographs that capture groups of students, activities and experiences rather than close-up individual portraits
- Reduced use of identifying information in Social Media captions, e.g. name, age, Year Group or real-time location posting
- Greater use of secure internal platforms such as RAVO Connect and our School Newsletter to share identifiable images and stories.
These changes are designed to reduce risk while continuing to showcase the energy, joy and achievement that define life at Ravenswood.
‘Parents consistently tell us that they value seeing the everyday moments that make school life special. By sharing more content within secure community channels, we can continue to encourage connection and belonging while taking additional steps to protect the privacy and digital safety of our students and staff,’ said Ravenswood Principal Mrs Sue Floro.
The Right Story in the Right Place
Public social media platforms remain an important way for prospective families and the wider community to learn about Ravenswood. However, not every school moment needs to be shared publicly.
Increasingly, we will prioritise sharing richer collections of photographs and community highlights through secure parent platforms, such as RAVO Connect. This means parents will continue to enjoy access to the moments that matter most, while helping us minimise exposure in public online environments.
‘This is not about sharing fewer stories. It is about telling our stories in ways that continue to celebrate our girls while reflecting the realities of today’s digital environment. We want families to feel confident that every image we publish is considered carefully and responsibly,’ said Jodie Turner, Director of Marketing, Communications and Engagement.
Preparing Girls for a Digital Future
Protecting our students goes beyond managing school social media accounts.
At Ravenswood, we equip students with the knowledge, confidence and judgement they need to navigate an increasingly complex digital world. Through our wellbeing and educational programs, students learn about online safety, responsible use of technology, digital footprints, consent, artificial intelligence and respectful online behaviour.
Our goal is not simply to protect students from emerging risks, but to empower them to thrive in a world where digital literacy is an essential life skill.
Looking Ahead
At Ravenswood, student wellbeing will always be at the heart of every decision we make.
While technology will continue to evolve, our commitment remains constant: to provide a safe, supportive and nurturing environment where every student can learn, grow and flourish.
By taking a proactive approach today, we are ensuring that we can continue sharing the joy of our community with confidence, while safeguarding the students entrusted to our care.
‘Ravenswood has always embraced innovation while remaining true to our values,’ said Mrs Floro. ‘This next evolution of our social media approach reflects exactly that balance: celebrating our vibrant community, embracing new opportunities and placing the safety and wellbeing of our students and our staff at the centre of every decision we make.’
