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Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

Internet access has been made available to all staff and students in the Catholic Education, Diocese of Wagga Wagga (CEDWW) as a learning and teaching tool. The Acceptable Use Policy, in conjunction with the Responsible Use of Electronic Communications and Digital Technologies Agreement, is designed to assist all users in making use of this resource in a safe and responsible manner. All users must adhere to the guidelines in this policy.

 

Users will:

  • not attempt to adjust or circumvent antivirus, spam, or filtering systems

  • keep passwords confidential

  • use passwords that are not obvious or easily guessed

  • only use their own school account on the CEDWW network

  • log off when finished with a computer to ensure that nobody else can use their account

  • immediately tell their teacher or IT support if they believe they have received a virus

  • immediately tell their teacher or supervisor if they receive a message that is inappropriate, or makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe

  • immediately tell their teacher or supervisor if they receive any communication that requests excessive personal information

  • never send or publish:

    • offensive, abusive or discriminatory comments

    • sexually explicit or sexually suggestive material or correspondence

    • false or defamatory information about a person or organisation

  • never participate in any behaviour that could be considered as bullying

  • immediately tell their teacher or supervisor if they witness anyone engaging in bullying

  • never intentionally damage school computers, computer systems, or networks

  • never make use of unauthorised programs or intentionally download unauthorised software

  • never make use of any software or materials that could be in breach of copyright law

  • ensure that personal use is kept to a reasonable level

 

All staff and students should be aware that a breach of this policy may result in disciplinary action in line with their school’s discipline policy, and that serious breaches may require consultation with NSW Police.

Copyright Compliance

All staff and students in CEDWW must comply with Australian Copyright Law. Copyright infringing material must not be stored, temporarily or otherwise, on any part of the CEDWW network (including all G Suite applications e.g. Google Drive). Anything identified as pirated content will be immediately removed, and any involved users (and relevant teachers/supervisors) will be contacted.

Social Media

Social media can be defined as how we use technology to communicate and connect with others. Despite the range of positive uses for social media, there are also a number of ethical and legal issues associated with its use. Many people may hold the mistaken belief that anything published online will be without legal consequence. However, staff and students should be aware that there are a number of potential legal liabilities that may arise, particularly in relation to issues pertaining to reputational damage, and defamation.
In addition to the general AUP guidelines above, staff and students can ensure they abide by the laws and CEDWW's expectations of them, by complying with the following:
  • CEDWW, schools, staff and members of its community should not be mentioned or discussed in a negative or defamatory way.
  • Photographs of students in school uniform represent their respective School and its students, and should not be posted if they have the potential to bring negative connotations towards the Schools or its staff and students.
  • Photographs containing staff or students should not be posted without the express consent of the staff member, student or student’s parents.
  • Email addresses of parents, staff and students should not be given to other people without their express consent. 
  • Staff are not permitted to make contact with students via any form of social media.

Electronic Surveillance & Privacy

All internet activity is monitored for staff and student safety. Any evidence of a breach in security, filtering, or policy (whether intentional or unintentional) will be investigated by CEDWW IT staff.

 

CEDWW email system is delivered via Google Apps. Consequently, any emails and email account details may be transferred, stored and processed in infrastructure located in the United States or any other country utilised by Google to provide the Google Apps services. In using the CEDWW email system you consent to this transfer, processing, and storage of that information.

 

CEDWW IT staff have the ability to access, monitor, use or disclose emails and associated data for the purposes of administering the system and ensuring its proper use. If an email is flagged as inappropriate it may be sent to CEDWW IT/School Administration staff for review. In using the CEDWW email system you consent to such access, use, and disclosure.

 

Catholic School Authorities are advised that the following should not be retained in “cloud services”: taxation records, employee records under applicable industrial legislation, workers compensation records, occupational health records, student health records, and school attendance records.

 

For more information about privacy compliance in NSW Catholic Schools, please go to the Catholic Education Commission NSW website here.