HOW schools share children’s photographs online is attracting growing attention from Port Stephens parents, with one local independent school now reviewing its approach.
Port Stephens parent Kate Preston has raised concerns about identifiable images of children being published on publicly accessible school social media accounts.
Ms Preston, who is also the co-founder and CEO of the Port Stephens Unplugged movement, wrote to the Department of Education in March, calling for clearer distinctions between photographs shared privately with school families and those published on public platforms.
She also questioned whether parents were being given enough choice over where their children’s images appear, particularly as photographs published online could potentially be copied, redistributed or altered.
Following News Of The Area’s enquiries, St Philip’s Christian Education Foundation contacted the newspaper to provide feedback on how it approaches the issue across its independent schools.
Director of Communications and Marketing Hannah Wellham said student safety, privacy and wellbeing were central to the group’s approach.
Families’ complete media consent forms with different levels of permission, with preferences recorded on student profiles and able to be updated.
Ms Wellham said photographs were considered before publication, including whether the image was appropriate and respectful and whether it disclosed identifying information.
Public social media accounts were managed by a small number of authorised administrators, while the group’s parent portal was password protected.
However, St Philip’s acknowledged the challenges created once photographs were placed online.
“We recognise, however, that once an image is published online, no organisation can completely eliminate the possibility that it may be copied, altered or misused,” Ms Wellham said.
The school has established a working group involving its Risk and Compliance and Communications teams to review its policies and practices.
The review will consider informed consent, minimising identifying information, oversight and the emerging risks of artificial intelligence and image manipulation.
St Philip’s is also engaging with the Association of Independent Schools of NSW as part of the review.
For parents, the discussion highlights the growing challenge schools face in celebrating student achievements while protecting children’s privacy in an increasingly digital world.
By Althea GUINSBERG
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