SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

We recognise both the benefits, and challenges, of using Facebook and other social media platforms in the early childhood setting. This policy has been developed to provide employees, families, volunteers and students with standards of use as they engage in conversations or interactions using social media for official, professional and personal use.

NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARD (NQS)

QUALITY AREA 7:  GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP
7.1.1	Service philosophy and purposes	A statement of philosophy guides all aspects of the service’s operations.
7.1.2	Management Systems	Systems are in place to manage risk and enable the effective management and operation of a quality service.
7.1.3	Roles and Responsibilities	Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and understood and support effective decision making and operation of the service.
7.2	Leadership	Effective leadership builds and promotes a positive organisational culture and professional learning community.

EDUCATION AND CARE SERVICES NATIONAL REGULATIONS
84	Awareness of child protection law
181	Confidentiality and storage of records
183	Storage of records and other documents

RELATED POLICIES

Child Safe Environment Policy Code of Conduct Policy Cyber Safety Policy Dealing with Complaints Policy (Family) Family Communication Policy Health and Safety Policy

Interactions with Children, Family and Staff Policy Privacy and Confidentiality Policy Respect for Children Policy Responsible Person Policy Student and Volunteer Workers Policy Supervision Policy Work Health and Safety Policy

PURPOSE

Being part of our Service entails a position of trust and responsibility. We aim to ensure that our Service, children, educators, and/or families are not compromised in any form on Facebook, or any other social media platform and thatall social media usage complies with our Service’s philosophy, relevant policies, and the code of conduct.

SCOPE

This policy applies to children, families, staff, management, the approved provider, nominated supervisor, students, and visitors (including contractors) of the Service.

IMPLEMENTATION

Social media is defined as “forms of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (such as videos)” (Merriam-Webster dictionary).

We recognise that there are many advantages in using social media to network within Service operations. It is important to approach usage with caution, through careful and systematic management. Whilst healthy debate may provide thought-provoking discussion, there are guidelines in place to ensure that our Service remains open and welcoming for children, families, and staff.

The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations recognise the importance of safe physical and online environments to promote safety and wellbeing of all children. Our Service has the responsibility to ensure children and educators are protected from harm when they engage with digital technology including social media.

This policy applies to all forms of social media including (but not limited to):

• Social networking sites e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
• Image sharing sites e.g., Instagram, Snapchat, and Imgur
• Music/dance videos e.g., Tik Tok
• Video hosting sites e.g., YouTube and Vimeo
• Community blogs e.g., Tumblr and Medium
• Discussion sites e.g., Reddit and Quora

Service Facebook Account

Our Service has a Facebook account to converse and share information with our families and community,

which is administered by the Approved Provider and Nominated Supervisor.

Only current enrolled families and staff will have access to the Service Facebook page. The page is locked as “Privacy type: Closed: Limited public content. Members can see all content.” The Approved Provider/ Nominated Supervisor will be responsible for accepting requests to join from new families.

The intent for our Service Facebook page is to:

• keep families in touch with what’s happening at the Service, including upcoming and special events.
• connect with other parents and share thoughts about programs, policies, and procedures
• provide an avenue to ask parents their thoughts and provide appropriate research-based information on common child rearing issues.
• provide educational information to families and employees.

NOTE: The Service Facebook account must not be used for personal comments or discussions.

PRIVACY

• All staff and educators must remain aware that they represent and could be identified as an employee of the Service through any online activity.
• Staff and educators must maintain appropriate privacy of families, employees, students, children and volunteers, including when they have obtained permission to publish content to the Service Facebook account.
• Absolutely no written content will be published to Facebook without the implicit and written permission of families to whom the content relates.
• Our Service will gain implicit and written family permission prior to posting photos of children.
• Passwords will not be shared without authorisation from management.
• Our Service will remain up to date with any changes to Facebookensuring privacy setting remain up to date.

Regarding the Service Facebook page, the Approved Provider or Nominated Supervisor will:

• obtain written authorisation from a child’s parents prior to posting any comment or photos of their child to the page
• ensure personal information about families, children and staff is not posted on-line
• ensure the highest level of privacy settings are established and maintainedon the account
• ensure all passwords are kept confidential
• log out of Facebook when not in use and prior to leavingthe Service
• regularly scan online content related to the Service to ensure appropriateness.
• adhere to our Dealing with Complaints Policy and procedures to investigate any occurrences where a person working at the Service may:
• post photos or information of the Service or children
• defame, harass or bully any other person who works at the Service or is connected to the Service
• ensure that any staff or educator found guilty of any Facebook misconduct (on both the Service Facebook page and any Facebookpage) is aware that this may result in discplinary procedures or termination of employment.

Regarding all social media, the Approved Provider, Nominated Supervisor, educators, staff members, volunteers and students will not:

• access personal Facebook accounts or any other social media accounts on any workplace device
• access personal Facebook or any other social media accounts whilst educating and caring for children
• post any photos taken of the children enrolled at the service on their personal Facebook or any other social media account
• post any information about the Service, colleagues, children, or families on any personal social media account
• vilify, harass or bully any other person who works at the Service, family or community member connected to the Service
• post offensive or derogatory comments or information that could bring their professional standing or that of the Service into disrepute
• use their personal camera or phones to take photos or video whilst at the Service.

Personal Social Media Accounts

Staff members are to use their own personal discretion when adding a family of the Service as a ‘friend’ on Facebook or any other social media. The Service does not recommend that staff add families of the Service to personal social media accounts as they will still be seen as a representative of the Service and required to uphold the Service’s Code of Conduct on all posts. It is extremely important not to post information about the Service, colleagues, children, or families on personal social media accounts, as this not only contravenes the Service policies and Code of Conduct but is considered a breach of the Commonwealth’s Privacy Act 1988 and Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998.

Families are asked to respect that staff may have a personal policy on adding families to personal social media accounts due to their professional philosophy, and that the Service does not recommend staff to have families as friends on their private account.

If adding families to personal social media accounts, educators will adhere to relevant policies, including the Code of Conduct of the Service.

Consequences for inappropriate conduct

For inappropriate conduct to be lawful, there is a need to demonstrate a connection between the behaviour and the employment relationship that:

• is likely to cause serious damage to the relationship between the employee and Service
• damages or harms the Service’s interest or reputation
• is incompatible with the employee’s duties in the education and care sector.

A person who has been involved in inappropriate conduct may require reprimand as per our Code of Conduct Policy. This may lead to disclinpary prcoedures or termination of their position.

Continuous Quality Improvement

Our Service will continue to evaluate and assess our online safety practices through critical reflections, checklists, professional learning and discussions with families and staff.

Educators and staff will complete online training through the eSafety Commissioner to ensure staff remain up to date with current research and are aware of how to report inappropriate content on social media sites.

Resources

Australian Government Office of the eSafety commission www.esafety.gov.au/early-years

eSafety Early Years Online safety for under 5s.  https://www.esafety.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-02/Early-years-booklet.pdf

eSafety Early Years Checklist https://www.esafety.gov.au/educators/esafety-early-years-program-for-educators/checklist

Source

Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. (2014).

Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: https://www.merriam-webster.com/

Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics. (2016).

Education and Care Services National Regulations. (2011).

eSafety Commissioner: https://www.esafety.gov.au/educators/esafety-early-years-program-for-educators

Guide to the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations. (2017).

Guide to the National Quality Standard. (2017). (Amended 2020).

Privacy Act 1988.

Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998.

Revised National Quality Standard. (2018).

Western Australian Education and Care Services National Regulations

REVIEW

POLICY REVIEWED	AUGUST 2022	NEXT REVIEW DATE		AUGUST 2023
MODIFICATIONS	policy maintenance – no major changes to policy link to Western Australian Education and Care Services National Regulations added in ‘Sources’minor formatting edits within texthyperlinks checked and repaired as required
POLICY REVIEWED	PREVIOUS MODIFICATIONS		NEXT REVIEW DATE
AUGUST 2021	Related Policies section – Dealing with Complaints Policy- name change (Grievance Policy)minor edits- formattingsources checked for currency		AUGUST 2022
AUGUST 2020	National Principles of Child Safe Standards addedinformation regarding continuous improvement- eSafety Commissioner addedminor editingaddition of Tik Tok referenceadditional resources added for e-learning		AUGUST 2021