From the beginning of Term 1 2024, all Queensland state school students must keep their mobile phones switched off and ‘away for the day’ during school hours. Notifications on wearable devices, such as smartwatches, must be switched off so that phone calls, messages and other notifications cannot be sent or received during school hours.
The decision to implement a consistent, statewide approach to putting
mobile phones away during the school day is based on the advice of Ms
Cheryl Vardon AO, former Queensland Family and Children’s
Commissioner, who completed an independent review of Queensland’s
approach to mobile phones. Ms Vardon’s review included consultation with
key education stakeholders, such as principals, school staff, students and
families from each education region, as well as a review of recent research on student use of mobile phones and personal devices in schools.