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Australia's School Mobile Phone Bans: What Schools Need to Know in 2026
Yes, in government schools, through state and territory policies rather than a national law. Victoria led in 2020 and all states and territories now restrict student phones in public schools, most for the whole school day.
Each education department sets its own policy. In Victoria, phones must be switched off and stored securely for the whole school day, including recess and lunch. Western Australia's policy is "off and away all day": Kindergarten to Year 6 pupils may not have phones, and Year 7 to 12 students must keep them off, unseen and unheard. Non-government schools set their own rules.
Victoria was the first state to enforce a ban across all public schools, in 2020. NSW banned phones in public primary schools from 2018 and extended the ban to public high schools from Term 4, 2023. South Australia and Tasmania followed with their own bans, and Queensland, the ACT and the Northern Territory now have their own rules. WA's current policy has applied since December 2023.
Exemptions are similar across states: managing a health condition, teacher-directed learning, and personal circumstances approved by the principal. Victorian parents are asked to contact children through the school office. In WA, smart watches must be in flight mode and principals handle breaches through behaviour policy. Schools choose storage, from lockers to classroom boxes and pouches.
Whatever your state policy requires, lockable pouches let students keep their own phone, locked, from the first bell to the last, so schools do not collect, store or answer for devices. Before The Internet ships lockable phone pouches and unlocking bases worldwide, including to Australia, and can print the school's name or crest on them. Schools buy them outright: one price, no subscription, lease or per-student licence. Send us your student numbers and any written quote you have, and we will beat it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a national law banning phones in Australian schools?
No. Each state and territory education department sets its own policy for government schools.
Does the ban cover recess and lunch?
In most states, yes. Victoria's policy covers the whole school day, and WA's requires phones to be off and away from arrival to the end of the day.
Are there exemptions for medical needs?
Yes. State policies, including Victoria's and WA's, allow phones for managing a health condition and for teacher-directed tasks.
Related reading
School phone bans by country · Phone-free schools toolkit · How to roll out phone pouches in a school
Written by the team at Before The Internet, a Toronto-based phone-free company that rents lockable phone pouches for events across North America and sells them to schools and venues worldwide, shipping purchases to any country.
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