Important opportunity for parents, carers and supporters of this petition:

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is currently consulting on Australia’s proposed Children’s Online Privacy Code.

This is a significant opportunity to advocate for stronger guidance and safeguards around how schools handle children’s personal information, images, recordings and online participation.

I previously provided feedback to the OAIC regarding bundled consent models, exclusion impacts, and child-centred privacy practices in school settings. The current consultation provides an opportunity for broader community voices and lived experiences to help inform future guidance and protections.

Importantly, while the draft Children’s Online Privacy Code includes broad consent, transparency and child privacy provisions that may be relevant to educational platforms and school-related services, it does not appear to contain dedicated guidance specifically addressing school consent practices or how schools should implement these principles in educational settings.

The draft Code includes provisions stating that:
• consent must be voluntary, informed, current, specific and unambiguous
• bundled consent requests should not be used
• consent should not be obtained through coercion or practices that substantially impede decision-making
• entities should consider the consequences where consent is not provided

I encourage supporters to consider providing feedback to the OAIC and requesting clearer guidance for schools and education providers, particularly around:
• voluntary, informed and specific consent practices
• greater transparency around school policies, procedures and implementation practices
• schools providing substantive and accessible responses to parents seeking to understand how consent policies operate in practice
• alternatives to bundled or ‘all-or-nothing’ consent models
• proportionate and necessary collection and use of children’s personal information
• inclusion and wellbeing considerations for children affected by consent decisions
• avoiding exclusion from ordinary educational activities
• safeguards to ensure consent model structures do not disadvantage children or families when consent is declined
• age-appropriate and child-centred privacy practices
• consideration of the impacts on vulnerable, neurodivergent, culturally diverse and younger students

Parents can value both school community engagement and strong privacy protections for children. Sharing classroom learning and celebrations should not come at the expense of inclusion, privacy or dignity. Privacy practices should ensure children can continue to participate fully and inclusively in ordinary school activities, regardless of the privacy choices made by their families.

The consultation recognises that children’s best interests should be central to privacy protections, and lived experiences from families can help shape clearer and more balanced guidance nationally.

Consultation details:
https://www.oaic.gov.au/engage-with-us/consultations/draft-childrens-online-privacy-code-consultation-for-children,-young-people,-parents-and-carers

Copy of the draft Children’s Online Privacy Code (full version) can be accessed here:
https://www.oaic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/262631/Exposure-Draft-Childrens-Online-Privacy-Code.pdf

Please be aware that submissions close 5 June 2026, so feedback should be provided to copc@oaic.gov.au before this date.

For those who are time-poor and would like guidance on what to send to the OAIC, a suggested feedback template is included below. Supporters are welcome to adapt and submit it:

“Dear OAIC,

I support the inclusion of clearer guidance for schools and education providers within Australia’s Children’s Online Privacy Code.

Children should not be excluded from ordinary educational activities because a parent declines certain image, recording or online platform consents.

The Code should address:
• voluntary, informed and specific consent practices
• greater transparency around school policies, procedures and implementation practices
• schools providing substantive and accessible responses to parents seeking to understand how consent policies operate in practice
• alternatives to bundled or ‘all-or-nothing’ consent models
• proportionate and necessary collection and use of children’s personal information
• inclusion and wellbeing considerations for children affected by consent decisions
• age-appropriate and child-centred privacy practices in educational settings
• safeguards to ensure consent model structures do not disadvantage children or families when consent is declined

I encourage the OAIC to provide practical guidance for schools to help balance operational needs with children’s privacy, dignity, participation and best interests.

Regards,
(Your name)”

Thank you to everyone who has continued supporting, sharing and engaging in respectful discussion around this issue. Please continue sharing this petition and having conversations with others about the importance of informed consent, inclusion and child-centred privacy practices in educational settings.