The slow drift of daily life toward screens has left many young people trying to work out how to manage their time online without feeling overwhelmed. Schools see these pressures every day, and the state is now backing a set of resources aimed at helping students find steadier ground.
The ScrollSafe package, announced by Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll, is being made available to secondary schools across Victoria. Created by Orygen, the materials are designed to help teenagers recognise how social media affects their mood and routines, and to guide healthier online habits. The approach is practical. A student hub offers a simple ten-tips guide, along with a booklet, take-home flyer and a digital wellbeing plan that encourages students to notice patterns, set boundaries and make choices that support their mental health.
Teachers are being given tools to help them frame conversations about online behaviour in a way that feels realistic rather than punitive. Families will be able to access clear information through a dedicated parent hub that includes videos and guidance on how to start conversations about social media, safety and mental health at home. The material is optional for schools, and has been brought together under the government’s 3.5 million dollar Safe Socials program. The broader aim is to make digital literacy feel like an everyday skill rather than something taught only after problems arise.
The ScrollSafe rollout comes alongside other wellbeing commitments. The Mental Health in Primary Schools program, delivered with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the University of Melbourne, is already helping younger children build emotional skills and stronger connections with their school community. According to the government, the program has eased stigma among staff and families, and the final group of schools will join in early 2026.
Ben Carroll said the focus is on giving students the confidence to manage their digital lives with support around them. “We’re making sure every young person has the tools to navigate social media safety and confidently, with support from their teachers, families and school community.”
He said recent investments were shaping a stronger foundation for students’ emotional wellbeing. “Our record investment in student mental health is delivering real results and we are supporting a new generation of mentally healthy students that are also great learning students.”
The broader question of how schools adapt to rapid shifts in the online environment will grow harder over time, yet programs like this suggest the first steps lie in small, steady habits rather than sweeping rules.
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