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Mobile phones, smartwatches, and wireless headphones will soon be prohibited in all classrooms across Victoria, as the government expands its device ban to include private and Catholic schools.
The state’s nation-leading phone ban, first introduced in government schools in 2020, will be extended to all schools from January 28, 2027.
Under the updated rules, students will not be permitted to use smartphones or wearable devices—including smartwatches and wireless earbuds—during school hours.
The law will require all mobile phones to be switched off and stored away until the final bell, while wearable devices must have internet connections, recording functions and notifications turned off.
Victoria will be the first state or territory in Australia to outlaw wearable technology on school grounds.
Exceptions will apply for students who require devices for health reasons.
In the case of an emergency, parents or guardians can reach their child by calling the school.
Students were found to be more focused during classwork and more social during breaks after the ban was first introduced in 2020, according to an independent review.
Government schools also reported fewer incidents involving phones.
“The evidence shows it worked and now we’re going further, so every Victorian student, in every Victorian school, can put their phone away and focus on learning,” Victoria’s Education Minister Ben Carroll said.
The universal, state-wide ban will reduce screen time and encourage more “learning time” for students, Premier Jacinta Allan added.
Independent and Catholic school bosses have supported the imminent legislation.
“We welcome today’s announcement and acknowledge the government’s efforts to balance access to electronic devices with the need to support positive learning environments and student wellbeing,” Independent Schools Victoria Chief Executive Rachel Holthouse said.
After Victoria introduced the ban in 2020, almost every other Australian states and territory followed suit with similar legislation.
Today’s announcement follows federal legislation introduced in December last year which bans children under the age of 16 from accessing social media.
