Expansion of school mobile phone ban debated

14 July 2026

The broader ban on use of personal electronic devices by students during school hours is aimed at reducing distractions and supporting student learning and wellbeing.

A bill has been passed by the Legislative Assembly to broaden Victoria’s existing restrictions on the use of mobile phones in Victorian schools.

Under the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026, the ban on students using mobile phones during the school day, already in place across government schools since 2020, will be extended to non-government schools.

Wearable devices and personal audio devices will also be included in the ban.

‘This policy has improved student focus on learning and increased student socialisation and physical activity during breaks,’ said Education Minister Ben Carroll in his second reading speech.

‘In addition, there have been fewer incidents of cyberbullying and critical incidents involving mobile phones during school hours since the introduction of the policy.’

Education Minister Ben Carroll said the extension of the school ban to include other personal electronic devices would help address harmful effects from their use.

However, as technology has developed, government schools have reported increasing issues surrounding the use of other sorts of devices that are not covered by existing policy.

‘Not only can these devices be a distraction in the classroom, but many can covertly capture images and footage, carrying significant privacy and safety risks,’ Mr Carroll said.

‘This new prescribed minimum standard for school registration will not only extend the benefits of the mobile phone policy for government schools to all Victorian schools, but will reduce some of the harmful effects of other sorts of devices.’

Indicating the opposition’s support for the restrictions, Shadow Minister for Education, Brad Rowswell said he had consulted various stakeholders who welcomed efforts to balance access to electronic devices with the need to support positive learning environments and student wellbeing.

Mr Rowswell acknowledged the Catholic and independent school sectors for largely banning mobile devices, AirPods and smartwatches prior to the bill being introduced.

‘Credit to them, I think that they recognised quite early in the piece the distraction that these provide to students in a learning environment,’ he said.

‘They themselves, without the need of the government introducing this bill, implemented these changes of their own volition.’

Shadow Education Minister Brad Rowswell acknowledged the non-government schools that had already banned students from using personal electronic devices during school hours.

Annabelle Cleeland, Member for Euroa, also supported the measures being put in place.

‘Extending mobile phone restrictions to non-government schools is sensible policy,’ she said.

Michaela Settle, Member for Eureka, drew on her own experience as a parent to support the extension of the personal electronic device restrictions.

‘It has obviously worked in state schools, and that is why we would like to see that benefit extended out to kids all across Victoria,’ she said.

Other measures being introduced through the legislation aim to:

strengthen Aboriginal recognition and self-determination across the education system
reform teacher registration and regulatory processes through the Victorian Institute of Teaching
expand the Victorian student register to support national data reforms
introduce information sharing and governance changes across the education system.

The bill has gone to the Legislative Council for its consideration.

Read more of the debate held in the Legislative Assembly in the Hansard for 4 June and 16 June.