The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) has announced a partnership with the Australian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO) to help parents promote their children’s safe and responsible use of mobile phones in the school environment.

AMTA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Althaus, said the partnership over the next 12 months with ACSSO, the peak council for all parents and citizen groups in Australia’s public schools, would work to promote the safe and responsible use of mobiles by schoolchildren and assist parents with practical information to help them play a positive role ensuring their children’s cyber safety.

The agreement was signed this week and will run for 12 months. Later this year, AMTA will speak at ACSSO’s annual conference.

Mr Althaus said parents often felt powerless to support schools in their management of the use of mobile technologies in the school environment.

“We hope that through our partnership with ACSSO we will be able to assist parents with information to monitor and manage their children’s use of mobile phones and to play a key part with teachers and students in promoting the positive use of mobiles and tackling issues such as cyber bullying,” he said.

ACSSO, which represents parents, families and school communities of more than two million children attending government schools throughout Australia, has an arrangement with the Australian Parents Council, representing parents of children who attend private schools, to make AMTA’s information available to both public and private schools.

ACSSO Executive Director the Hon Terry Aulich described the new partnership as a major step in ensuring responsible use of mobile phones and a chance to examine and develop new technologies for education and social purposes.

“We know that converging technologies have already brought mobiles into the area previously dominated by other technologies.

"Now we have an opportunity to really pack some punch into the way we deliver education services.”

Mr Aulich said that a great deal of learning goes on outside schools. At home, young people are using mobiles and computers to complete assignments and to gather education based information.

“We have only just begun to develop this area of learning,” he said.

Mr Aulich said the agreement would help parents understand what they can do to minimize the chances of young people accessing inappropriate sites such as gambling and pornography.

“Better informed parents means better behaviour from young people” he said.

Mr Althaus said AMTA seeks to maximize the beneficial impacts of mobile phones by engaging with the community. “We also take measures to minimize the risks associated with the misuse of mobile technology,” he said.

“Although we believe the positive aspects far outweigh the negative, we are committed to providing practical advice and safeguards for consumers to assist them in managing their mobile phone use in a safe, responsible and affordable manner.

“Cyber bullying is unacceptable and can spoil young people’s positive and productive experiences of mobile telecommunications. It is potentially against the law in serious cases and can lead to fear and students feeling alone and misunderstood.

“The victims of cyber bullying can often feel that adults, including their parents and teachers, don’t understand their problems and believe adults have no understanding of their attachment to technology and fear their mobiles will be confiscated.

“The mobile phone industry is committed to providing practical advice to help prevent cyber bullying through education and awareness. We have developed tips to tell young people what they need to know “to get the bullies of their backs”. Also, it has provided information for parents and teachers to assist the victims of cyber bullying.

“A whole-of-school approach to the use of mobile in schools requires students, parents and teachers working together in a co-ordinated and collaborative approach to provide a cyber-safe environment.

“AMTA’s work with ACSSO aims to involve parents more effectively in school community partnerships. Understanding young people’s use of mobile technology and knowing more about the technology itself can help parents be more aware of the potentially harmful effects of cyber bullying and assist them in supporting schools in their management of technology.

“Independent research by leading Australian social scientists has shown that mobile telecommunications provide an important link for families to stay in touch while on the move and balancing busy family and work responsibilities. Parents can stay in touch with their children anywhere, anytime.

“Although misuse of mobile phones can present undeniable problems, harnessing the productive use of mobile technology can enhance the learning environment and involve parents in their children’s learning experiences.

“As a key enabler, mobile technology is opening up more opportunities for people to participate, contribute to and benefit from an increasingly connected and productive society”.