Parents & Privacy: Finding the Right Balance With School CCTV Leave a comment

As Australian schools expand their use of CCTV systems, some parents are raising concerns about how much surveillance is too much. Striking the right balance between keeping students safe and respecting their privacy is a challenge every school needs to address thoughtfully.

When Privacy Concerns Arise

Earlier this year, a New South Wales parent made headlines after receiving a detailed report of her child’s movements at school, complete with CCTV stills and timestamps. The mother described the report as feeling more like “stalking” than supervision. Incidents like this demonstrate how poorly managed surveillance can damage trust and even create legal or reputational risks.

Why Privacy Matters

CCTV is meant to keep students and staff safe by deterring misconduct, monitoring key areas, and providing evidence when needed. But overuse or misuse can:

• Create a climate of constant monitoring and stress
• Violate students’ reasonable expectation of privacy
• Lead to unintended disclosure of sensitive information
• Harm relationships between schools and families

Best Practices for Balancing Privacy and Safety

✅ Define Clear Policies – Outline exactly where cameras will and will not be installed. For example, cameras should never be in toilets, change rooms, or private offices.

✅ Focus on Common Areas – Corridors, entrances, playgrounds, and car parks are appropriate and effective areas to monitor.

✅ Be Transparent With Families – Inform parents and students of where cameras are located, why they’re used, and how footage is handled.

✅ Limit Access to Footage – Only authorised personnel should review footage, and only for legitimate purposes.

✅ Post Clear Signage – Visible signs reminding everyone that CCTV is in use not only deters bad behaviour but also reinforces transparency.

✅ Retain Footage Responsibly – Have a policy on how long footage is kept and securely delete it when no longer needed.

Final Thoughts

School CCTV can and should protect students, not make them feel under siege. By prioritising transparency, proportionality, and privacy, schools can build trust with families while maintaining a safe environment.