April 2nd, 2026No more phones in Victorian schools

New legislation has been extended to ban mobile phones to non-government schools.

The legislation will also cover wearable devices like smart watches and wireless earbuds.

This change will extend the ban to every student in every Victorian school, from 28 January 2027.

An independent evaluation found students were more focused in class and more social during breaks.

Schools also reported fewer critical incidents involving phones.

Expanding the ban to wearable and personal audio devices further limits distraction in classrooms and keeps students safe.

Wearable devices that capture photos, video or audio can pose risks to students and staff.

Victoria will be the first state to legislate these restrictions on wearable technology in schools.

Under the legislation:

• Mobile phones must be switched off and stored away from first to final bell
• Wearable devices must have notifications, cellular connection and recording functions switched off
• Personal audio devices must not be used during school hours.

Rolling out a state-wide policy will provide consistency and certainty for parents, students and school communities.

Exceptions apply for students that require devices to monitor health conditions.