Senior Constable Zac Hearn, our School Liaison Officer, recently spoke with our students about their responsibilities, both in the community and online. The purpose of the session was to educate students, not to scare them, and to help them make safe, respectful, and responsible choices.
Zac explained the age of criminal responsibility and reminded students that as they gain more independence, their choices can carry real legal consequences, especially when their behaviour puts others at risk. He also addressed the growing use of modified e-bikes and conversion kits. Zac highlighted that many of these are not compliant with Australian standards and explained the associated safety risks. In particular, voltage and charging system mismatches can overheat and, in extreme cases, lead to battery fires. Students were reminded that many electric scooters are not legal on public roads or footpaths and may fall under police seizing powers. Zac shared that he regularly attends road accidents involving scooters, which reinforced just how quickly things can go wrong.
The session then moved into technology and social media. Zac spoke about cyberbullying, online extortion, and the reality that people online are not always who they say they are, including adults pretending to be young people. He reminded students that apps like Snapchat still collect data, and that 'disappearing' messages don’t remove risk. Messages and images can be saved, shared, or recorded, which means a digital footprint can remain long after the moment has passed. He also reinforced the importance of consent and the expectations around sending or sharing images.
Finally, Zac spoke about AI and deepfakes, particularly the harm caused by creating or sharing sexualised or humiliating content, and the serious consequences that can come with it.
Overall, the message was simple: students, at times, are being trusted with more freedom, and with that comes greater responsibility, making safe choices, being aware of the risks, and showing respect for others, both offline and online.
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