Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta

Ensuring the safety of students
online during remote learning

As we are all aware, the impact that COVID-19 is having on education in Australia continues to grow. And with schools across NSW now experiencing upward of 75% absenteeism, we have made the decision to move primarily to online education for the foreseeable future.

The transition to delivering learning remotely across the internet has raised questions from members of the community about how to keep students focused on their learning during ‘school time’, as well as concerns about the impact of increased screen time on student online behaviours and safety. With that in mind, we are happy to announce that we have partnered with Family Zone, Australia’s leading provider of cyber-safety and digital awareness services, to help support parents during online education.

Each family who would like support with these challenges will be able to create a free Family Zone account which will allow CEDP to put rules and restrictions in place around how each student can use the internet during defined school hours.

For parents concerned about screen time and device usage during online education, you can choose to receive a weekly report providing high-level insights into your child's activities online.

If you would like to take advantage of these tools, please follow the steps below.

What do you need to do?

Create your Family Zone account.

CREATE ACCOUNT

Install Mobile Zone on your children's devices, run and install.

Manage Family Zone via our Zone Manager App. Download to your own Apple or Android device.

Information for Parents

FAQs Privacy Policy

What is Family Zone Insights?

To protect your child’s devices you will need to follow the instructions on this page.

Family Zone Insights will alert you of risky or inappropriate activity and will let you locate your children’s devices. Insights also provides you with access to Family Zone’s team of acclaimed cyber experts, delivering you practical advice and support.

How to install Family Zone

Click the icon for your child’s device operating system for instructions.

Chromebook

To install Family Zone on a Chromebook, you need:

An active Family Zone account
Your child’s Chromebook

Repeat the steps below for each and every Google account your child uses on their Chromebook.

On your child’s Chromebook, sign into your child’s Google account
Head to www.familyzone.com/laptops. Then follow the onscreen instructions to install the Family Zone Chrome extension*
Register the device - Locate the Family Zone extension which should load in the top right corner of the browser window (see below image). Click on it, then enter your account details and assign the device to your child.
Follow any prompts to allow the extension to run in incognito mode.

Family Zone is now protecting your child’s Chromebook.

*Your school may have already installed the Family Zone extension to your child’s Google account. Look for the above extension icon in your child’s Chrome browser when signed into their school-issued Google account.

Important
Family Zone for Chrome works best when children are not the admin on the device. Read our advice here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I go for help?
You can: watch our install video, read our solutions or contact support@familyzone.com.

How do I sign into my child’s device?
You may need to ask your child to sign into their device so you can install Family Zone.

My child’s device is asking for a password when I’m installing the software, what do I do?
You will need to get the password off your child to continue the install.

My children share a Chromebook and each child has his/her own Google account to sign in. Will they all be protected?
You need to install the Family Zone Chrome extension for each Google account you want to protect on that Chromebook. Read our advice here.

Am I able to change the controls?
Yes! Access your Family Zone account at portal.familyzone.com and log in with your Family Zone account details. Alternatively, download our Family Zone app onto your own device to manage Family Zone settings on the go.

Resources

Cyber Awareness for Secondary Students

Cyber Awareness for Primary Students

Your school's chosen Cyber Expert is

We've teamed up with Cyber Experts

A team of leading educators, psychologists and law-enforcement professionals specialising in online safety and education, Cyber Experts work collaboratively with Family Zone to provide world-leading research, advice and support to our School Community subscribers.

Jordan Foster, ySafe Founder and National Cyber Safety Expert

‘Australians of all ages have the right to access technology in a safe, informed and supported environment. ySafe is committed to helping schools and families provide a solid foundation for the young people in their care to navigate the digital world safely and productively across their lifespan.’