For generations, families have entrusted Loreto Toorak with their daughters’ learning and wellbeing.
As the world around us changes, we must continuously update how we celebrate and share school life to ensure student safety and best practice remain at the heart of everything we do.
Photographs play an important role in capturing the milestones, achievements and everyday moments that make a Loreto Toorak education so memorable. They tell the stories of friendships, talents, challenges and successes over a student’s time at the School.
Digital technologies continue to grow and evolve. As the Loreto Schools’ Compass calls us to be respond to the needs of the day, Loreto Toorak is reviewing how we share student images to ensure we continue to protect our students while preserving the memories that matter most to families.
Over the coming weeks, the number of clearly identifiable student photographs published on our public social media channels will be reduced as we look to establish a clear distinction between photographs shared privately with Loreto Toorak families and content made available through public platforms.
Responding to the digital landscape
Technology has created remarkable opportunities for communication and connection. At the same time, it has changed how information and images can be collected, stored, shared and reused.
Once a photograph is published publicly, it can be difficult to control how it may be saved, copied, altered or shared. As these capabilities continue to develop, Loreto Toorak believes it is important that our practices develop with them.
This review forms part of our broader commitment to providing an environment in which students can thrive, both within the School and in the digital world they are entering.
What families may notice online
As we review and adjust our approach, public social media channels will increasingly use images that share the story of School life while reducing the reliance on clearly identifiable close-up photographs of students.
This may include wider photographs, images focusing on classroom activities, student work, performances or other details that capture the spirit of the School.
Importantly, we will continue to recognise student achievements and share important moments from across the Loreto Toorak School calendar and community.
There may still be occasions where identifiable photographs will be published, such as major events, public achievements or planned School marketing. Where this occurs, appropriate permissions and consent processes will apply.
Preserving the memories that matter
Families value seeing and saving photographs of their daughters throughout their School journey.
As part of this review, Loreto Toorak as exploring new technology solutions that would allow families to securely access photographs featuring their daughter within a protected online environment. This would enable us to continue capturing and sharing School life while reducing the need to share photographs on open public platforms.
More information will be provided to families as this work progresses.
Secure Communications
Alongside this review, Loreto Toorak continues to strengthen the secure digital platforms through which we communicate with families.
This will allow us to continue sharing more detailed School news, photographs and student stories while limiting access to members of the Loreto Toorak community.
Moving Forward
As technology continues to evolve, we will continue to review our practices and embrace approaches that support student safety while celebrating the experiences that make a Loreto Toorak education distinctive.
Our goal is simple: to continue sharing the story of our School in a way that honours the trust families place in us, protects our students and preserves the memories that form an important part of every girl’s journey.
Further Information
Learn more about how Loreto Toorak manages and protects personal information in our Privacy Policy.
Parents and carers can also access advice about sharing photographs and information about children online through the eSafety Commissioner.
For questions about the School’s approach to student photographs and public communications, please contact the Marketing team.
