It's important to avoid sharing private information when using AI tools. This includes things like names, addresses, health details, financial information, or school records. Always review AI-generated content for accuracy, fairness, and appropriateness before sharing or using it, ensuring it aligns with school expectations and values.

Using AI in an ethical way means making sure it’s safe, fair and respectful. It protects privacy, reduces harm, and helps build trust in how AI is used. When talking with your child, you might explore these guiding questions together:

• Oversight: Am I paying attention to what the AI is generating, or just accepting it without thinking?

• Diversity and bias awareness: Does this use of AI reflect a range of perspectives, or is it reinforcing the same views?

• Explainability: Can I clearly explain how this content was created and what role AI played?

• Knowledge boundaries and expertise: Am I confident in using this AI tool, or should I ask someone with more knowledge to check it? Could I have done this without AI, and if not, am I comfortable taking responsibility for the result?

• Critical evaluation: Is the information accurate, useful and appropriate? Have I checked it carefully before relying on it?

• Respect for others: Am I using AI in a way that’s respectful of people’s privacy, identity and experiences?

• Community alignment: Would this use of AI feel right to my school, my family or the wider community?

No. We have strict policies to protect student information. Data collected by department-approved applications is not used to train AI models. Our privacy measures are designed to ensure data remains secure and confidential.

We follow rigorous safety and privacy standards to protect staff and students, including compliance with state and federal regulations. We carefully select AI tools to make sure they’re safe and appropriate for schools. Our process involves assessing AI tools against criteria drawn from the Australian Framework for GenAI in Schools and the NSW AI Assessment Framework. This includes:

• Checking for safety: All AI tools must be tested carefully to prevent bias and ensure it provides safe, helpful information.

• Keeping things clear: Students and teachers always know when they're using AI and can easily understand its decisions.

• Emphasising ethical use: We deliberately choose AI tools that are assistive and complementary, keep students emotionally safe and reinforce human-led education.

• Conducting rigorous assessments: All AI tools must meet strict fairness, quality, and content-safety standards.

You don’t need to be an expert in AI to support your child. Here are some ways you can help:

• Talk about it: Ask your child if and how they’re using AI at school. Encourage curiosity but also remind them that not everything AI says is accurate.

• Encourage balance: Help them think of AI as a tool to support them, not a shortcut or a replacement for their own thinking.

• Know what’s allowed: Remind your child to only use department-approved tools for schoolwork and in line with school assessment guidance. Free AI tools may not be safe or appropriate.

• Ask questions: If you’re unsure about anything, speak with your child’s teacher or school principal.

Only students in select trial schools currently have access to NSWEduChat, our secure and safe department-built GenAI tool. This controlled environment helps us monitor and evaluate AI applications safely and effectively before considering broader implementation.

While the department manages the safety and security of AI tools used in public schools, we understand that many families have questions about the AI tools their children may use at home. While we do not manage AI use on personal devices, there are some important things to be mindful of:

• Data rights: Ensure you understand what personal information these tools collect and how it is used. Information on this matter is usually referenced in the Terms of Use, typically found on the company website.

• Age restrictions: Many AI applications have age guidelines. Check these to confirm suitability, and if parental consent is required.

• Content generation: Be aware that some AI tools can produce harmful or explicit content, especially in unsupervised environments.