Arabic version: مدارس أستراليا الغربية الحكومية تحظر النظارات الذكية

According to ABC News, Western Australia will introduce what Education Minister Sabine Winton described as the nation’s “most comprehensive” ban on smart glasses in public schools, beginning at the start of term 4.

Students, staff, parents, carers and contractors will be forbidden from wearing or storing the devices on school premises. The rules will also cover offsite locations where students and staff represent their school, including sports events and excursions.

Smart glasses can resemble ordinary glasses while allowing wearers to capture images, video and audio by pressing a button. Winton said the devices were becoming increasingly popular, accessible and cheap, and cited community concern about careless, criminal and malicious activity.

Winton said Western Australia would go further than other states by banning possession of smart glasses by anyone entering school grounds. She urged private and independent schools to adopt similar restrictions, while saying principals could grant exemptions for students with special needs or medical conditions.

The education department has not recorded instances of smart glasses being used irresponsibly in schools, Winton said. She described the measure as preventative action intended to allow principals to lead schools and teachers to teach.

Elsewhere, South Australian Greens are seeking a statewide ban in places including schools, gyms and swimming pools. In Victoria, wearable devices including smartwatches and smart glasses are not currently banned in schools but will be from January 2027.