2011
These social media guidelines promote our employees’ responsible use of social media,
in line with the standards set out in the Social Media Policy. They are provided to support
staff as they engage in digital media conversations and interactions for official, professional
and personal use.
Staff within the department have a great or interactions using digital media for For a more detailed understanding of
deal of experience across a range of official, professional and personal use. social media please refer to the online
education and public policy areas. These social media and technology guide
The guidelines promote responsible use
voices should be encouraged to engage for staff (intranet only). You will also
and can be summarised as:
in the conversations that are taking place find an accredited Facebook course for
every day in public forums made more ■■ Know and follow relevant department educators, answers to frequently asked
accessible through online social media. policies including the Code of real-life scenarios, videos explaining how
Conduct certain social media sites work and more.
Social media is a group of online
applications such as social networking ■■ Be honest You will also find the communication
sites, wikis, blogs, microblogs, video and planning and management section
■■ Be polite and considerate
audio sharing sites, and message boards (intranet only) helpful to better
that allow people to easily publish, share ■■ Use common sense understand the benefits, management,
and discuss content. monitoring and measurement of
■■ Be apolitical and impartial when
social media before including it in your
Conversations in social media are a using social media for official and
communication strategy.
dialogue, an opportunity to listen, share, professional use
collaborate and respond to our colleagues
and communities. ■■ Demonstrate NSW public education
values (fairness, respect, integrity and
We recognise the importance of responsibility).
participating in these conversations.
Because the social media space is These guidelines also provide direction
relatively new, and comments may be for establishing official department social
public and potentially permanent, we’ve media networks, blogs, microblogs,
developed these guidelines to support message boards or image and video
staff as they engage in any conversations sharing sites.
1. Know and follow relevant 4. Consider what you say, before you 7. Play fair: be polite, be considerate
department policies including the say it ■■ Don’t be afraid to be yourself but do
Code of Conduct ■■ If you’re uncertain about something, so respectfully.
■■ What you produce can ultimately have don’t publish! ■■ Adopt a polite and considerate tone
consequences for you. ■■ It will be around for a long time so and avoid crossing the line from
■■ Failure to abide by these guidelines make sure it’s correct before you post healthy debate into attack.
and the Code of Conduct could put and seek advice if in doubt. ■■ Be sure to make it clear that your
you at risk. ■■ Remember whatever you publish on views and opinions do not necessarily
■■ Please also follow the terms and your personal account is yours and can represent the official views of the
conditions for any third-party sites. have consequences for you personally. department.
GPO Box 33
and technology guide for staff
Sydney NSW 2001
Australia
(intranet only) – it has a variety of
T 9561 8000
www.det.nsw.edu.au
scenarios as well as questions and
answers that might help. Otherwise
give us a call at corporate
communication on 9561 8088.