SMS Communications in Schools
During 2007 the Department awarded a contract to company MGM Wireless to supply software to communicate student unexplained absences to parents via SMS messaging.  SMS messaging provides an instant form of notification and allows schools to target unexplained absences as part of an overall strategy to improve attendance of all students. The software also has the capacity to send broadcast messages to the school community in the instance of an unexpected school closure or change of venue for school carnival, and other important messages.  Schools will only be required to pay the costs associated with the messages.

Schools who are interested in the SMS software will have the opportunity to send representatives to a three hour planning session conducted by SMS Communications Project Staff.  These sessions will overview the use and functions of the SMS software.  Staff will review current roll marking and attendance monitoring procedures.  Schools that are small, or in a position to manage without attending a planning session, may prefer to implement the strategy with remote support. Schools that are interested in this will still receive all relevant planning documentation to assist them through the school preparation phase.

 All schools who implement SMS will be trained in the software via remote desktop training.

To register your interest to attend a planning session please contact the STIMS Project Team on 9264 4678 or Behaviour Standards and Wellbeing Directorate on 9264 8948.

Fact Sheets

• Archiving SMS Messages