How education departments are stopping students from using AI
A leading expert says AI can help students, but there are risks. (ABC News: Jason Om)
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) could have big effects on the future of schooling, says one of Australia’s top AI education experts.
A federal plan for safe and responsible AI use was released by the Albanese government in 2023, aiming to protect students and help teachers.
It was meant to set national rules for AI use, but since then state education departments have made their own plans to stop AI‑helped cheating.
New South Wales
The New South Wales government recently suggested a major change to the Higher School Certificate (HSC), wanting to ban unsupervised take‑home work for year 11 and 12 students to fight AI cheating.
It was triggered by more than 1,000 recorded cheating cases in 2025 and growing worries about AI writing student essays.
University of Technology Sydney professor in AI and Education, Leslie Loble, said AI in learning spaces could have effects that "go beyond cheating".
"The learning process depends on turning new information in short‑term memory into lasting memory and knowledge.
She said AI gives "short‑term" boosts, making users rely on it for more answers.
"Research shows we are increasing dependence, creating a vicious cycle because we are not turning that information into long‑term knowledge," she said.
States have different ways to use AI. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
Professor Loble said the NSW plan was a step forward but "we must take the threats and risks seriously".
While warning of a "basket of risks", Professor Loble said there is proof that students falling behind could use AI tools to catch up.
"For students, growing evidence shows AI tools can help kids who are behind. On the other hand, there is definitely a basket of risks."
The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) made a policy on AI use in schools in 2024, saying unapproved AI use for assignments breaks academic integrity.
Under that rule, students must finish a learning unit called All My Own Work (AMOW) before they can take HSC courses and receive the HSC.
South Australia
In South Australia, the approach to AI in schools stands out nationally. The SA government has embraced AI in public education rather than banning it.
They partnered with Microsoft to create a ChatGPT‑style AI tool for classrooms, called EdChat.
South Australia has rolled out 'EdChat', a large language model similar to ChatGPT or Claude, something no other state has done yet.
EdChat was delivered through a partnership with Microsoft and is marketed as a custom, secure generative AI tool for public high schools.
After testing the software, the SA government said a wider rollout would support safe and productive technology use.
A ChatGPT‑style app to be used in all South Australian high schools next term has been welcomed by tech experts, who also urge caution.
It was an example of how AI tools can help students who need it, according to Professor Loble.
"The tool challenges the student with more questions and some information but not the answer, creating a stronger learning approach built into the tools."
"These are examples of how design standards can give us more confidence in technology in schools," she said.
A Department of Education spokesperson told the ABC that the state government recently announced a nation‑leading royal commission into AI starting in October this year.
"Our teachers are supported to use many assessment types including oral, written, multimodal and performance modes so that evidence of learning is collected in multiple ways.
"It is expected that teachers' professional judgement continues to be applied when assessing a student's work," the statement said.
Victoria
In Victoria, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) gives advice on how schools use AI, and sets standards for academic integrity.
Those standards say students must turn in work they have done themselves, note the resources they used, and must not plagiarise or cheat.
Individual schools decide whether suspected AI use has broken the VCAA standards.
A VCAA spokesperson told the ABC that work submitted for assessment must be the student's own, unless help was clearly allowed and noted.
"The vast majority of work students do to complete their VCE certificate is already done under supervision in class.
"The best integrity control is our teachers — they know their students and watch their progress as they do take‑home tasks to make sure the work is theirs.
"We continue to explore ways to protect academic integrity with respect to AI," the statement said.
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Professor Loble says Victoria is leading the way in screen‑time limits for primary schools.
Starting in term 1, 2027, the Victorian government has set strict daily screen‑time caps and device rules for all state primary schools.
The rules say schools must not invite or allow families to buy or bring their own student digital device to use at school from Prep to year 6.
It's "worth a conversation" if this should become a national standard, Professor Loble said.
"Screen‑time caps, age standards, should those be national standards? These are the sorts of things that ministers should be considering," she said.
Queensland
The Queensland Department of Education and the Queensland Curriculum Assessment Authority (QCAA) work together to protect the integrity of the state's Certificate of Education qualification.
The QCAA gives advice to schools about academic integrity, including a course on the subject that all students must take during their senior years.
They work together to support schools and keep the Queensland Certificate of Education qualification by using a balanced approach to teaching and assessment.
As worries grow about AI's impact on student learning and development, teachers and educators are split on what role AI should play in classrooms.
The Department of Education said in a statement that the QCAA gives advice to schools about academic integrity in its policy handbook and requires students to finish an academic integrity course during senior schooling.
"Digital tools, including new technologies such as AI, are used in the classroom where they add value to student learning. Schools continue to keep a proper balance between digital and non‑digital learning.
"Decisions about device use and how technology is added to learning and assessment are made by principals in consultation with their school communities," the statement added.
Western Australia
Western Australia has adopted the federal government's Australian Framework for Generative AI in Schools.
That was a "good place to start" but Professor Loble said there were gaps that needed to be filled to reduce risks.
In a statement sent to the ABC, the WA Department of Education said they were watching developments in generative AI.
"Developing an understanding of the ethical use of AI is an important part of the Western Australian Curriculum from pre‑primary to year 12.
"Schools with year 11 and 12 students must use a senior secondary assessment policy that gives information to those students, their parents/guardians, and teachers on authentication of student work, including cheating, collusion, plagiarism, appropriation, and unacknowledged use of artificial intelligence applications," the statement said.
Northern Territory & Tasmania
Like WA, education departments in Tasmania and the Northern Territory have adopted the federal government's framework.
The NT Council of Government School Organisations tracks AI use to balance fair student access against risks such as bias and reduced human connection and has oversight.
AI use is allowed under the AI framework, but it lets individual public schools create their own local processes to meet territory expectations, according to the NT Department of Education.
It's estimated 30,000 people work in the AI industry in Australia, yet there are worries about hype and a lack of regulation.
The Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) controls AI tools via risk assessments, allowing low‑risk systems like Microsoft Copilot for staff while restricting unvetted student apps, and handling recent safety and deep‑fake issues.
A DECYP spokesperson told the ABC that AI apps and websites have been blocked for all students on DECYP devices and networks.
"The Department has policies, procedures and support resources for principals and teachers related to generative AI in schools, including an academic integrity guide," the statement said.
There are no take‑home exams used as part of the end‑of‑year external assessment program for year 11 and 12 senior secondary courses in Tasmania.
Low‑risk approaches can work to the student's benefit, but it's important not to miss out on using AI as an enhanced learning tool, Professor Loble said.
"What we are seeing now is widespread use of AI by teachers and students.
"So it's become so much more integral," she said.
Professor Loble called for agreement among state departments on AI in schools.
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