Effective Date: 27/01/26
Last Updated: 27/01/26
Review Cycle: Annual
Next Review Date: 22/01/27
Approved By: CEO

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern use of the Cybernetic Shield services, platforms and programs provided by Cybernetic Shield Pty Ltd (“Cybernetic Shield”, “we”, “our”, or “us”).

By accessing or using any part of our services, you agree to these Terms.

1. About Cybernetic Shield

Cybernetic Shield provides a whole-school digital safety and wellbeing solution supporting the prevention, detection, response and recovery from online harm impacting children, young people and school staff.

Our services include:

  • Online safety education programs (LMS)
  • Student and parent apps and portals (including 3Cs and 4Cs)
  • Incident reporting and online safety support (24/7 Cyber Incident Helpline)
  • Counselling intake and wellbeing triage pathways
  • Digital investigations and evidence management services
  • School staff training and safety resources

Services are delivered through secure cloud-based platforms, phone and chat services, and supporting collaboration tools.

2. Who May Use Our Services

Our services can be accessed by:

  • Students – enrolled or invited by a participating school
  • Parents/carers – registered via school invitations or open support access
  • School staff – authorised by a participating school
  • School leadership teams – authorised by a participating school
  • Approved service partners – supporting safeguarding actions

Use of our services by students is facilitated by a participating school on the basis of the school’s contractual agreement with Cybernetic Shield.

3. Relationship to School Agreements

Cybernetic Shield works with schools under individual written service agreements that govern detailed commercial terms, scope of work, reporting arrangements and agreed service levels.

These public Terms:

  • Provide general conditions of use for all website users, app users, students, parents and staff.
  • Do not replace or override any individual school agreement.

Where there is any inconsistency between these Terms and a school’s service agreement, the school agreement prevails.

4. Unacceptable Use

Users must not use Cybernetic Shield services to:

  • Harass, threaten or harm others
  • Impersonate any person or organisation
  • Submit false or malicious reports
  • Upload illegal, abusive, exploitative or harmful material
  • Interfere with service security or platform operations
  • Attempt unauthorised access to accounts or data

Cybernetic Shield reserves the right to suspend or terminate access for unacceptable use of our services.

5. Child Safety and Safeguarding

Cybernetic Shield operates under strong child-safety principles consistent with:

  • Australian Child Safe Standards
  • Online Safety Act obligations
  • Safer Technologies for Schools (ST4S) guidelines
  • Trusted eSafety Provider (TEP) principles

Where disclosures indicate potential risk of harm to a child, we :

  • Engage school safeguarding processes
  • Escalate to appropriate child protection, wellbeing or emergency services
  • Cooperate with law enforcement where legally required

Our services are designed to promote early intervention, reporting pathways, and wellbeing support – complementing statutory child safety systems and school’s duty of care..

6. Privacy and Data Handling

Cybernetic Shield handles personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy, which is available at: https://cyberneticshield.au/privacy-policy/

Our Privacy Policy explains:

  • What information we collect
  • How it is used
  • Where it is stored
  • Security safeguards
  • Rights of access and correction
  • Data retention practices

All users should review our Privacy Policy before using our services.

7. Security Commitments

Cybernetic Shield applies industry-standard security practices, including:

  • Encryption of data in transit and at rest
  • Multi-factor authentication for staff and service platforms
  • Role-based access control aligned to least-privilege principles
  • Secure hosting in Australian cloud environments where feasible
  • Activity logging and monitoring
  • Routine vulnerability scanning and security testing
  • Vendor security assurance programs

No digital service can guarantee absolute security; however, we continually review and strengthen protective controls. Any significant changes will result in notification to our customers within at least 30 days’ notice where practicable.

8. Clinical Support and Service Limitations

Cybernetic Shield provides wellbeing support services which include:

  • Counselling and therapeutic support delivered by qualified mental health practitioners through affiliated service providers (including our Psychology Shield and associated online trauma counselling practice Mindshield Matters);
  • Clinical assessment and diagnosis conducted by appropriately credentialed practitioners where clinically indicated; and
  • Ongoing support plans as part of student wellbeing pathways coordinated with schools, families and external care providers.

Cybernetic Shield’s services are designed to support early intervention, online incident triage, therapeutic care, and referral pathways within the scope of professional practice.

Cybernetic Shield is not an emergency response provider.

If a user is at immediate risk of serious harm to themselves or others, emergency services must be contacted on 000, or appropriate crisis support services must be engaged. Our services do not replace emergency medical or psychiatric crisis response services.

9. Service Availability

While we aim to provide continuous availability, access may occasionally be disrupted for:

  • Maintenance or system updates
  • Network or platform outages
  • Circumstances beyond our reasonable control

Cybernetic Shield is not liable for temporary access interruptions caused by infrastructure failures outside our direct control.

10. Account Access and Termination

Cybernetic Shield may suspend or terminate access:

  • If accounts are inactive for extended periods
  • In the event of unacceptable use of our services
  • At the direction of a participating school
  • Where required to protect safety or comply with legal obligations

Schools may request account de-provisioning for students and staff at any time in accordance with service agreements.

11. Complaints and Concerns

Complaints or concerns may be raised by contacting:

Cybernetic Shield
Email: [email protected]

Privacy-related complaints can also be directed to:

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
https://www.oaic.gov.au

Online content or platform safety concerns may also be reported to:

eSafety Commissioner
https://www.esafety.gov.au

12. Changes to Our Terms

Our Terms may be updated to reflect changes to services, legal requirements, or safeguarding practices.

Where updates materially affect users, reasonable notice will be provided.

The Last Updated date above indicates the most recent version.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia.

Any disputes relating to these Terms must be brought in the courts of Queensland.

14. Contact

Cybernetic Shield Pty Ltd
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://cyberneticshield.au