School Devices

A teacher working with her students on their laptops

The department has reviewed the sustainability of its current device provisioning approach for schools and how we can best maintain minimum digital standards across all schools into the future.

The Computer Equipment Rollout (CER) program ended last financial year and to better support schools with modern, secure technology, the department is now launching a new End User Device (EUD) strategy. The new approach centralises device provisioning, providing supported, secure, and standardised devices across all schools in NSW.

Why the change?

Our teachers are not consistently provisioned with digital devices, leaving it up to individual schools to make buying decisions within their budget allocation.
To better manage the varying device ratios across each user group in our schools.
The large number of unmanaged, out-of-warranty devices currently in use increases our security risks and impacts our ability to support schools with device issues.
The need for a cohesive device procurement and management policy to ensure informed decisions and equitable outcomes.

The End User Device strategy at a high level:

Teachers will be provided with a device attached to their user account, irrespective of what school they are working at.
Devices issued centrally by the department will be part of an asset refresh cycle, which will ensure they are replaced when they reach the end of their useful life.
Our device-ratio commitments across all schools will be re-baselined to ensure a consistent learning experience for students.
Devices will be centrally managed to reduce support costs, meet digital learning needs (including online assessments like NAPLAN) and ensure equipment is kept up to date.
Removal of end-of-life devices in our environment – schools will be asked to return devices that have passed their useful life, to maintain the integrity and functionality of the asset fleet.
Funding for devices will be centrally managed, reducing administrative overheads and freeing local budgets for other school technology needs.

As we prepare to implement the new approach, we will continue to consult with key groups (Primary Principal Association, Secondary Principals Council, Special Education Principals and Leaders Association) to keep them appraised of progress and planned timelines.

What do we do in the interim?

If your school has planned device purchases, you may continue to buy through EdBuy and record them in the SAP equipment register as usual.

Next steps:

We will commence an audit of devices in all schools.
Please continue to enrol your school’s devices in the central management system.
We will provide more practical advice to support your decision making for current purchases.
All updates will be found on this site and communicated with you via Staff Noticeboard, and email where needed.

Need help or more information?

For any questions or feedback – please contact the End User Device project team at EUD@det.nsw.edu.au

FAQs

Will the Teacher Laptop rollout replace the T4L Computer Equipment Rollout?

Yes, a program has been mobilised and named the “End User Device Refresh” which is focused on getting our staff and students provisioned with devices that are under central support from ITD and within their useful life.

In the first year, this initiative will focus on staff devices, and in future years include student devices. Supporting information to help with student device provisioning during this period is coming shortly.

When are devices for teachers starting? Will schools receive devices this year?

A timeline of device rollout will be finalised soon. In the interim we will be preparing for an audit, and a platform for ordering and managing devices in our environment. To prepare for this, schools will be invited to participate in a device audit. The outcomes will determine the timeline for the rollout and the outcomes will determine the next steps and timelines.

Yes, teacher devices will commence rollout this financial year.

Will all schools be included?

After a full audit is complete, we will determine the overall volume of laptops required. Our aim is to ensure all teachers have a fit for purpose device.

Will all teachers be included?

Yes, teachers who do not currently have a laptop will receive a new one and those with out-of-warranty laptops will be prioritised for a replacement device. Teachers with in-warranty laptops will keep their existing devices and they will be refreshed under this program when they are out of warranty.

What happens if a staff member damages a device? Will spares be available?

In the event of damage, staff will be directed to log a ticket via EDConnect to have the device repaired or replaced. The policy on this will be determined and communicated with all users prior to receiving their devices.

What happens if the school has a new staff member start after this program has completed?

Once we have the program fully implemented, new staff will be provisioned a device by the department. It will no longer be a responsibility of the school. For now, schools will need to continue to purchase student and staff devices until further information is available around new user device provisioning.

Will schools get a choice of device?

The program is designed as a like-for-like replacement leveraging existing supplier agreements. The operating system will remain the same—Windows, Mac, or Chrome—depending on what the school currently uses. For teachers who do not have a laptop, it will default to the school standard. Please note that the brand will not be an option, as this will be centrally driven by the department.

More information will be published around this, as it becomes available and applicable to your school.

Are devices assigned to specific staff, or does the school have the ability to assign them? What if a staff member changes schools, will devices remain with the school or follow the staff member?

Laptops will be assigned to individual teachers, and schools will not have the ability to assign them themselves. If a teacher changes schools, the laptop will follow the teacher to their new school.

Are there any training materials and/or professional learning being developed to create staff confidence and ensure devices can be utilised to their maximum potential?

Yes, our T4L resources and Technology Enablement team will be continuing to support schools with relevant information and training around the use of digital devices.

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