Confused about classifications and showing of films at school?

These sites may well provide some insight for you and your fellow teachers:

Australian Film censorship ratings and classifications explained

Check out these sources: 

Complete range of fact sheets for parents and children, teachers and students, schools and libraries

Information sheet for teachers – provides summary of the various classification categories for films, computer games and publications.

Database to search film classifications

Thanks to Barbara O’Connor| Resource Centre Coordinator for sharing these websites.

Lawful Screening of Films & Television Programs

Playing films, television and radio in schools (Main points taken from this website)

Schools can play films, television and radio in the classroom (or another teaching venue) as part of a course of instruction under s 28 of the Copyright Act. This includes playing a film to students via distance education software or a reticulation system, ie playing the film from a central point into a number of classrooms.

Playing films for non-educational purposes

There is no exception or licence in the Copyright Act which allows a school to play a film to its students for non-educational purposes, such as on bus excursions, during camps and for rainy day activities at lunchtime.

The Australian school sector has negotiated a voluntary blanket licence, called the Co-Curricular Licence, with Roadshow Public Performance Licensing (‘Roadshow’) for the playing of films by schools for non-educational purposes. This includes:

• At school for entertainment purposes (e.g. at lunchtime on a rainy day)
• On bus excursions, where the school provides the DVD (not the bus company)
• At school camps and excursions, including outdoor screenings at camp, where the school provides the DVD (not the camp)
• At after-school care and holiday programs conducted at and by the school.

NSWDEC schools need to act as an individual school, because we are not covered on a central basis as an educational department , and enter into the Co-Curricular Licence by:

• Going to www.roadshowppl.com.au 
• Selecting ‘Schools’ from the drop down menu under 'My Business Activity'.
• Inserting the following details:
  • School name and contact details
  • School ABN
  • No. of students in the school
• Paying the annual fee as agreed to under the Licence.
  
  The annual fee of the Co-Curricular Licence will vary between $55 and $154 depending on the number of students in your school.
  
  Payment can be made online by credit card or by cheque/direct deposit.
  
  The school must pay the total annual fee no later than 30 days after the commencement date of the licence in the first year of its uptake, and thereafter on for before the 30th of March in each year.

Always Obtain DVD’s from Reputable Sources

It is essential that films played in schools are obtained from legitimate sources. Film DVDs, for example, may be purchased or hired from non theatrical film distributors, licensed lending libraries or educational sources for screening on school premises. Visit Playing films, television and radio in schools for all of the facts.

Advice from Colleen Foleyof NSWDEC School Libraries
 "In relation to classifications which guide what can be shown, see the Department’s memorandum on ‘Films, Videos, DVDs and Computer Games Procedures for Use in Schools’. This is linked under ‘F’ on our Links page at http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/schoollibraries/links/index.htm

You can also locate it in the Policies section of the DET internet and intranet."