Why this matters 

Social media can be a useful way for P&Cs to share information, celebrate community activity and encourage involvement. Used well, it can help families feel connected and informed. 

However, social media also carries legal and reputational risk. P&Cs are responsible not only for what they post, but also for comments made by others on their pages. This means active moderation is essential. 

This guide helps P&Cs use social media confidently, responsibly, and in line with their role. 

What social media is (and isn’t) for 

Social media works best when it is used to: 

• share information and updates 
• promote events or activities 
• celebrate achievements and community involvement 
• encourage participation in P&C activities 

Social media is not the right place to: 

• handle complaints or disputes 
• debate complex or sensitive issues 
• make decisions on behalf of the P&C 
• raise individual student or staff matters 

When issues are complex, emotional or unresolved, they are almost always better handled offline. 

Legal responsibility and moderation 

P&Cs are legally responsible for the content on their social media pages.
This includes: 

• posts made by the P&C 
• comments made by members of the community 

Because of this, moderation is not optional. It is a core responsibility of using social media as an organisation. 

Good practice includes: 

• monitoring comments regularly 
• removing comments that are offensive, defamatory, misleading or inappropriate 
• not allowing personal attacks or naming individuals 
• acting promptly when issues arise 

If a P&C does not have the capacity to actively moderate comments, turning off comments may be the safest and most responsible option. This is a valid choice and does not reduce transparency or engagement. 

Setting clear expectations for the community 

Social media works best when everyone understands what it is for and how it should be used. 

Good practice includes: 

• clearly stating the purpose of the page 
• outlining expectations for respectful behaviour 
• explaining what types of posts or comments will be removed 
• directing people to the right channels for questions, concerns or complaints 

This helps protect volunteers and reduces frustration for the school community. 

Knowing when to pause or take it offline 

Some situations require restraint. 

It’s usually best to pause or redirect when: 

• emotions are running high 
• an issue involves individuals or personal circumstances 
• the matter relates to school operations or complaints 
• the issue requires confidentiality or nuance 

A simple response such as “This is best discussed through the school” or “Please contact the P&C directly” can help de-escalate situations. 

Aligning social media with other communication 

Social media should support, not replace, your other communication channels. 

Good practice includes: 

• linking posts back to a clear source of truth (such as a school email or newsletter) 
• ensuring social media messages align with what has been shared elsewhere 
• avoiding partial or unofficial information 

Consistency builds trust and reduces confusion. 

Protecting volunteers and the association 

Social media activity can expose volunteers to stress and risk. 

P&Cs should: 

• limit the number of people with admin access 
• document who is responsible for moderation 
• review social media settings regularly 
• step back or change approach if moderation becomes unmanageable 

Using social media conservatively is often the safest approach. 

Related resources 

• Communicating your P&C’s work 
• Encouraging parent voice 
• Insurance and risk 
• P&C Governance and Operations 
• Template: Social Media Policy