All students participate in the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program, bringing a personally owned device to school to support their learning.
The recommended device types for each year level are:
- Years 7–9: iPad with keyboard
- Years 10–12: Laptop or iPad with keyboard
The Technology Specification Document provides guidance to assist with your purchase decision. We also strongly recommend selecting a device with an extended warranty and accidental damage insurance.
Warranty and Insurance
As with any complex technology, devices may occasionally be damaged or require repair. To minimise disruptions to learning, a reliable repair plan and regular backups using an external storage device are strongly recommended.
To protect your investment, we recommend Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) and a Next Business Day (NBD) on-site warranty, or adding the device to your home and contents insurance with 24/7 off‑site coverage. At a minimum, choose a device with a 3‑year return‑to‑store warranty.
On-Site Support
An integral part of the BYOD program is the on-site support provided by our dedicated school IT team. Our technicians can carry out standard checks and diagnostics on BYOD devices to help identify potential issues. While support may be limited by individual vendor warranty terms, the team will always do their best to assist students and keep devices operating smoothly.
The IT team is available before school and during break times on the 2nd floor of the Cultivate Building.
Apple ID & Family Sharing Setup Guide for Families
This guide explains how families can set up an Apple ID for a student device using Apple’s required Family Sharing system. It is designed for families who:
- Are new to Apple IDs, or
- Have no other Apple devices, or
- Have started setting up a Child Apple ID and are now being asked to link it to a parent account.
Apple requires that all Child Apple IDs are linked to an adult (parent or guardian) Apple ID through Family Sharing. A child account cannot be used on its own.
Key Terms:
- Adult (Parent) Apple ID: An Apple ID owned by an adult (18+). This account acts as the organiser of Family Sharing.
- Child Apple ID: An Apple ID created for a child under 13. It must be linked to a parent's account.
- Family Sharing: Apple’s system that links parent and child accounts, so Apple can apply supervision and permissions.
*A payment method is not required to use Family Sharing.
Overview – what needs to happen
By the end of this process, you will have:
- One adult Apple ID (parent/guardian)
- One child Apple ID, linked to the adult account
- Family Sharing enabled, allowing apps to download and update
Step 1: Do you already have an adult Apple ID?
- Yes, I already have an Apple ID → Go to Path A (This can be an Apple ID already used on a personal iPhone or iPad)
- No, I do not have an Apple ID → Go to Path B
Path A – You already have an adult Apple ID
Use this path if a parent or guardian already has an Apple ID (for any email address).
Option A1: Use your personal iPhone or iPad (recommended if available)
If you already use your Apple ID on a personal iPhone or iPad, this is often the easiest and quickest method.
- On your personal iPhone or iPad, open Settings
- Tap your name at the top of the screen
- Tap Family Sharing
- Follow the prompts to turn Family Sharing on
- Choose Add Family Member, then:
- Select Create an Account for a Child, or
- Choose Add Existing Account if the child Apple ID already exists
Once Family Sharing has been set up on your personal device, return to the student iPad and sign in using the child’s Apple ID. App downloads should now be available.
Option A2: Set up Family Sharing directly on the student iPad
If you do not have a personal Apple device, or prefer not to use it, Family Sharing can be set up directly on the student iPad.
1. Sign in with the adult Apple ID
- On the iPad, open Settings
- Tap Sign in to your iPad (If the child is already signed in, sign out first — see the section below)
- Sign in using the adult Apple ID
2. Turn on Family Sharing
- In Settings, tap the adult’s name at the top
- Tap Family Sharing
- Follow the on‑screen prompts to set up Family Sharing
3. Add the child
- If asked to create a Child Apple ID, follow the prompts
- OR, if the child Apple ID already exists, choose Add Existing Child Account and complete the setup
Once complete, the child account will be linked and apps can be downloaded.
Path B – You do NOT have an adult Apple ID
Use this path if your family does not currently have an Apple ID.
B1. Create a new adult (parent) Apple ID
- On the iPad, open Settings
- Tap Sign in to your iPad
- Choose Create Apple ID
- Enter adult details (must be 18+)
- Verify the account using an email address and phone number
This Apple ID may be used only for supervision if preferred.
It does not need to be used on other devices.
B2. Set up Family Sharing
- After signing in, open Settings → Family Sharing
- Follow the prompts to turn Family Sharing on
B3. Create or finish the Child Apple ID
- If prompted, create a Child Apple ID by following the steps
- If the child account already exists but is incomplete, choose Finish Setup and link it
Once complete, the child account will be properly linked and apps can be downloaded.
Common questions (FAQs)
Do I need a credit card?
No. A payment method is not required to use Family Sharing.
Can the adult Apple ID be used just for setup?
Yes. Many families create an adult Apple ID only to manage the child account.
Can the parent account be removed later?
No. Apple requires the child account to remain linked to an adult account.