About Creating IT Savvy's people

Sandy Phillips is the Director of Creating IT Savvy

Teaching is her background. She worked in both Victorian schools and Vic DET for almost 35 years and did unpack a box at school that turned out to be the internet! 

She has also worked in schools for the Department of Education and Training (DET) Victoria, Department of Education (DoE) in NSW, the University of NSW and was the Australian Coordinator of the Associated Schools Project for UNESCO.  

She has been a teacher, school ICT Coordinator, Manager of Digital initiatives including FUSE, Global2 and The Victorian Games and Apps Challenge, the Education in Games Summit and developed and delivered Professional Learning and resources for Digital Learning, Digital Literacy, ICT Planning and cybersafety across Victoria and Leading Professional Learning in STEM as part of the STEM.T4L Project in NSW. 

Her cybersafety experience evolved with the internet, managing the Victorian Education Channel and FUSE as well as advising and developing agreements and Policy for Victorian schools around cybersafety.  She worked first hand with schools and students working with technology and all things 'internet'.

The day-to-day work of supporting schools with online challenges, presenting and working in classrooms with teachers and students,    Sandy has seen the development of technology and social media and the benefits and challenges it presents to students and teachers. 

Her work has included advising or developing projects and presentations with:

• eSafety Commissioner - developing resources and student online events
• Cybersafety and Wellbeing Initiative Consultative Group Alannah and Madeline  - eSmart Program 
• Digital Learning and Teaching Victoria - working with teachers 
• School Library Association Victoria (SLAV) - Delivering professional Learning and writing regular articles for FYI.
• International Association of School Librarianship - presentations Ireland, Italy, Hong Kong 
•  Commonwealth Parliament's Joint Select Committee Inquiry into cyber-safety issues - Victorian Representative
• Presentations inc. National Coalition against Bullying (NCAB) Netsafe (NZ) and Victorian Primary Principals Association 
• She has worked in partnership with Microsoft, Google, Instagram and the DET's Strategic Partners including ACMI, Zoos Victoria, The Arts Centre and the Museums. 

She is a true believer in empowering teachers and students to use emerging technologies to enjoy, communicate and learn and to use them safety, respectfully and with knowledge that supports them to make good decisions ...and be savvy.

Savvy, from Latin sapere, meaning “to be wise.”  "The ability to make good judgments"