In 2009, New South Wales (NSW) implemented a policy to give mini-laptops, known as netbooks, to all public school students in grades nine through 12. The netbooks, paid for by the Australian government, are in the hands of almost 130,000 students as of 2010. By 2012, all students will have one. Students may use them at home and at school. The netbooks come preloaded with both Adobe and Microsoft application suites. Each school has online servers for students to back up work. To keep students safe, Internet filters are installed on all machines and remote management software monitors all student online activities both at home and at school.
The state of Victoria is participating in a three-year trial to provide netbooks to 344 schools in traditionally lower socio-economic areas. More than 10,000 students in years 5, 6, 7 and 8 were given the laptops in February 2009. Students pay a lease fee of $52 (Australian) a year for the machines, including insurance, which they can take home. To assist teachers in making the best use of the machines in the classroom, many activities and lesson plans are available on the state's e-potential website.
Several private schools, such as Trinity Grammar School, a boy's school in Kew, Australia have tablet laptops for each student in years 5 through 12. These laptops are purchased through the school with the help of a technology levy. This model is common in schools with a 1:1 computer policy, as it enables tech support that the schools provide and creates an all-important consistency for students in every learning situation. Frankston High School was the first state school in Australia to use tablet notebook computers. Their model is voluntary; those who do not choose to buy a tablet use the school computers.
One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is a worldwide initiative to give laptops to low- income students ages 4 to 15. The program has been active in Australia since 2008 and focuses on remote communities. The OLPC goal is to hand out 5,000 laptops by December 2010. Most of the laptops are distributed to schools in the North Territory and Western Australia. The rugged machines, called XO laptops, are especially designed to accommodate outdoor schools with a unique screen readable in direct sunlight. Although no software is installed, all are equipped with wireless access. These simple laptops are intended to engage students in learning and constructing a knowledge base.