Queensland teachers have been forbidden from contacting their students over social networking sites including Facebook and MySpace.
The new Education Queensland rules are being implemented following cases of inappropriate communication over the internet, the Courier Mail reports.
"You must not use internet social networks such as Facebook, MySpace or YouTube to contact or access present students enrolled in any school or institute," the new policy reads.
"If you use internet social networks in your personal time you must ensure that the content is appropriate and private, and that you restrict access to specific people who are not students."
The Queensland College of Teachers dealt with eight cases last year where teachers were deemed to have communicated inappropriately with students online.
"The most serious matter that included an element of use of a social network site involved sexualised communication and innuendo and the teacher's registration was cancelled," a College statement to the newspaper said.
Teachers who violate the new Code of Conduct face disciplinary measures including loss of salary and even the sack, the report said.
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