For Kristanna Kley, a student going into year 6 this year at Arawang Primary School, a mobile phone is more than just a communication device and learning tool.
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Kristanna, who has type 1 diabetes, uses an app on her phone to monitor her blood-sugar levels throughout the day while she's in class.
Her mother, Sharon Kley, said using a phone to check blood-sugar levels had made it easier to keep track of Kristanna's diabetes at school.
"She's been using it for around a year-and-a-half. Before that it was just constant finger pricking," Ms Kley said.
"She's able to check it at any time and it's good that I can also check on my phone and monitor the situation as well."
The Waramanga resident said phones could play a crucial role in the classroom.
"If the apps are educational and the students can look up educational resources as well, they can be really good," Ms Kley said.
A ban on phones in primary school classrooms comes into effect this week just across the border, but the ACT government has maintained it won't ban phones in schools.
Mobile phones in primary school classrooms played a role in helping students prepare for a digital future, ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry said.
"Banning phones in schools may not be the best way to support the development of children and young people," Ms Berry said.
"It's important that children and young people are taught how to live alongside devices appropriately because this is a big part of our life now."
She said phones and similar devices played an important role as a learning tool in the classroom.
"Owning a device provides a great opportunity for students to expand their learhing journey and we have some great examples in ACT public schools on using devices to enhance classroom activities," Ms Berry said.
"Helping students understand what appropriate behaviour is both on and offline should be part of that learning journey."
The ACT minister's comments contrast with those of her NSW counterpart, Rob Stokes, who announced in December a ban on mobile phones during school hours at all public primary schools.
The measures came as a response to an independent review commissioned by the government and led by child psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Greg.
Mr Stokes said in NSW, children with mobile phones would be able to bring them to school, but wouldn't be allowed to use them in classrooms.
"Mobile phones can be a terrible master but a wonderful servant, and we need to help our youngest students learn that important difference," Mr Stokes said.
"We know technology plays an important and increasing role as students progress throughout their schooling years."
The NSW government said it was working closely with teachers and principals as the ban was implemented.
The NSW ban extends only to government schools, although a spokeswoman for the Catholic Education Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn said a similar phone ban in their schools would be subject to the principal's discretion.
The spokeswoman said many schools in area already had systems in place before the government ban was enforced, where mobile phones were handed in to the front office before class, or kept in bags.
