Cybersafety and Wellbeing Initiative

Technology and young people

Cyberbullying, stalking, accessing inappropriate content, being coerced into sending sexually suggestive images, and identity fraud are some of the cyberspace risks facing young people today.

• Recent research reveals that approximately 10% of Australian students in years 4-9 experience cyberbullying.
• A number of children and young people will be targeted by an online predator or paedophile each year.
• 'Sexting' (where nude or sexual images are sent as picture messages via mobile phones) is on the rise among young people, with most not thinking about the future consequences.
• Many young people share their username and password with friends, and can find their user accounts misused when the friendship turns sour.
• Children can be particularly vulnerable to marketing offers they 'sign up' to that result in a torrent of spam, or ongoing charges for the downloads they can't control.
• Parents and teachers are often too unfamiliar with cyberspace to offer credible advice to young people about the risks online and how to avoid them.

Equipping young people to be smart, safe and responsible in cyberspace

The Alannah and Madeline Foundation's Cybersafety and Wellbeing Initiative, or 'eSmart' aims to make cybersafety a normal part of every young person's life by equipping them to use technologies in ways that are positive and that protect them from the associated risks. 

The development of the initiative is informed by a number of cybersafety experts from across Australia.  The first major focus of the initiative is to help schools to create a cultural norm of smart, safe and responsible use of communications technologies.  'eSmart Schools' will: 

• help schools develop policies and practices encouraging students to use technology responsibly
• point schools to teaching resources on cybersafety, but also to resources to help them create a safe, respectful and caring environment
• encourage schools to embrace the positives of technology for teaching practice and enhance young people's learning
• establish a system for schools to provide evidence that they are actively implementing these policies and practices
• reduce the digital divide between adults and young people, so adults can become a credible source of advice on avoiding the risks of cyberspace.

'It is important to remember that this is an issue of behaviour, more than it is of technology. We really need to get serious about behaviour and support schools to focus on building a culture of respect and caring in addition to teaching the traditional academic subjects.'

Dr Judith Slocombe CEO, The Alannah and Madeline Foundation

Some quick tips for being smart, safe, and responsible with technology

The national pilot of eSmart Schools

The schools' component of eSmart was this year piloted with 159 schools across Australia. Funding support was provided by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to conduct the pilot. The pilot was independently evaluated by the Child Health Promotion Research Centre at the Edith Cowan University. Schools involved in the pilot overwhelming reported a positive assessment of eSmart. 

Our goal is for eSmart to be an integral part of every Australian school.

For a complete list of Pilot schools, visit the Digital Education Revolution area of the Department of Education and Employment Relations website.

More information

For more information about this initiative, please visit this web page in the near future.

Useful links

The Cybersmart website provides cybersafety information for young children, teens and parents. It also has an Online Helpline for young people who have had negative online experiences, such as cyberbullying.