The Office of the eSafety Commissioner reports that complaints of serious cyberbullying involving children under 14 years has tripled in the last year compared to pre-pandemic 2019, Emily Campbell writes.
In response, the regulator has created an engaging new suite of educational resources for teachers to help primary school-aged children develop digital safety skills to reduce the risk of online harm.
Online safety education a priority
As children begin accessing digital technology, social media and the internet at increasingly early ages, experts believe young children should be taught responsible digital citizenship skills, which they say are just as vital as concepts like road safety and stranger danger.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said research indicates 81% of parents with children between 2–5 years report their children regularly using the internet, a statistic reinforcing the need for an early introductory education to safe internet usage.
“The new eSafety materials we have released provide age-appropriate, curriculum-aligned resources which are suitable for children aged 5–8, complementing and extending on eSafety’s Early Years program designed for infants and preschool children,” Inman Grant said.
“The materials include play-based classroom activities, teacher professional learning modules and activities for children which can be completed at home,” she said.
The classroom resources feature four fun bush characters, collectively known as the Mighty Heroes, each promoting a key online safety message for children. The Mighty Heroes and their safety messages are:
Wanda the echidna: I am responsible – I protect my personal informationRiver the sugar glider:I show respect – I am kind and caring to others
Dusty the frilled-neck lizard: I trust my feelings – I get help if something doesn’t feel right
Billie the bilby: I investigate – I question what I see, hear and do online.
The Mighty Heroes resources were developed with the input of teachers and aligned to the Australian Curriculum and Best Practice Framework for Online Safety Education.
The resources are accompanied by free, self-paced, online professional learning modules for teachers, including evidence-based advice and practical strategies for teaching online safety in the classroom.
Inman Grant said education professionals are in a strong position to demonstrate positive online behaviours to young children.
“Teachers, as well as parents and carers, can play a pivotal role in helping children develop digital skills to have positive, safe experiences online and develop good habits when using technology,” she said.
The new materials aimed at early to middle primary school-aged children add to the expansive collection of resources available for education professionals on the eSafety Commission’s website.
Increased funding welcome
The launch of the new Mighty Heroes resources follows the Federal Government’s 2023-2024 budget pledge of an additional $132.1 million in funding over four years to the Office of the eSafety Commissioner.
“The funding certainty provided by the most recent budget reflects the long-term need for eSafety’s work,” Inman Grant said.
“It will help us plan ahead to continue promoting safer, more positive experiences for all Australians,” she said.
In December 2022, education authorities and peak bodies united to join a new national council led by the eSafety Commissioner to fight online harm in school communities throughout Australia.
The National Online Safety Education Council will meet regularly to boost cooperation among educators, addressing a range of interconnected harms occurring in Australian classrooms, school yards and homes.
Inman Grant said complaints to eSafety continued to increase substantially across all reporting schemes, including those involving school-age children.
She said her office recently received its first reports of children using generative artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit imaged-based abuse to bully their peers.
“The challenges schools face are not unique to any one system or region – they are increasingly common across Australia,” Inman Grant said.
“Almost two-thirds of young people aged 14–17 have been exposed to harmful content online and schools play a pivotal role in helping them develop the digital skills they need to stay safe.
“We need to support all schools and ensure students, parents and teachers everywhere know how to report abuse and access resources through eSafety,” she said.
Members are encouraged to access the suite of free eSafety education materials including the new Mighty Heroes resources online at www.esafety.gov.au/educators