From the School Psychologists
Mrs Bec Campey and Mrs Emily Reed
Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day was held last Tuesday, 10 February. This global initiative seeks to promote online safety and encourage positive online experiences. In Australia, it is led by eSafety.
Safer Internet Day reminds us of the ways in which we use the internet in our daily lives (e.g. communication, entertainment, work, learning, socialising) but also highlights how online risks are also part of daily life. It is an opportunity to reflect on our online experiences and consider taking small steps we can take to help create a more respectful online environment.
Five tips for a safer internet
The eSafety Commissioner shares five practical tips that families may like to discuss at home with children and young people:
1 | Be Kind: encourage empathy, respect and kindness in online interactions
2 | Balance time online: make space for offline connection, rest and reflection.
- Too much screen time online can affect relationships, sleep and emotional wellbeing
- Spending time with friends and family in person, and taking time to rest or breaks from devices helps create a healthy balance
3 | Report online abuse and harmful content to eSafety
- eSafety supports Australians who have experienced online abuse or encountered restricted content
- Harmful material can be reported to eSafety (Report online harm | eSafety Commissioner) and, when necessary, to the Police
4 | Protect your space: keep accounts and devices secure by using strong, unique passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication and keeping software up to date
5 | Start the conversation about online safety with family, friends and colleagues. Raising awareness helps build supportive networks and can encouarge more positive online interactions
Helpful resources
The eSafety website offers a wide range of resources for parents & carers (Parents | eSafety Commissioner), young people and children. For example:
- The eSafety Guide (The eSafety Guide | eSafety Commissioner): information about various social media apps, games, websites, and advice on protecting personal information and reporting harmful content
- Online Safety Tips for parents and carers
- Guides for having difficult conversations
- Resources tailored for young children, primary students and secondary students
- Information on screen time and privacy
- Conversation starters for families
Families may also be interested in the free upcoming webinars for Term 1
Parents and Carers webinars offered by eSafety and other clinics:
- eSafety Commissioner’s ‘Social media age restrictions explained – a guide for parents and carers’:
- 24 February 12:30-1:00pm (Registration)
- eSafety Commissioner’s ‘Understanding and using parental controls to help protect your child online’
- 5 March 12:30-1:15pm (Registration)
- eSafety Commissioner’s ‘Recognising online coercive control in young people's lives’:
- 11 March 1:00-1:45pm (Registration)
- Spencer Health Clinic’s ‘Digital Wellbeing: Managing Screen Time and Social Media’
- 23 March 7:00-8:00pm