Wellbeing Team

eSafety Commissioner

We all know that cyber safety an important issue. It seems to be constantly changing and requires us as parents and caregivers to ‘stay on our toes’ and ‘ahead of the game’. We recognise that it can feel like an overwhelming task at times, and we may be tempted to stick our heads in the sand and hope it resolves itself. Unfortunately, we know that won’t happen. We hope that we are able to remind and encourage you today that this is worth your time and energy to think about and plan for. 

We are right here alongside you, cheering you on!

Instead of overwhelming you with stacks of resources and information, I would like to point you to one place today: The eSafety Commissioner Website. This website contains all the information you need to know about cyber safety, and gives you practical and simple steps to take to ensure your young person stays safe online. The website also contains dedicated sections for your children and teenagers to learn about cyber safety in an age-appropriate way.

The Parent section of the website contains all the support and information you need to understand the online world including: how to secure the correct parental controls on your child’s device, how to navigate online safety challenges such as online bullying, and how to engage with your children in this issue. eSafety Commissioner provides a range of free webinars for parents at attend. Please see their Term 2 schedule for any topics that may interest you:

You can register here or find the schedule for the year here

Be an eSafe Kid

The eSafe Kids section provides children with preventative tips on how to stay safe online as well as responsive support for online bullying. The website is interactive and written age-appropriately for Junior School children. 

eSafety Young People

Again, this section is appealing and relevant to young people and supports them with preventative tools and tips to use the internet responsibly, by exploring topics such as ‘protecting yourself online’ and ‘self-identity online’. It also provides young people with responsive supports and steps to take if they encounter difficult situations online. 

We encourage you to open up this conversation with your child or teenager and maybe spend some time exploring the eSafety Commissioner website together. 

If your family is struggling or has concerns in the area of cyber safety, please reach out to our Wellbeing Team.  If you would like to request counselling support for your child, you can make a referral on the Wellbeing Support page on the Emmaus Website.  

Blessings,

Steph Reedman

ELC – 6 Counselling Team Leader