Cybersafety Presentation

Year 8 and 9 Online Safety Presentation

For our students at St Norbert College there has always been an ‘internet’ and as Facebook marks its 16-year anniversary it is sobering to realise that it has existed for the entire lives of our students. Being connected online, doing school work, shopping or using social media has become such a normal and important part of their lives. As being online can seem so normal and generally benign, many students however can forget just how unsafe some of their behaviours can be. With this in mind the College invited Mr Paul Litherland from ‘Surf Online Safe’ to speak to our Year 8 and 9 students on Monday 3 December.

Paul spoke to the Year 8 students about their internet ‘footprint’ and general online safety. To the surprise of many, Paul was able to demonstrate just how much could be found out about an individual from the way students posted and uploaded photos online. The Year 9 presentation delved deeper into the dangers of sexting and the ramifications of such behaviour, both legally and socially. Paul’s many years as a West Australian policer officer with the Technology Crime Investigation Unit lent extra gravitas to the message he relayed.

The students were engaged with the presentations and left with a much broader understanding of the risks of their online experience and importantly, some measures they can implement to protect themselves. I would encourage all parents to actively engage with their sons or daughters on this topic. I have included some links for parents who would like more information on the topic on online safety. I also would remind parents that they are free to contact the College and speak to their students’ Head of House if there are any concerns in relation to online safety.

Surf Online Safe (Paul Litherland): http://www.surfonlinesafe.com.au/

Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network: https://www.acorn.gov.au/

eSafety (Australian Government): https://www.esafety.gov.au/

Stay Smart Online (Australian Government): https://www.staysmartonline.gov.au/

Mr B Gherardi (Head of House - Tongerlo)