ACMA Media Release
109/2010
Page 1 of 2
7
September 2010
ACMA supports National Child Protection Week with
National Cybersmart activities
The Australian Communications and Media Authority, through its Cybersmart
program, is marking National Child Protection Week tomorrow by hosting
Cybersmart Detectives in schools across Australia.
More than 550 students are expected to participate in the Cybersmart Detectives
activity, which will be supported by police, teachers and online safety experts from
around Australia.
Schools are participating from every state and territory (except Tasmania, where
school holidays are underway). They include schools from: Griffith, ACT; Coolum
Beach, Qld; Larrakeyah, NT; Pymble, NSW; Eudunda, Glenburnie and Glenelg, SA;
Glen Iris, Wheelers Hill and Mortlake, Vic; and Bunbury, WA.
The ACMA’s highly successful Cybersafety Outreach program will further support
National Child Protection Week with more than 50 cybersafety presentations to
students, parents and teachers during the week to raise awareness about online
safety and ways to handle issues.
‘The internet offers an exciting world of opportunity for young people. However, it
can also expose children and young people to very real risks,’ said ACMA Chairman
Chris Chapman. ‘While many are aware of cybersafety risks, there is evidence that
some young people deliberately engage in risky behaviours and that the tendency
to do this rises with age.
‘Cybersmart Detectives educates children about these risks—and how to address
them—in an engaging way. The activity helps children learn the skills they need to
keep safe and make sound decisions online. Cybersmart Detectives presents
children with an internet-themed scenario they can relate to—which helps them to
learn about staying safe while having fun,’ he said.
‘The ACMA’s Cybersafety Outreach presentations are another effective tool in
helping to communicate key cybersafety messages, with the program already
reaching over 100,000 students, staff and parents this year.’
Cybersmart Detectives is a popular activity with teachers and students alike as they
present what seems to be a very real scenario to students, in a safe school
environment. To date, over 15,000 students have participated in the activity.
Schools can register to be involved in the ACMA’s cybersafety activities through the
Cybersmart website.
National Child Protection Week, held from 5 to 11 September 2010, is an initiative
of the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
(NAPCAN).
ACMA Media Release
109/2010
Page 2 of 2
For more information or to arrange an interview please contact: Donald
Robertson, Media Manager, on (02) 9334 7980, 0418 861 766 or
media@acma.gov.au.
# # #
The ACMA is Australia’s regulator for broadcasting, the internet,
radiocommunications and telecommunications. The ACMA’s strategic intent is
to make communications and media work in Australia’s public interest. For more
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