Government invests in online safety program for children 4-6 years

50,000 children between the ages of four and six years will benefit from an education program which teaches them about the importance of being safe online. 

 

The ‘Netys the Trusted eSafety Friend’ program was recently awarded $381,147 to support preschool and early-years primary children to be safe online, with funding being allocated as part of the Australian Government’s $9 million Online Safety Grants Program.

 

The innovative early-years online safety education program provides services and educational resources to 1,000 preschools and schools for children, parents, and educators, and is one of nine initiatives to share in $2.25 million in funding in the third and final round of the grants program, which is led by the eSafety Commissioner and complements its existing education programs.

 

“These grants will help unlock each recipient’s unique expertise to create new channels and content addressing specific issues and age groups, helping us to reach more Australians with vital online safety education,” Minister for Communications, the Hon. Michelle Rowland MP said.

 

Through working with partner organisations, the Government hopes to bring “more voices, more insights and more ways to inspire a generation of young people to scroll with safety online,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant added.

 

“We need to keep developing fresh ways to reach and educate Australians if we’re to keep pace with technology.”

  

To find out more about the Online Safety Grants Program, visit: Online Safety Grants Program

 

For online safety advice for all Australians, visit esafety.gov.au