Supporting safe digital practices in early learning: eSafety’s Early Years Program

Fiona Alston

Aug 06, 2025

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The Australian eSafety Commissioner has a dedicated resource to help early childhood educators and families navigate online safety with young children. The Early Years Program provides practical tools to embed safe digital habits from the earliest years of learning.

The Early Years Program equips educators with age-appropriate strategies to introduce online safety concepts within early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. The program includes:

Professional learning modules to build educator confidence in discussing online safety
Family engagement resources that strengthen partnerships with parents and carers
Classroom activities aligned with children’s developmental stages, focusing on safe and respectful digital interactions

These resources are designed to complement the requirements of the National Quality Standard (NQS), particularly Quality Area 2 - Children’s Health and Safety and Quality Area 5 - Relationships with Children, supporting services to meet regulatory expectations around child protection and wellbeing.

Embedding online safety education within ECEC practice can support the development of positive habits and reduce exposure to harm. The program aligns with national child safety principles, helping services strengthen their policies on digital technology use, as new regulatory requirements take effect from 1 September 2025.

The Early Years Program is not only a teaching resource, it is a tool to support compliance, educator capability, and partnership with families. By integrating these strategies into daily practice, services can demonstrate proactive measures in safeguarding children online, meeting both legislative obligations and community expectations.

For more information and to access the free resources, visit the eSafety Commissioner’s Early Years Program.

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