Minister for Education launches Harold’s Safe Screen Time to keep children safe in the early years

The Federal Minister for Education, the Hon. Jason Clare MP joined Healthy Harold at Bright Gems Chester Hill to launch a new module for the early years, Harold’s Safe Screen Time. Developed by the largest and most recognised provider in preventative health education, Life Ed, Harold’s Safe Screen Time meets a critical need to deliver education on online safety earlier in our increasingly digital world.

“According to the eSafety Commission, many toddlers can swipe on devices before they can even speak, and 81 per cent of Australian parents report that their 2 to 5-year-old uses the internet,” said Karen Robertson, CEO at Life Ed Australia.

“This is confronting, but not a surprise when we look at the world that our children are growing up in. It’s more complex, more connected. We need to meet them where they are and support them with our most powerful tool; education.” 

This is the purpose of Harold’s Safe Screen Time. It aims to initiate important conversations about online safety with our littlest learners. It addresses critical topics with children aged three to five, such as: early warning signs when something feels unsafe, help-seeking behaviours, screen time management, autonomy and consent.

“It’s more important than ever that we teach children how to stay safe online. I’ve got two little guys at home. I see how important this work is every single day,” said Federal Minister for Education, the Hon. Jason Clare MP.

“I want to thank Healthy Harold and Life Ed for everything they are doing to help set our littlest learners up for life.”

Like all of Life Ed’s early years modules, Harold’s San fe Screen Time is presented in an age-appropriate way. It uses the power of storytelling, through a specially crafted Healthy Harold Big Book, to explore basic concepts and encourage discussions that spark curiosity, joy and a love for learning. 

“We all have a responsibility to work together to keep children safe and to prepare them for the world, online and in real-time,” continued Ms Robertson.

“That’s why all of Life Ed’s modules, including Harold’s Safe Screen Time, are accompanied by accessible pre and post visit resources so teachers and parents can continue the conversation in and beyond the classroom. This is how we build digital and health literacy, together, and this is the key to health prevention.”

Harold’s Safe Screen Time is available nationally from Term 2 2026, bookings are open now at lifeed.org.au/haroldssafescreentime  

About Life Ed Australia

 

Life Ed Australia is the largest and most recognised provider in preventative health education in schools. 

The team continues to make an impact almost 50 years on because they address the issues facing young people today – like online safety, respectful relationships and vaping. Each year, the not-for-profit reaches around 600,000 children in over 5,000 schools across Australia. 

For more information visit lifeed.org.au

About Harold’s Safe Screen Time

Life Ed is a Trusted eSafety Provider, endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner, for its impactful evidence-informed, curriculum-aligned and highly respected approach to educating Australians on online safety and wellbeing. 

Harold’s Safe Screen Time is evidence-informed, strengths-based and aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), National Quality Standards (NQS), South Australia's Child Protection Curriculum known as Keeping Safe, the eSafety Commissioner’s Best Practice Framework for Online Safety Education, and World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendations on digital health for children and adolescents.  

Content was developed in consultation with Early Childhood Australia and the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).