Rural kids tune in to cybersafety broadcast
Thursday, November 12, 2009
The Australian Communications and Media Authority’s Cybersafety Outreach program broadcast its cybersafety message to an audience of children and parents within a 500 kilometre radius of Carnarvon in rural Western Australia with the help of the Carnarvon School of the Air on 11 November.
‘This is the first time we have broadcast our internet safety awareness messages across rural towns in Western Australia,’ said Maria Vassiliadis, Manager, Cybersafety Outreach section of the ACMA. ‘We’re very pleased to be able to work with the Carnarvon School of the Air to present to primary school children, their parents and home tutors across the region.
‘The internet is a vital tool for families in rural areas, enabling them to connect and communicate, and safety is paramount,’ said Ms Vassiliadis.
‘With the closest station 90 kilometres from Carnarvon, the School of the Air’s satellite broadcast system is the most effective way to reach the families and provide them with the comprehensive cybersafety information that they need.’
In a two-part presentation, the ACMA’s Cybersafety Outreach trainer delivered the day’s classes to primary school children, followed by a separate session with parents and home tutors. Eighteen families, including thirty-three children, were involved in the sessions.
Cybersafety Outreach presentations cover the potential risks faced by children when online and highlight effective strategies for issues such as cyberbullying, identity theft, inappropriate contact and exposure to inappropriate content.
‘With our experience from Carnarvon, we hope to provide similar education opportunities to other rural communities in the future,’ Ms Vassiliadis said.
In addition to the Internet Safety Awareness presentations, a Professional Development for Educators presentation (PD) was also held in Carnarvon on 12 November. Six teachers from the Carnarvon School of the Air attended the PD program which provided them with comprehensive training in online safety including digital literacy, positive online behaviour and personal and peer safety.
Since January this year, the ACMA’s trainers have delivered Internet Safety Awareness presentations to over 500 schools and more than 74,000 participants. In addition, more than 2,500 teachers have attended the PD for Educators workshops. All presentations and materials are provided free of charge.
Cybersafety Outreach trainer Beverley Yardley and Carnarvon School of the Air principal James Peletier delivering the cybersafety message to children in the remote areas of Carnarvon