The Alannah & Madeline Foundation and Dolly’s Dream welcome the announcement that the Federal Government will support a national evaluation of the eSmart Digital Licence in schools. The eSmart Digital Licence helps parents and teachers work with children to understand the risks and opportunities of being online, while helping them build safe and responsible practices of using the internet.
The Foundation’s CEO, Lesley Podesta, congratulated the Minister for Communications and the Arts, Senator Mitch Fifield, and said that ongoing investment in education was critical.
“The eSmart Digital Licence is a proven and evidence-based online tool designed to keep junior primary, primary and secondary students safe online,” Ms Podesta said.
“We welcome the opportunity to gather further evidence of its impact. All children and young people in Australia need to be confident and safe online. Learning about digital safety has to start at home, but it also needs to be part of every classroom. The tragic death of Amy “Dolly” Everett brought home to everyone that we need to do more to protect our children.”
The Alannah & Madeline Foundation has been partnering with schools across Australia to provide the eSmart Digital Licence for over four years. Around 2,500 schools around the country have registered to use it, with more than 200,000 students having completed it.
Dolly’s Dream has been working to bring the eSmart Digital Licence to regional and remote Australia.
A recent independent evaluation showed that students using the eSmart Digital Licence increased their knowledge of online safety and, more importantly, changed their behaviours.
“Around two-thirds of schools that have used the eSmart Digital Licence observed positive changes in behaviour at their school, including students being more aware, appreciative and understanding of digital safety, helping their peers more often to practice safe internet use and being more careful sharing personal information online,” Ms Podesta said.
“In fact, 90 per cent of teachers who have used the eSmart Digital Licence said they would recommend it to other schools and teachers.”
Ms Podesta also welcomed a new $10 million Online Safety Grants program announced by the Minister.
“We are thrilled to see this new commitment by the Australian government to invest in our children’s safety. This will enable proven not-for-profits to reach vulnerable children and their families, as well as communities around the country,” she said.
“Like any environment where there are unknown threats, children need to know what to look out for and how to deal with threats when they arise. Every child should be able to feel safe and act responsibly online”.
Lesley Podesta is
