Best practice framework for online safety education (Stage 1)
Kerryann Walsh, Liz Wallace, Natasha J Ayling, Annette Sondergeld · QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) · 2020
Education is an important part of prevention and a powerful tool for behaviour change. eSafety uses a range of strategies to raise awareness and promote online safety for young people, providing resources and training programs for educators, young people and their parents. These education strategies are underpinned by a strong research and evidence base, enhanced by insights from the cyberbullying and image-based abuse complaints scheme, which provide unique insights into the nature of online harms. However, over time, eSafety has identified a gap in clear evidence and overarching information about what a comprehensive approach to online safety education should look like. This research was commissioned by eSafety in response to the identified online safety education gaps and as part of its strategic leadership role in this area. This in line with recommendations in the Report of the Statutory Review of the Enhancing Online Safety Act 2015 and the Review of Schedules 5 and 7 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Online Content Scheme) and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Under Section 15 of the Enhancing Online Safety Act 2015 eSafety: • supports, encourages, conducts and evaluates research about online safety for Australians • collects, analyses, interprets and disseminates information about online safety • publishes reports and papers relating to online safety for Australians. The research program is underpinned by four key themes including: 1. tracking trends 2. supporting the development of eSafety resources and programs 3. inter-agency and international co-operation 4. program and resource evaluation.