The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have launched a new easy-read, accessible guide to give people with cognitive disability greater access to online safety education.
Launched in Tasmania jointly with the Tasmanian Acquired Brain Injury Services (TABIS), but accessible across the country, the new guide was developed by the AFP’s ThinkUKnow online safety program.
Manager of AFP’s Hobart Office, Sergeant Aaron Hardcastle said the guide would give more of the community access to important online safety information.
“All Australians should have access to ThinkUKnow’s practical tools and resources to help them stay safe both online and offline,” Sergeant Hardcastle said.
“While a record number of young people attended ThinkUKnow’s online safety presentations in 2017-18, including more than 200,000 students across metropolitan and regional Australia, we need to continue to reach more people in different ways.”
He said the guide gave people living with a cognitive disability a greater understanding on how to navigate online challenges, from online grooming and sexting to cyber-bullying and cyber-crime.
Project Manager for TABIS, Anna Holliday said the not-for-profit agency was eager to share the resource throughout Tasmania and beyond, highlighting the immediate community benefits.
“This is a plain-English, engaging and practical guide that young Australians living with a disability will be able to readily-apply in their everyday lives,” Ms Holliday said.
“The initiative is about giving young people the tools to protect themselves from harm, and making sure they know what to do if something goes wrong.”
The new 40-page guide can be accessed at this PS News link.
