An update to the Department of Education’s Digital Citizenship website promises to help students, parents and teachers become better informed and prepared to engage in positive, smart and safe online behaviour.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Sarah Mitchell said the new website would empower young people to be more responsible online, and aimed to reduce the number of cyber-related issues young people encountered.
“The new Digital Citizenship website will equip students, teachers and parents in NSW with the skills and knowledge to minimise the risks associated with online engagement, whilst maximising the opportunities of our digital future,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The site provides advice and guidance to parents and carers on how to protect the wellbeing of their children in a digital environment.”
She said teachers would also be supported through this platform to model best practice and teach students the skills they needed to be responsible digital citizens.
Ms Mitchell said the website was developed in close consultation with stakeholders and experts like the Office of the eSafety Commissioner and the Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People.
“The toolkit, developed by the Department in partnership with leading researchers, also supports teachers to model best practice and actively teach students the skills they need to be responsible digital citizens,” Ms Mitchell said.
This included managing their privacy settings in social media; collaborating online and avoiding scams and hoaxes; understanding the law when it came to online speech, and internet banking and shopping online.
