The Australian Federal Police-led ThinkUKnow Program has reached almost 200,000 students with online child safety education and awareness presentations in 2021-21.
The Police’s ThinkUKnow Corporate Report 2020-21 highlights efforts made by law enforcement and industry volunteers delivering the online child safety Program to the Australian community.
Commander ACCCE (Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation) and Human Exploitation for the AFP, Hilda Sirec said despite the challenges of the pandemic, the Program continued to reach a large audience.
“Throughout COVID-19 restrictions and the partial suspension of face-to-face presentations, there has been an increased demand and need for online child safety education, particularly during a time where we saw more children active online,” Commander Sirec said.
“These achievements would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our ThinkUKnow Program partners, including industry volunteers and State and Territory police who dedicate countless hours to educating parents, carers, teachers and students about online safety,” she said.
Commander Sirec said ThinkUKnow currently had 977 registered volunteers from varying backgrounds in technology, policing and crime prevention.
“During the year, the launch of a refreshed ThinkUKnow website provided new advice and tailored resources for parents, carers and teachers as well as presenter resources,” she said.
Commander Sirec said the Program was established in 2009 and was Australia’s first and only nationally-delivered, law enforcement-led online safety program, supporting the critical work of the ACCCE.
She said the Program was a partnership between the AFP, Commonwealth Bank, Datacom and Microsoft Australia, and was delivered in collaboration with all State and Territory police and Neighbourhood Watch Australasia.
The six-page Corporate Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
