Workshop Introduction

In the year 2020 the safety of our children whilst online is one of the biggest issues child protection agencies face in Australia and the world over. More than 1 in 4 Australian 11-16 year olds say they are in communication with people they first met online, unconnected with their offline social networks.
- (Green et al, 2011)

With the advancements in technology, access to vulnerable children and young people has been made even easier and sadly harder to detect. Sex offenders are reaching out to children through a variety of social media and online platforms tricking and coercing them into unsafe situations which they then use against the child or young person to silence them.

A large number of reports to police involve adolescent children creating and distributing child exploitation materials. This together with the sharing of nude images created by young people for young people is fast becoming the norm.

Police have also seen an increase in other cases, sex offenders are reaching out to children through social media platforms and coercing them into sharing inappropriate or naked pictures of themselves, which is secretly captured and shared in the darkest corners of the internet (Alarming rise in ‘self-produced child abuse material’ sparks online safety warnings, abc.net.au, 2017).

Early intervention and education are critical. It is just as important to educate and empower children and young people  about online personal safety. Of equal importance educate and empower yourself as parent so you in turn can help your children safely navigate the online world.