Online safety
Protect your children when they go online.
Without proper supervision, they could open
themselves up to contact from strangers
or expose themselves to sexually explicit,
violent or even illegal content. While sharing
personal information online can place adults
in danger, kids face even bigger risks. They
could become vulnerable to identity theft and
cyberbullying or leave behind content that
might not reflect well on them in the future.
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Block inappropriate content.
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Increase your online security and privacy.
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Set up your computer to only access
approved websites and email addresses.
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Monitor where your children go online and
keep the computer in a communal area.
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Explore the internet with your children.
Consider using safe zones and exploring
child-friendly websites. Bookmark
websites for them that you have
approved.
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Discuss the kinds of sites that are okay to
explore, those that are not and what they
should do when they land on a site that
makes them feel uncomfortable.
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For older children, consider tools that filter
access to chat rooms and prevent giving
out personal information.
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Check if your internet service provider
(ISP) is family-friendly by looking for a
lady bird logo on their website. These
providers block content unsuitable for
children.
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If someone is posting anything about
your child online, especially personal
information, contact your ISP. Your
provider may be able to have the
information removed.
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Report cyber-bullying to your child’s
school. If you have serious concerns for
your child’s safety, contact your local
police.
Where to get help
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For more information about online
safety visit
or
call 1800 880 176.
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Report online abuse or suspicious
activity towards a child through the
ThinkUKnow website.
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If you know about a child who is in
immediate danger, call 000 (Triple
Zero) or contact your local police
station.
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If you have come across content
which you believe to be illegal or
prohibited, you can report it to the
Australian Communications and
Media Authority (ACMA) via their
website.
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For support you can also contact the
Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800 or
Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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