DALIA SABLE

THE federal Government launched Cybersmart, the first national cybersafety education initiative of its kind, at Melbourne’s Beth Rivkah Ladies College this week. Launched by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, Cybersmart is an interactive website designed to keep kids safe when using the internet.

“Young people are often the first to engage in new activities online. Unfortunately, however, they are often the first to experience cyber-safety problems such as cyber-bullying, invasions of privacy and content, which could be harmful to them,” Conroy said.

According to Conroy, Cybersmart will provide the information and skills necessary for young people to “make smart decisions online”, as well as equipping parents and teachers with tools to assist children who are spending more and more time on the internet.

In addition to age-specific resources and a “schools gateway”, Cybersmart will include a helpline in collaboration with the Kids Helpline, providing confidential advice from counsellors for kids who have encountered issues.

Following the official launch on July 13, Beth Rivkah students had the opportunity to navigate the site.

A number of Melbourne’s Jewish schools said internet safety was an important part of their curriculum.

“We are very aware of the widespread benefits that access to the internet can give our students, but also mindful of the risks and dangers involved in internet use, and of the need to educate our students, and school community, to be intelligent, ethical and safe internet users,” a spokesperson for Beth Rivkah Ladies College said.

Beth Rivkah, Yeshivah College, Mount Scopus Memorial College, Leibler Yavneh College and Sholem Aleichem College have specific internet filters in place and have included cyber-safety and appropriate internet usage in the curriculum.

Jewish schools in Sydney were unavailable for comment due to the school holidays.

For more information: www.cybersmart.gov.au.