By JOLENE OGLE
Shocking statistics released by the Government reveal that one in five Australian children aged between eight and seventeen experience cyber-bullying each year.
The research, commissioned by the Abbott Government and released at the National Centre Against Bullying conference last week, found 72 per cent of schools reported at least one incident in 2013.
Following the release of the report, the Government announced $10 million of funding would be made available to help tackle cyber-bullying.
Schools will be able to share in $7.5 million to help access online safety programs, $2.4 million will be used to establish and operate the Office of the Children’s e-Safety Commissioner and $100,000 will be used to support Australian-based research and information campaigns regarding online safety.
Not-for-profit community organisations, like the Cooloola-Noosa Life Education Association, are also helping address the growing issues of online safety and cyber-bullying.
Cooloola-Noosa Life Educations Association’s Emma Plasier said initiatives such as their Cyberwise program focus on empowering children to help them make the right choice when it comes to being online.
“Obviously in this age with digital technology, parents can’t always keep abreast of what children are up to… It’s all about (children) learning how to manage themselves,” she said.
“(Cyberwise) is about teaching children that if you do come across social media bullying or predators online then go and find an adult that you trust and feel comfortable with, whether it be a parent or a teacher.
“If you feel uncomfortable and suspect some of these issues, log off, move away and then go and speak to the right person.”
The Life Education Association, who recently received a grant from the Noosa Heads’ Commonwealth Bank to run help the Cyberwise program, has been teaching children and young adults about life choices for more than 35 years and is currently the largest non-government provider of drug and health education to children and young people.
Ms Plasier said the Cyberwise program has been well-received by both families and teachers at the schools they visit.
“The children really engage in it, too,” she said.
“Cyber bullying is an area that the community needs to look at and deal with. This is a program to help facilitate gauging some of those issues.
