It is likely that over the coming weeks, children will be spending more time at home and more time online. There are lots of great ways children can use connected devices to learn, play and socialise, but there are also risks. The need to set expectations about online behaviour is even greater than usual – regardless of your child’s proficiency with technology.

As parents and carers, you have the best opportunity to support and guide your children to avoid online risks and have safer experiences. At school, we also have a role to play in making sure the online world is a safe place to be. As always, we can achieve the best outcomes for our kids when we work together to provide support, boundaries and guidance.

Fortunately, the Australian Government has developed some great resources to help parents and teachers support children as they navigate the online space.

Please click here to read an Open letter to Australia’s parents and carers from the eSafety Commissioner.

There is also some worthwhile information in this global online safety advice. This guide covers some of the key online safety issues for young people and includes a range of practical tips and advice on what to do if things go wrong. It covers common online safety issues like managing time online, using parent controls and setting and responding to issues like cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and contact from strangers.

Online safety has never been so important. Please be assured that we will continue to partner with families to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our children.