Cyber visitor shares safety tips
Students, parents and community members in Exmouth were given an opportunity last week to learn how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe online when Australian cyber safety expert Susan McLean visited Exmouth District High School to give a series of talks.
Ms McLean comes from a police background where she received her first report of cyber bullying in 1994.
The talks covered a wide range of online safety issues, including cyber bullying, app safety, sexting, posting photographs online and the risk of grooming by paedophiles.
Ms McLean said Exmouth children were just as at risk from these issues as anyone else, and perhaps even more so because they are easier to find in a small community and more trusting than city kids.
Ms McLean’s age-appropriate talks with students from Years 6 to 12 were delivered in a direct, interactive and engaging manner, using a mix of short films, discussion, role-playing and humour to get strong messages across to the young people who are potentially at risk.
Her talk to the adults in the community was equally engaging, and provided a real eye-opener into the reality of the risks that are part of our children’s online lives, but unfortunately only 15 parents and community members turned up.
Ms McLean’s advice included removing all devices that connect to the internet from bedrooms, googling apps before you download them and being aware of the very commonly used apps that are regular hangouts for paedophiles.
EDHS co-deputy head teacher Caryl Carr thanked Ms McLean, and said her flexibility in travelling to Exmouth was much appreciated.
She also thanked Apache for being financially supportive.
“The talks were exceedingly professional, and the information is something people should be seeking out all the time,” Ms Carr said.
