Libby Coker (Corangamite, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Our children are growing up in a digital world full of incredible opportunities, with virtual places to learn, to make friends and to explore new interests. But, just as in the real world, children face risks. As a former teacher, I know just how important it is to guide children safely through these virtual platforms, helping them to build confidence and act responsibly online.

That's why, together with the Minister for Communications, I held a forum on child online safety at Clifton Springs Primary School. It was a valuable discussion about the challenges and dangers children face online and the skills children need to protect themselves. The forum also gave parents useful tools to help guide children through the ever-changing digital landscape.

We also launched Australia's first free digital literacy program at St Aloysius Catholic Primary School in Queenscliff. This program, designed by the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, includes the groundbreaking eSmart Digital Licence, a kind of pen licence for the online world. Just as children learn and gain the right to use a pen in school, this licence equips children with the knowledge to safely navigate the internet. Thanks to the Albanese government, children as young as four will now learn to recognise online risks, protect their safety and communicate respectfully.