Government launches project to define Australian cyber-safety environment

The Federal Government has announced a new research project to track the awareness of kids’ cyber-safety and security issues.

The project, which will be undertaken by the Wollongong University’s Illawarra Regional Information Service (IRIS) and the Australian Council for Educational Research, will build on the Review of Existing Australian and International Cyber-safety Research from Edith Cowan University. The research found significant gaps in many areas of cyber safety research.

The aim of the new project is to develop a reliable and nationally representative data collection methodology. In the first half of 2010, IRIS the Australian Council for Educational Research will undertake two surveys of young internet users, a survey for parents and guardians and one for teachers.

The research will complement and inform the important work of the Consultative Working Group and Youth Advisory Group on Cyber-Safety, according to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy. It will also assist the cyber-safety initiatives of the Australian Communications and Media Authority and the Australian Federal Police.

The project is part of the governments $125.8 million [[xref: www.dbcde.gov.au/cybersafetyplan |cyber-safety plan] which includes:

• $49 million for an additional 91 AFP online child protection officers
• $11.3 million for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
• Resources such as help-lines and the CyberSmart website
• ISP filtering
• Consultative arrangements with industry, children and child protection bodies, and research to identify possible areas for further action.