Take action
Take action

So, what can you do to protect the children and young people in your life?

Action 1

Children and young people growing up today don’t know a world that exists without the internet. It’s a part of who they are, and how they live their lives. As adults, we need to be aware of their lives, to help them be safe, grow up happily and healthily.

Being interested is a way of countering the messages that perpetrators use to manipulate and control children and young people. They are less likely to keep these exchanges to themselves if they feel like the adults in their safety circle are interested in the things they are generally interested in – especially online.

Action 2

Digital literacy involves having the skills to communicate and access information using digital technologies on the internet, including social media, online games, forums and other websites. It also means understanding how to the internet on a variety of devices including mobile phones, tablets and computers. What is really important is to understand risks to privacy and safety for ourselves and children and young people. The Australian e-Safety Commission has created simple and valuable resources and information to help keep children and adults safe online. Their eSafety Guide is particularly useful.

Action 3

Building digital literacy is one of the most important ways we can keep children safe online. Here are some steps you can take to support the children and young people in your life.

Start by:
1.  Assessing their knowledge
2.  Dispelling myths
3.  Supporting them to understand more

There are many resources available to help build the digital literacy of children and young people in your life. You can start at the E-safety Commissioner website that has sections specifically designed for children and teenagers.
esafety.gov.au/kids
esafety.gov.au/young-people

If you would like more information or guidance on the approaches you can take to build digital literacy, check out our article here.

Action 4

Trusted relationships within which children and young people feel respected and valued are critical to keeping them safe. Think about all the children in your life. Where do you fit into their safety circle and how can you help children when they need it?

Create opportunities to check in with the children in your life regularly. Check in with other adults in the child’s safety circle. Stay connected, open and interested.

Action 5

Online child sexual abuse and exploitation includes a wide range of behaviours and situations. Often children and adults alike may not realise they are at risk.

Online child sexual abuse and exploitation involves an adult:

  • Engaging children in a conversation about sex or sexual acts online
  • Encouraging children to share photos of themselves online
  • Sending children naked images or videos of themselves or exposing themselves live on video
  • Asking children to view pornographic images or videos online
  • Asking children to expose themselves online
  • Taking, making and sharing sexual images of children on the internet

Learn more about the tactics of perpetrators.
Perpetrators use the vulnerabilities of children and young people against them in order to develop relationships that feel positive and trustworthy.

They do this by:

  • Tricking
  • Manipulating and
  • Rewarding children

Using the power and control they develop, perpetrators will pretend to be a friend, often of a similar age to gradually gain trust.

Over time, what began as a ‘friendship’ becomes more threatening as perpetrators use more power and aggression, sometimes with threats of blackmail, embarrassment or humiliation. Children and young people can become isolated from other relationships through fear of shame, potential trouble or harm to themselves or their family.

Action 6

If a child or young person you know has experienced online child sexual abuse or exploitation, it is important to listen, believe and validate their call for support.
Here are some critical things you can do:

  • Always believe a child or young person when they tell you what is happening to them.
  • Try to control your own feelings so that the child or young person doesn’t feel guilty, ashamed or responsible for upsetting you.
  • Go slowly, letting them tell their story at their own pace to help them feel you have heard and understood.
  • Let them know that it’s never their fault.
  • Reassure them that you are there for them, offering whatever support they need.

While you might not have an answer to every question. To find out some suggested ways to respond if a child or young person tells you about being exploited online, click here.

Action 7

In order to protect children and young people from potential dangers, we need to make everyone aware of these risks. Share the information you learn with others, and ask questions when you need to learn more.

It’s never too late to:

  • Find out more
  • Talk to others who will share your worries, provide advice and offer reassurance
  • Start a conversation with the children in your life about their internet use

Action 8

If you believe a child or young person to be in immediate danger call 000.

Anyone can report abuse or illegal activity online by using the Australian Federal Police online child sex exploitation form. Do not use this reporting form to report emergencies or concerns which require a high priority response.

So, what can you do to protect the children and young people in your life?

Action 1

Children and young people growing up today don’t know a world that exists without the internet. It’s a part of who they are, and how they live their lives. As adults, we need to be aware of their lives, to help them be safe, grow up happily and healthily.

Being interested is a way of countering the messages that perpetrators use to manipulate and control children and young people. They are less likely to keep these exchanges to themselves if they feel like the adults in their safety circle are interested in the things they are generally interested in – especially online.

Action 2

Digital literacy involves having the skills to communicate and access information using digital technologies on the internet, including social media, online games, forums and other websites. It also means understanding how to the internet on a variety of devices including mobile phones, tablets and computers. What is really important is to understand risks to privacy and safety for ourselves and children and young people. The Australian e-Safety Commission has created simple and valuable resources and information to help keep children and adults safe online. Their eSafety Guide is particularly useful.

Action 3

Building digital literacy is one of the most important ways we can keep children safe online. Here are some steps you can take to support the children and young people in your life.

Start by:
1.  Assessing their knowledge
2.  Dispelling myths
3.  Supporting them to understand more

There are many resources available to help build the digital literacy of children and young people in your life. You can start at the E-safety Commissioner website that has sections specifically designed for children and teenagers.
esafety.gov.au/kids
esafety.gov.au/young-people

If you would like more information or guidance on the approaches you can take to build digital literacy, check out our article here.

Action 4

Trusted relationships within which children and young people feel respected and valued are critical to keeping them safe. Think about all the children in your life. Where do you fit into their safety circle and how can you help children when they need it?

Create opportunities to check in with the children in your life regularly. Check in with other adults in the child’s safety circle. Stay connected, open and interested.

Action 5

Online child sexual abuse and exploitation includes a wide range of behaviours and situations. Often children and adults alike may not realise they are at risk.

Online child sexual abuse and exploitation involves an adult:

  • Engaging children in a conversation about sex or sexual acts online
  • Encouraging children to share photos of themselves online
  • Sending children naked images or videos of themselves or exposing themselves live on video
  • Asking children to view pornographic images or videos online
  • Asking children to expose themselves online
  • Taking, making and sharing sexual images of children on the internet

Learn more about the tactics of perpetrators.
Perpetrators use the vulnerabilities of children and young people against them in order to develop relationships that feel positive and trustworthy.

They do this by:

  • Tricking
  • Manipulating and
  • Rewarding children

Using the power and control they develop, perpetrators will pretend to be a friend, often of a similar age to gradually gain trust.

Over time, what began as a ‘friendship’ becomes more threatening as perpetrators use more power and aggression, sometimes with threats of blackmail, embarrassment or humiliation. Children and young people can become isolated from other relationships through fear of shame, potential trouble or harm to themselves or their family.

Action 6

If a child or young person you know has experienced online child sexual abuse or exploitation, it is important to listen, believe and validate their call for support.
Here are some critical things you can do:

  • Always believe a child or young person when they tell you what is happening to them.
  • Try to control your own feelings so that the child or young person doesn’t feel guilty, ashamed or responsible for upsetting you.
  • Go slowly, letting them tell their story at their own pace to help them feel you have heard and understood.
  • Let them know that it’s never their fault.
  • Reassure them that you are there for them, offering whatever support they need.

While you might not have an answer to every question. To find out some suggested ways to respond if a child or young person tells you about being exploited online, click here.

Action 7

In order to protect children and young people from potential dangers, we need to make everyone aware of these risks. Share the information you learn with others, and ask questions when you need to learn more.

It’s never too late to:

  • Find out more
  • Talk to others who will share your worries, provide advice and offer reassurance
  • Start a conversation with the children in your life about their internet use

Action 8

If you believe a child or young person to be in immediate danger call 000.

Anyone can report abuse or illegal activity online by using the Australian Federal Police online child sex exploitation form. Do not use this reporting form to report emergencies or concerns which require a high priority response.

So, what can you do to protect the children and young people in your life?

Action 1

Children and young people growing up today don’t know a world that exists without the internet. It’s a part of who they are, and how they live their lives. As adults, we need to be aware of their lives, to help them be safe, grow up happily and healthily.

Being interested is a way of countering the messages that perpetrators use to manipulate and control children and young people. They are less likely to keep these exchanges to themselves if they feel like the adults in their safety circle are interested in the things they are generally interested in – especially online.

Action 2

Digital literacy involves having the skills to communicate and access information using digital technologies on the internet, including social media, online games, forums and other websites. It also means understanding how to the internet on a variety of devices including mobile phones, tablets and computers. What is really important is to understand risks to privacy and safety for ourselves and children and young people. The Australian e-Safety Commission has created simple and valuable resources and information to help keep children and adults safe online. Their eSafety Guide is particularly useful.

Action 3

Building digital literacy is one of the most important ways we can keep children safe online. Here are some steps you can take to support the children and young people in your life.

Start by:
1.  Assessing their knowledge
2.  Dispelling myths
3.  Supporting them to understand more

There are many resources available to help build the digital literacy of children and young people in your life. You can start at the E-safety Commissioner website that has sections specifically designed for children and teenagers.
esafety.gov.au/kids
esafety.gov.au/young-people

If you would like more information or guidance on the approaches you can take to build digital literacy, check out our article here.

Action 4

Trusted relationships within which children and young people feel respected and valued are critical to keeping them safe. Think about all the children in your life. Where do you fit into their safety circle and how can you help children when they need it?

Create opportunities to check in with the children in your life regularly. Check in with other adults in the child’s safety circle. Stay connected, open and interested.

Action 5

Online child sexual abuse and exploitation includes a wide range of behaviours and situations. Often children and adults alike may not realise they are at risk.

Online child sexual abuse and exploitation involves an adult:

  • Engaging children in a conversation about sex or sexual acts online
  • Encouraging children to share photos of themselves online
  • Sending children naked images or videos of themselves or exposing themselves live on video
  • Asking children to view pornographic images or videos online
  • Asking children to expose themselves online
  • Taking, making and sharing sexual images of children on the internet

Learn more about the tactics of perpetrators.
Perpetrators use the vulnerabilities of children and young people against them in order to develop relationships that feel positive and trustworthy.

They do this by:

  • Tricking
  • Manipulating and
  • Rewarding children

Using the power and control they develop, perpetrators will pretend to be a friend, often of a similar age to gradually gain trust.

Over time, what began as a ‘friendship’ becomes more threatening as perpetrators use more power and aggression, sometimes with threats of blackmail, embarrassment or humiliation. Children and young people can become isolated from other relationships through fear of shame, potential trouble or harm to themselves or their family.

Action 6

If a child or young person you know has experienced online child sexual abuse or exploitation, it is important to listen, believe and validate their call for support.
Here are some critical things you can do:

  • Always believe a child or young person when they tell you what is happening to them.
  • Try to control your own feelings so that the child or young person doesn’t feel guilty, ashamed or responsible for upsetting you.
  • Go slowly, letting them tell their story at their own pace to help them feel you have heard and understood.
  • Let them know that it’s never their fault.
  • Reassure them that you are there for them, offering whatever support they need.

While you might not have an answer to every question. To find out some suggested ways to respond if a child or young person tells you about being exploited online, click here.

Action 7

In order to protect children and young people from potential dangers, we need to make everyone aware of these risks. Share the information you learn with others, and ask questions when you need to learn more.

It’s never too late to:

  • Find out more
  • Talk to others who will share your worries, provide advice and offer reassurance
  • Start a conversation with the children in your life about their internet use

Action 8

If you believe a child or young person to be in immediate danger call 000.

Anyone can report abuse or illegal activity online by using the Australian Federal Police online child sex exploitation form. Do not use this reporting form to report emergencies or concerns which require a high priority response.

Complete our community experience survey and together we can work towards creating a safer online environment for children and young people.
Complete survey

Know you can make a difference.

We are not helpless to protect children and young people from these risks and dangers. We can act to protect them. Stay positive and hopeful knowing that you can make a difference in the lives of the children in your life. Together, we can make sure it’s never too late for any child to live a happy, safe and healthy life.

Know you can make a difference.

We are not helpless to protect children and young people from these risks and dangers. We can act to protect them. Stay positive and hopeful knowing that you can make a difference in the lives of the children in your life. Together, we can make sure it’s never too late for any child to live a happy, safe and healthy life.

Know you can make a difference.

We are not helpless to protect children and young people from these risks and dangers. We can act to protect them. Stay positive and hopeful knowing that you can make a difference in the lives of the children in your life. Together, we can make sure it’s never too late for any child to live a happy, safe and healthy life.

How it happens?

Read their stories
How to prevent it?
Keep children safe

Before we consider the risks that children and young people may face on the internet, let’s talk about what keeps them safe and where you might sit in their safety circles.

Understand the safety circle
Know the signs

The signs of online child sexual abuse and exploitation are not always easy to identify. Children and young people may not understand the risks, but by knowing the signs we can support their understanding.

Teach me the signs

How it happens?

Read their stories
How to prevent it?
Keep children safe

Before we consider the risks that children and young people may face on the internet, let’s talk about what keeps them safe and where you might sit in their safety circles.

Understand the safety circle
Know the signs

The signs of online child sexual abuse and exploitation are not always easy to identify. Children and young people may not understand the risks, but by knowing the signs we can support their understanding.

Teach me the signs

How it happens?

Their stories

How to prevent it?

Keep children safe

Before we consider the risks that children and young people may face on the internet, let’s talk about what keeps them safe and where you might sit in their safety circles.

Understand the safety circle
Know the signs

The signs of online child sexual abuse and exploitation are not always easy to identify. Children and young people may not understand the risks, but by knowing the signs we can support their understanding.

Teach me the signs