Trial to lift web safety as cyber bullying increases

STUDENTS will be taught how to ward off online predators and cope with cyber-bullying under a national trial to be announced today.

Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard will reveal schools will take unprecedented action to protect children inside the classroom and out.

The $3 million “world-first cyber safety initiative” will be trialled in 164 public and private schools, including 27 in Queensland.

With a growing concern about cyber-bullying being raised by parents, Ms Gillard said the Government wanted to arm students with information and would rollout the trial program until April 2010.

“The Government is deeply concerned about the emergence of cyber-bullying in our schools and the impact it is having on students,” Ms Gillard said.

“All the research tells us cyber-bullying is on the increase and is under-reported.

“We also understand there is no one size fits all approach but we are determined to provide teachers and school leaders with a range of tools to help them deal with bullying.”

The program is centred on talking about cyber safety in schools, improving the curriculum in relation to cyber safety, increasing the skills of teachers to teach students about the issues and working better with parents and students to keep children safe.

The pilot will be developed and conducted by child safety charity, The Alannah and Madeline Foundation. Alannah and Madeline Mikac, aged 6 and 3 respectively, were among the 35 killed at Port Arthur in 1996.

Source: Courier Mail