Keeping kids safe on the internet

As children get more access to information technology, parents may find themselves powerless to stop them from encountering difficult situations online.

Now help is at hand, with several agencies combining to provide parents with the knowledge and skills to stop problems occurring.

The Department for Communities, community organisation Investing In Our Youth and Edith Cowan University are partnering with Kingston Primary School to present a cyber safety seminar at the school tomorrow night.

Investing In Our Youth mental health development officer Louise Fischer said the seminar would provide practical advice on the safety of young people and their families in the online environment.

“This is an opportunity to raise awareness and identify potential problems — it is also about prevention,” she said.

“These issues for our young people are new and not faced by parents throughout their upbringing.

“Equipping ourselves as parents provides us with a much better ability to prevent problems.”

Kingston Primary School principal Alan Kidd encouraged parents to attend the session.

“Ignorance is a poor excuse when your child’s safety is compromised,” he said.

The seminar will be presented by ECU Child Health Promotion Research Centre senior research fellow Kate Hadwen.

Community Services Minister Robyn McSweeney praised Kingston Primary School for raising awareness about cyber safety.

“Schools play an important role in making sure parents and students are well informed,” she said.

The seminar runs from 6.30pm to 8pm on Wednesday at Kingston Primary School, Macquarie Drive, Australind.

It is free and open to all, with bookings essential at www.trybooking. com/CBWL.