Cyber Safety visit from Legal Aid Tasmania  

St Marys students from years 3-9 were visited by Jade, a Community Education Officer and Lawyer from Legal Aid Tasmania.  The purpose of Cyber Safety sessions are to educate young people in this fast moving space and keep young people under the age of 18 safe online.  All sessions were age appropriate and tailored to common online situations different ages may encounter.   

Technology can be fun and help young people connect with others. Families can teach them to protect personal information and understand privacy settings. As well as set rules together for safe device usage to enhance open conversation. 

A cybercrime is a criminal offence committed using technology. Young people can commit cybercrimes without intending to break the law. Examples are included below along with a picture provided by Legal Aid Tasmania for reference. 

• Stalking: Unwanted calls, messages, or social media interactions that intimidate. 

• Defamation: False statements that damage someone's reputation. 

• Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual behaviour, including comments on social media. 

• Sexting: Sharing explicit messages or images. 

• Bullying: Repeated harmful behaviour, including cyberbullying. 

Young people aged 14 and older can be charged with offences. For those between 10 and 14, police need to prove they understood their actions. It's illegal for anyone under 18 to send, receive or store explicit images. 

If your child receives a nude photo, it should be deleted immediately. Talk to them about the legal consequences and potential harm of sending nudes. Encourage them to seek support if they feel worried. 

Where can you go if you need some help? 

Kids Helpline – this service is for young people up to 25 years of age. Call 1800 55 1800 to speak with a counsellor at any time of the day. 

Headspace is a youth-focused mental health service for young people aged 12-25. Phone counselling is available all day, every day on 1800 650 890. Online chat is available 9.00 am to 1.00 am EST daily. 

The eSafety Commissioner provides a wide range of online safety programs and resources, including resources for parents helping their children to safely navigate the digital world. 

All students were able to identify support pathways if they experienced a negative experience online and students came up with the most important message, which was,  to seek help when needed as nothing is so awful that you can’t tell someone about it.