Canberra: In a significant advancement for online safety, all primary schools across Australia will now have access to an expanded eSmart Digital Licence program. Often likened to a "pen licence for the online world," this initiative aims to equip students from Kindergarten to Year 4 (ages four to nine) with essential skills in digital awareness.
The program will empower young learners to identify manipulated or falsified online content, fostering a safer online environment as they navigate the digital landscape. This vital step towards enhancing digital literacy reflects a growing commitment to safeguarding children in the online realm, as highlighted by Sky News Australia. Photo courtesy: Sky News Australia.
The eSmart Digital Licence course aims to equip younger children with the necessary tools to navigate the digital landscape safely. For students aged seven to nine, the program includes lessons on recognizing online harm, regulating emotions, and thinking critically about their digital interactions.
While an advanced version of the program, eSmart Digital Licence+, has been available for students aged 10 to 14, the expanded access will be rolled out to all primary schools starting Wednesday. This initiative has been supported by the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, which received $6 million in funding from the Albanese government.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland is set to launch the program at a primary school near Geelong. She encourages schools to leverage these free resources, emphasizing the importance of digital literacy for Australian children. "Australian children have long been getting a pen licence at school as they learn to write – this is the pen licence for the online world," Rowland stated.
Rowland further highlighted the significance of empowering children as young as four years old with the skills to navigate digital challenges, fostering a generation of Australians equipped to engage safely online.
Ariana Kurzeme, the Policy and Prevention Director at the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, echoed these sentiments, describing the course as a "modern-day pen licence." With one-third of children aged six to 13 owning a smartphone, Kurzeme noted the importance of providing them with the knowledge and awareness needed in today’s digital environment.
In addition to the primary school program, older students can access the eSmart Digital Licence+ and high school students can participate in the Media Literacy Lab, further promoting digital literacy across age groups.