The New South Wales (NSW) Police Force has became the latest policing agency to officially join the Australian Federal Police (AFP)’s ThinkUKnow cyber safety program.
The NSW Police Force will deliver cyber safety training to schools and organisations across the state, in partnership with the AFP and industry partners Microsoft, Datacom and the Commonwealth Bank.
The ThinkUKnow program, borrowed from the UK’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, provides interactive training to parents, teachers and carers to help them better understand technology and the online environment, and how they can make it a safer place for young people.
AFP acting National Manager High Tech Crime Operations David McLean welcomed the announcement, which will provide greater reach and expansion of the already successful cyber safety presentations rolling out across Australia.
“The AFP is pleased to welcome the New South Wales Police Force to ThinkUKnow,” Commander McLean said.
”Together, we will work at the grass-roots level to provide parents, carers and teachers with the information and tools to create a safer online community for young people.
“Already more than 150 000 school children and around 4000 parents, carers and teachers across New South Wales have participated in the cyber safety initiative in the past year, thanks to the New South Wales Police Force and our industry partners and volunteers.”
More than 400 accredited volunteers from the AFP, Microsoft, Datacom and the Commonwealth Bank support crime prevention officers in each state and territory to deliver the ThinkUKnow program.
ThinkUKnow aims to educate both adults and young people about the risks online and how to create a safer online experience. Topics covered include cyber bullying, online grooming, inappropriate content and identity theft.
For more information, or to request a cyber safety presentation at your school or organisation, visit www.thinkuknow.org.au.
