In the digital world, child safety is an issue of mammoth proportions. The digital tools are gateways to the cyberworld and all that it holds, both positive and negative. Just as we teach children to be safe in body and mind in ‘the real world’, so we must educate them to carry these principles and disciplines into the digital or cyberworld.
Child Safety Program
A sound grounding in awareness of personal safety, ethical, responsible and respectful behaviour forms an essential prelude to stepping into the cyberworld. It is therefore important that we focus on teaching these skills and behaviours in all possible contexts. The Australian Curriculum – Health and Physical Education (awaiting final endorsement) aims to teach students how to enhance their own and others’ health, safety, wellbeing and physical activity participation in varied and changing contexts.
The curriculum is organised into two content strands — Personal, social and community health and Movement and physical activity. The Personal, social and community health strand, through its three sub-strands will support students in:
- Being healthy, safe and active
- Communicating and interacting for health and wellbeing
- Contributing to healthy and active communities
Cybersafety Program
The Cybersafety Program at Our Lady of Dolours School is grounded in these teachings of the Australian Curriculum – Health and Physical Education. As students move through the school these learnings will be applied at appropriate levels in the cyber environment.