Our Lady of Mercy College in Heidelberg selected for cyber-safety pilot program
2 March 2010 Federal Member for Jagajaga, Jenny Macklin MP has announced that Our Lady of Mercy College in Heidelberg has been selected to participate in a new cyber-safety and student wellbeing pilot program. The $3 million national initiative, developed by child safety charity the Alannah and Madeline Foundation and funded by the Federal Government is aimed at helping school communities become smart, safe and responsible users of technology.
Our Lady of Mercy Collegewill be provided with web resources designed to help them create an approach to cyber-safety that meets the needs of their school and students.
Ms Macklin said the emergence of cyber-bullying is a frightening trend for local students, parents and our school communities.
“Cyber-bullying, or online harassment of our children is on the rise,”
“Research released this year by the Government shows cyber-bullying is increasing and under-reported. It is experienced by about 10 per cent of Australian students in years 4-9,”
“This initiative will provide Our Lady of Mercy College with the tools they need to create a cyber-safety approach that meets their needs while educating their school community about the responsible use of technology,”
“Cyber bullying is a very serious problem. Students can be silently victimised by other students and children online for a long time before parents and teachers even know there is a problem,”
“This will allow this school to develop an approach and a plan that is best suited to them and their experiences with this problem.” Ms Macklin
The outcomes of the pilot will be independently evaluated and considered in the Government’s review of the National Safe Schools Framework (NSSF), which is scheduled for completion in June 2010.
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