This seminar was a thought-provoking event that highlighted the pressing need to protect children and young people from online harm while upholding their rights to participate in decisions that affect their digital lives. It brought together leading experts, advocates and youth voices to address a topic of growing concern in today’s hyper-connected world.
‘Sharing insights from the Supporting Quality Engagement project – Centring Children’s Voices’
Commissioner Hollonds emphasised the need to centre children’s rights and voices in addressing online safety, drawing on the guiding principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. She noted the lack of incorporation of the Convention into Australian legislation, which has diminished accountability and coordination on children’s policy. The urgent need for meaningful engagement with children and young people in policy discussions was highlighted. The Commissioner introduced practical strategies from the “Supporting Quality Engagement with Children” report, calling on policymakers to not just listen to children, but to act on the insights they provide.
Useful Resources
“In Australia, because we have not incorporated the Convention on the Rights of the Child into our legislation, we have no compass to guide our decision-making on policies impacting children. There’s no national accountability for child wellbeing or human rights … [nor] action based on decades of evidence. I urge all of you to work together so that these calls for action can be heard … [and] we can make sure that governments are held accountable for action based on evidence and human rights.” – Anne Hollonds
‘Protecting Children from Online Harms’
Ashley presented initiatives undertaken by the National Office of Child Safety such as the “One Talk at a Time” campaign and the Indo-Pacific Child Protection Program, which aim to raise awareness and encourage preventative conversations around child sexual abuse. The importance of global collaboration and the role of technology companies in creating safer digital spaces for children was also explored.
Alarming statistics revealed throughout the presentation included:
The National Office of Child Safety has developed extensive resources and tools to support conversations, identification of risks and preventative responses.
“We need to make sure that we hold [technology companies] to account, and we do that publicly, and at the same time that we make sure our legislation is good for purpose, we regulate tech companies in a way that is […] adequate for the harm that is being caused.” – Ashley Katz
Professor Nicola Henry from RMIT University provided an overview on her research on image-based sexual abuse as a tool of coercive control, focusing on victim–survivor experiences and the need for both legal and non-legal responses. See more about Nicola’s research here:
Professor Amanda Keddie from Deakin University provided an introduction to her research on how young men critically engage with online content, providing insights into how they navigate harmful influences and challenge toxic narratives. See more about Amanda’s research here:
Wayne Holdsworth, founder of SmackTalk, shared his personal tragedy of losing his 17-year-old son to suicide after he was sexually extorted online. He emphasised the importance of open communication with children, asking open-ended questions to understand their online activities, and teaching good listening skills to support children who may be struggling. Wayne also advocated for greater government involvement and accountability for tech companies in protecting children online. See more about Smacktalk and Wayne’s work here:
“Until the law comes in, until the tech giants come to the realisation that they have a responsibility, it’s up to us, the community, to ask your kids those open-ended questions [and] be really good role models yourself.” – Wayne Holdsworth
Key Messages from our Panel:
The panel emphasised the critical need for comprehensive responses to image-based sexual abuse, including legal reforms and support for victim-survivors. Greater government regulation and accountability from tech companies were called for to better protect children online.
Panel – Alannah Sander, Em Howells, Lauren Jackson & Zinzan Hunt-Rosacker, Prevention United Youth Advisory Group
Prevention United’s Youth Advisory Group provided valuable insights into young people’s mental health challenges in the digital age. They challenged the simplistic narrative that blames poor mental health solely on social media, offering nuanced perspectives on the broader societal and environmental factors that affect youth well-being.
“The solution is not going to be a ban for social media, for all young people. It’s going to be regulating the things that we’re trying to stop from happening, in a safe way that actually works.” – Youth Advisory Group member Zinzan Hunt-Rosacker
Resources
The seminar concluded with a call to action, encouraging attendees to take tangible steps to promote online safety while ensuring that children’s rights to be heard and protected remain at the forefront of policy development.
“I love seeing professionals genuinely listen to young people and taking their views into account in their decision-making process!”
“Thank you so much for sharing such valuable insights into social media use—really practical tips we as adults can use with children and also share with other adults in our communities.”
“It was so insightful and well done. I loved the range of presenters, from a parent, academics and young people- so may perspectives were covered.”
You can watch last year seminar below.
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