National Child Protection Week - "Where we start matters"

This week is National Child Protection Week which reminds all of us of the important role we play in creating school and home environments that keep our children safe and happy.
An added pressure to protecting our children is trying to guide and support them in the online world they are often very keen to explore.
It is true that children can learn, explore, play and make friends online. But there can be risks. Your child might accidentally see upsetting content, be contacted by strangers or experience bullying. They might also miss out on important things like spending time outside.
I strongly recommend you refer to the E-Safety Commissioner Website regularly for advice on how to support your child online to try and lessen the risks your children face.  If you are going to give your child time on a device that can access the internet, you cannot leave them to navigate it alone. Here are a few general pieces of advice from the E-Safety Commissioner to get you started:
Talk about online safety as a family
Let your child know they can always come to you if something happens online that makes them feel scared or upset. You can ask your child to show you the games and apps they use. Use eSafety’s conversation starters to help you get started.
Set up family rules together
As a family, you can choose some easy rules to help keep everyone safe online. You can include things like where devices can be used, what games and apps your children can use, and how much time can be spent online. Most devices and apps have features to set limits on how they are used. Watch this video to learn more about parental controls and settings. 
Know where to get help 
If you need help with an online issue and you are not sure what to do, talk about it with someone you trust. You can also speak to someone at Parentline for help with parenting challenges.

You have value. You have worth. You have the right to feel safe.
You are a child of God, and you are loved. We believe in you.