[LINK] Fwd: MR67/10: Cybersmart Hero stands up to online bullies [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[Antony Barry]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Australian Communications & Media Authority" <media at acma.gov.au>
> Date: 4 June 2010 11:05:30 AM AEST
> To: <tony at tony-barry.emu.id.au>
> Subject: MR67/10: Cybersmart Hero stands up to online bullies [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
> Reply-To: media at acma.gov.au
> 
> Cybersmart Hero stands up to online bullies
> 
> Cybersmart Hero—a new online program to help kids deal with cyberbullying—was launched today at Westgarth Primary School in Melbourne by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy, Senator the Hon. Stephen Conroy, and ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman. 
> Children in schools across Australia took part in today’s Cybersmart Hero event, working in teams, online in real time, together with community professionals to solve a cyberbullying-themed problem. 
> ‘The internet has opened up a whole new environment for young people, but unfortunately there are risks that can make the online world unpleasant and potentially dangerous,’ Senator Conroy said.
> ‘Cybersmart Hero continues the Government’s commitment to cybersafety by providing an exciting new tool to educate students about cyberbullying.’ 
> ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman noted that cyberbullying is more difficult to identify than face to face bullying. 
> ‘Adults are much more reliant on children to tell them there is a problem, because they can’t necessarily see what’s happening themselves,’ he said.
> ‘Cyberbullying can happen both at school and at home, so the target no longer has a ‘safe’ place to be. It can also happen day or night. The audience is much wider than other types of bullying and can be reached very quickly. Unpleasant information or humiliating images posted online can be extremely hard to delete.’
> Cybersmart Hero is a school-based innovative activity designed for students in the last year of primary school. It aims to educate and empower students to make their own more informed decisions about how they can manage cyberbullying in real life situations, and to know where they can go for help.
> Cybersmart Hero is an extension of the already highly successful and popular Cybersmart Detectives program. Both activities are a key part of the ACMA’s Cybersmart program (details at www.cybersmart.gov.au ), which provides education resources, advice and support for young people, teachers and families, about a range of online safety issues.
> Schools can register to take part in Cybersmart Hero via the Cybersmart website or email isl at acma.gov.au
> Next week (6-11 June) is Cyber Security Awareness Week. The full program of ACMA activities for the week is on the website http://www.emailhosts.com/ct/ctcount.php?key=009053830097890200002125  
> For more information or to arrange an interview please contact: Donald Robertson, Media Manager, on (02) 9334 7980, 0418 861 766 or media at acma.gov.au.
> # # #
> The ACMA is Australia’s regulator for broadcasting, the internet, radiocommunications and telecommunications. The ACMA’s strategic intent is to make communications and media work in Australia’s public interest. For more information: www.acma.gov.au. 
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