More than 330 students from Chatham High School were armed with online safety skills after taking part in Optus' Digital Thumbprint Program, a free-in-school program that supports young people to be safe, responsible and positive online.
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North West and Mid North Coast NSW, Territory General Manager Chris Simon said that given eased COVID-19 restrictions in the state, he was thrilled to bring the program to students at Chatham High, sparking conversations around digital practice as well as some of the other challenging topics related to the online world.
"With the current situation driving more online activity, conversations around necessary precautions such as creating strong passwords and enabling privacy settings on social media have become more important than ever.
"As a leading provider of internet technology, it's important for us to highlight to students that they don't have to be an expert at navigating the internet to practice these safe habits.
"The Digital Thumbprint Program ensures students are able to take home some valuable skills when it comes to cybersecurity, verifying credible information and what to keep in mind to create a positive digital footprint.
Optus also partnered with MidCoast Council Libraries to teach parents and caregivers how to help young people safely navigate the online world by hosting a free Digital Thumbprint Parent Night at Taree Library.
Chris Jones, Manager Libraries and Community Services said MidCoast Council places the safety of its community as a high priority and recognises that the online environment poses its own risks.
"The impact of COVID has seen more people spending more time in the online environment, making programs like Optus' Digital Thumbprint even more important.
"We fully support the principles behind the Digital Thumbprint workshops and recognise the importance of empowering regional communities to use the evolving technology and telecommunications in ways that enhance the online safety of all."
