Media Release

More students to advise the Government on cybersafety

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy today launched the 2012 Youth Advisory Group on Cybersafety (YAG) at Amaroo School in Canberra.

“This is a milestone year for the YAG. For the first time, any Australian school can nominate to take part and membership has doubled from last year,” Senator Conroy said.

Now in its fourth year, the YAG is expanding to include around 3,000 students from up to 400 schools, and gives primary and secondary students the opportunity to provide cybersafety advice directly to the Government.

“The advice we get from YAG is invaluable. It allows the Government to work directly with young people on a range of cybersafety issues, and to develop resources that will help Australians to stay safe online,” Senator Conroy said.

“The Easy Guide to Socialising Online, launched by the Prime Minister in January, is a fantastic example of the YAG’s success.

“The YAG told us that young people and their parents wanted to know more about using the safety features of social media sites, and we worked closely with the YAG and industry to create this important online resource.”

This year six online consultations will be held with students from each state and territory over a two-week period. Students will have the opportunity to talk to the Government via a secure online website using a range of methods including blogs, discussion forums, quizzes and polls.

Students from the ACT, QLD and NSW will participate in the first online consultation sphere this week (19-30 March). Other states and territories will follow throughout the year.

For more information on the government’s cybersafety plan visit: www.dbcde.gov.au/cybersafetyplan.

To learn how to socialise safely online visit: www.dbcde.gov.au/easyguide.

Date: 19 March 2012
Media contact: Rebekka Power: 0428 035 846