New guide for parents to protect children from cyberbullying.

Parents concerned about how to protect their children from cyberbullying can seek advice from a new Australian Government resource published today.

The Minister for Community Services, Julie Collins, said the ‘Parental involvement in preventing and responding to cyberbullying’ paper provides practical suggestions to parents on how to deal with both sides of the problem.

“This resource is a good framework for understanding cyberbullying and provides advice on how parents can teach their teenage children to behave responsibly online,” Ms Collins said.

“It’s important parents have information on what they can do to help their children avoid becoming victims of cyberbullying and on how to resist from bullying others.

“While children may be learning about appropriate online behaviour in school, cyberbullying is more likely to occur outside of school hours.

“Parents need to play a part in monitoring and guiding their children’s online behaviour at home – that’s why the Gillard Government has funded this resource,” Ms Collins said.

The paper by the Australian Institute of Family Studies suggests, for example, that parents keep up with emerging technologies and online trends and discuss with their children what they are doing online.

“This paper adds to a comprehensive range of measures funded by the Australian Government to address the issues and challenges faced by families when they are online,” the Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety, Senator Catryna Bilyk, said.

“A range of brochures, posters, interactive online games and videos are available for children, teens, parents and schools to combat cyberbulling and to keep safe online.

“These resources are available free from the Cybersmart website.

“These measures are part of the Gillard Government’s $125.8 million cybersafety plan,” Senator Bilyk said.

Resources are available at www.cybersmart.gov.au and more information on the cybersafety plan is available at: www.dbcde.gov.au/online_safety_and_security/cybersafety_plan

‘Parental involvement in preventing and responding to cyberbullying’ can be downloaded for free at http://www.aifs.gov.au/cfca/pubs/papers/04/index.html