Internet Safety Parent Webinar – Key Messages and Resources

Dear MIC Families,

Thank you to those who joined our recent parent education webinar, Understanding and Managing an Online World, presented by Brett Lee from Internet Safe Education.

Drawing on his 22 years in the Queensland Police Service, including extensive experience investigating online child exploitation, Brett shared practical advice to help families support their children in navigating the digital world safely. These five messages were carried throughout the sessions for children in Years 4-9 on Thursday.  

Five Important Messages for Children

  1. The internet is public and permanent. Anything shared online can potentially be copied, saved or redistributed.
  2. Your identity is worth more than gold. Personal information is valuable and should be protected.
  3. Only trust people online whom you know and trust in the real world. Online identities and intentions are not always what they appear to be.
  4. The internet has real-world rules and consequences. Respect, responsibility and appropriate behaviour apply equally online.
  5. Communication is key. Children need to know they can approach a trusted adult whenever something online worries or confuses them.

Other Important Topics Covered

Screen time and gaming: Brett encouraged families to consider not only how much time children spend online but also how technology may be affecting their sleep, relationships, wellbeing and daily activities. He explained how many games and digital platforms are designed to encourage prolonged engagement.

Artificial intelligence and chatbots: The webinar explored emerging concerns surrounding AI-powered friendship and relationship chatbots, including platforms such as Character.AI and PolyBuzz. Brett encouraged parents to understand the applications children are accessing and be particularly cautious about AI programs designed to simulate personal relationships.

Family rules and boundaries: Rather than attempting to keep up with every new app or platform, Brett recommended establishing consistent household expectations around screen time, suitable content, device locations, online contacts and respectful communication.

Cyberbullying: Families were reminded of the valuable resources available through Australia’s eSafety Commission, including support for reporting harmful online content.

Social media age restrictions: Brett discussed Australia’s under-16 social media restrictions and the opportunity for families and communities to establish healthier expectations around children’s access to social media.

What Can Families Do at Home?

We encourage families to begin with a few simple steps:

  • Have regular, open conversations with your child about their online experiences.
  • Review the games, apps and websites they are accessing.
  • Establish clear technology boundaries, including device-free times and spaces.
  • Explore parental controls and family safety settings.
  • Reinforce that children can always come to a trusted adult for support, even if they have made a mistake.

Further Resources

Brett introduced the Internet Safe Education Cyber Safety Hub, which includes parent guides, downloadable handbooks, articles, courses and webinars. MIC families will receive access for 12 months.

Details for accessing the hub, including the school-specific login information can be found:  https://www.internetsafeeducation.com/hub-home/
Community access code: MontIC26

Click here for a picture explaining how to access the relevant content. The top right login tag directly on the website is for individuals who sign up to the hub only. School communities need to log in via the link above, not directly from their website.

Missed the session or want to watch it again? The webinar recording is available to view here.

Families can also access resources from the eSafety Commission: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

Continuing the Conversation

At MIC, we recognise that preparing children for the digital world requires ongoing education, guidance and partnership between home and school.

Brett reminded us, the goal is not to eliminate technology, but to help children develop the awareness, responsibility and confidence to make safe and informed choices.

We encourage families to continue these conversations at home and reinforce the messages shared with children during their Internet Safety sessions.