Our program

We engage influencers in a young person’s life, including parents, carers, educators and police to raise awareness and deliver education about preventing online child sexual exploitation.

Our education resources are complementary and have been designed to align so that everyone receives the same information.

ThinkUKnow Australia for parents and carers

As parents and carers, you play an important role in protecting your child from harm.

We aim to support you in preventing and managing safety challenges that your child may face, as well as guiding your child to understand these and feel empowered to take action.

To help you do this, resources are available online including fact sheets, home learning and family activities, or presentations delivered through schools.

ThinkUKnow Australia for educators

As well as delivering online child safety education messages in the classroom, educators may be involved with responding to incidents in schools. 

Working with police or other relevant organisations, educators can support the delivery of education to students about legal, social and ethical considerations for technology use to prevent incidents. Resources for educators to address these issues are available here.

Education for children and young people

Children and young people receive education directly from influencers in their lives, including parents, carers, teachers and police.

Resources encourage critical thinking and learnings to prevent harm, to identify safe or unsafe situations and know when and how to seek help.

Our in-school presentations are delivered by State and Territory police to build positive engagement between children, young people and police, while equipping students with the knowledge and skills to be able to take actionable steps to maintain their safety at all times.

Education for younger children

With an increasing number of reports to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation involving younger victims, it’s never too early to start learning about basic online safety concepts.

Age-appropriate conversations are important when talking to children about online child sexual exploitation, particularly younger children.

To help with this, ThinkUKnow Australia includes a mascot ‘Ellie the echidna’, who is featured in a number of resources to deliver key safety messages about safe online practices to primary school-aged audiences.

Ellie the echidna is a character from the ACT Policing Constable Kenny Koala program that is designed to educate child care and primary-aged school children between three to twelve years of age on a range of safety themes, and to positively promote the role of police.

For education resources for children prior to school age (under five), the AFP in partnership with the Alannah and Madeline Foundation and the eSafety Commissioner, has developed an early childhood education program called Playing IT Safe.

This evidence-based program includes advice for parents, carers and early childhood educators on how to teach young children about technology and the internet. Visit www.playingitsafe.org.au for resources and more information.

 

What we do

We develop resources and advice for parents, carers and educators, children and young people to prevent online child sexual exploitation.

Led by the Australian Federal Police, our program includes:

  • Presentations for schools and community groups
  • Online learning resources
  • Activities to do at home
  • Fact sheets and guides
  • Educators resources

 

What we don’t do

Our program doesn’t cover:

  • Information about general online safety, including cyberbullying
  • Information about cybercrime

For information about online safety visit the eSafety Commissioner

For information about cybercrime visit ReportCyber

Our partners

ThinkUKnow Australia is a partnership between the Australian Federal Police, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Datacom and Microsoft Australia, and delivered in partnership with all State and Territory police and Neighbourhood Watch Australasia.

© Australian Federal Police

The Australian Federal Police acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.