The Australian Federal Police-led ThinkUKnow program continues to deliver online child safety education and awareness presentations to schools and organisations, with almost 200,000 students reached during 2020-21.
The ThinkUKnow Corporate Report 2020-21 released today, on International Volunteer Day, highlights efforts made by law enforcement and industry volunteers delivering the online child safety program to the Australian community.
AFP Commander ACCCE and Human Exploitation Hilda Sirec said that despite the challenges throughout the pandemic, the program continued to reach a large audience.
"Throughout COVID-19 restrictions and the partial suspension of face-to-face presentations, these numbers show the increased demand and need for online child safety education, particularly during a time where we saw more children active online," Commander Sirec said.
"These achievements would not be possible without the hard work and dedication our ThinkUKnow program partners including industry volunteers and State and Territory police, who dedicate countless hours to educating parents, carers, teachers and students about online safety."
"I would like to thank every presenter for being involved in the ThinkUKnow program by giving your time to make a difference to the community - each presentation you deliver helps to educate our community and ultimately keep young people safe online.
ThinkUKnow currently has 977 registered volunteers from varying backgrounds in technology, policing and crime prevention.
Highlights from the ThinkUKnow Corporate Report 2020-21 include:
- 2,226 presentations delivered to more than 198,680 students across Australia by State and Territory police presenters;
- 25 presentations delivered to over 1,460 parents, carers and teachers by law enforcement and industry volunteers;
- Launch of a refreshed ThinkUKnow website providing new advice and tailored resources for parents, carers and teachers as well as presenter resources; and
- Co-location of the ThinkUKnow program within the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.
The ThinkUKnow Corporate Report 2020-21 can be viewed on the ThinkUKnow website.
ThinkUKnow was established in 2009 and is Australia's first and only nationally delivered, law enforcement-led online safety program, supporting the critical work of the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.
It is a partnership between the AFP, Commonwealth Bank, Datacom and Microsoft Australia, and is delivered in collaboration with all State and Territory police and Neighbourhood Watch Australasia.
