ThinkUKnow Australia today received a bronze award in the police-led category of the 2023 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards (ACVPAs).
The ACVPAs recognise best practice in the prevention or reduction of violence and other types of crime in Australia and play a vital role in highlighting effective community-based initiatives to prevent crime and violence before it occurs.
As the only nationally delivered, law enforcement-led online safety program, ThinkUKnow Australia aims to increase education and awareness of online child sexual exploitation among the most influential figures in a young person's life. Launched in 2009, the program includes school presentations and resources for parents, carers and teachers including toolkits, home learning activities, fact sheets and guides.
The program's regular updates reflect contemporary trends and issues identified by the Australian Federal Police-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), communicated through real case studies and examples. ThinkUKnow Australia is pro-technology and addresses topics including self-generated child abuse material, online grooming and sextortion while also encouraging help-seeking behaviour.
"ThinkUKnow directly contributes to the strategic objectives of the ACCCE through education to prevent the exploitation of children and promote early intervention. As a long-standing primary prevention initiative, we have seen the increased importance of collaboration between law enforcement and industry to keep children safe online," said Commander ACCCE and Human Exploitation Helen Schneider.
"ThinkUKnow Australia is a leading education tool which has been implemented in schools and the community nationally. Now in its 14th year of operation, the program has received substantial recognition and support for an initative that is crucial in protecting youth in this digital age," Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) Deputy Director Dr Rick Brown.
These annual awards recognise the outstanding contributions being made across Australia for crime prevention, including the development and implementation of practical projects to reduce violence and other types of crime in the community.
The awards are a joint initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments and are delivered by the AIC. All projects are assessed each year by the ACVPA Board, which consists of senior law enforcement representatives from each state and territory police service, and is chaired by the AIC Director.
