This week the Australian Communications and Media Authority will launch the pilot of ‘Cybersafety Outreach - Professional Development for Educators’, ACMA’s national cybersafety program designed for primary and secondary level educators.

The program is aimed at equipping educators to teach their students about cybersafety, in keeping with the Australian Government’s broad commitment to cybersafety education.

Fifty teachers and industry stakeholders will attend the pilot in Melbourne on 31 October and 3 November. Their feedback will shape and inform the final Cybersafety Outreach program that will roll out nationally in early 2009.

‘ACMA is ideally placed to deliver cybersafety education and training for teachers —who can play such a vital role in ensuring children enjoy safe and positive internet experiences,’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.

‘The Cybersafety Outreach pilot will provide valuable feedback to ACMA and will help us to further develop the planned program to ensure it best meets the needs of Australia’s educators,’ he said.

‘This is a genuinely transformational step in providing educators with the cybersafety information and resources they need to appropriately teach our children to manage the risks of online activities. We believe the program will enable teachers to perform this role with greater confidence.’

The pilot will be facilitated by Greg Gebhart, one of Australia's leading educational trainers in the cybersafety field. He has provided presentations on ACMA’s behalf to more than 37,500 students, teachers and parents since 2005. The pilot will provide practical strategies and classroom resources for educators to assist their students become responsible digital citizens.