The Cyber Savvy Project

Investigators: Alana Papageorgiou, Amy Barnes, Heather McKee, Lisa Patterson, Melanie Epstein, Therese Shaw

The Cyber Savvy project conducted aimed to help young people make more positive decisions about their online behaviour, in particular their use of images sent via mobile phones and the Internet.

Following receiving the Cyber Savvy intervention, relatively more of the students reported they: searched for information about themselves online; set up google alerts so they would know if information about them was posted online; and felt more confident helping a friend if they experienced an issue online. Teachers reported students responded positively to the intervention resources, and teacher feedback provided some recommendations to enhance these resources.

External collaborators: 

Rebecca Guy (University of New South Wales), Shirlee-Ann Knight (Curtin University of Technology), Meagan Roberts (Department of Health WA)

Partners: 

APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists
APS College of Clinical Psychologists
APS College of Counselling Psychologists
Association of Independent Schools Western Australia
Australian Council on Children and the Media
Australian Psychological Society (APS) College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists
Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY)
Boarding Schools Association
Catholic Education WA
Commissioner for Children and Young People WA
Communicare
Department for Child Protection
Department of Education WA
Department of Health WA
Department of Local Government and Communities
Healthway
Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation (PMHF)
ReachOut.com (Inspire Foundation)
School Curriculum and Standards Authority
School Psychologists’ Association of WA
Youth Affairs Council of WA (YACWA)
Youth Futures