Canberra Summit to set priorities for supporting children online

Seventy delegates from industry, not-for-profit, government, and research sectors will convene in Canberra on June 11 and 12 to discuss how to support young Australian children’s wellbeing and safety online.

Hosted by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, the Summit provides a platform for sharing insights and developing strategies to ensure that children can thrive in a digital age.

Digital Child Director Distinguished Professor Susan Danby said that digital technologies are changing childhoods, bringing opportunities and concerns. 

“Australian parents report excessive screen use as their biggest concern for their children, followed by cyberbullying, bullying, and internet safety,” said Distinguished Professor Danby.

“Creating evidence-based policy and guidance for families is essential for supporting positive digital experiences for children in a way that centres their experiences and rights.” 

Summit Chair and Digital Child Chief Investigator, Professor Simon Smith, emphasised that protecting children’s safety and wellbeing online demands a coordinated effort across government, industry, education, and families.

“The organisations represented at the Summit are already doing vital work in this space. By bringing these sectors together, we aim to strengthen our collective impact and define clear priorities for cross-sector collaboration going forward.”

The Digital Child is the world’s first research centre dedicated to creating positive digital childhoods for all Australian children. The Centre brings together researchers from six universities and partners from across Australia and internationally to investigate the risks and opportunities for children growing up in the digital age. 

The Digital Child released a new report on Generative AI and young children ahead of the Summit. This report provides a framework that allows Australian families, educators, and policymakers to work through some of the most urgent issues they face in the rapidly changing digital landscape of Generative AI. 

Contact: tara.roberson@qut.edu.au, +61 7 3138 8515