Netsafe and the Digital Child form trans-Tasman partnership focused on online safety and wellbeing of children

New Zealand’s Netsafe and Australia’s ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child have announced a new partnership today during the Digital Childhoods Summit in Canberra. 

The partnership combines Netsafe’s world-leading expertise in online safety education and harm reduction with the Centre’s world-class research into children’s engagement with digital technologies. 

“This partnership represents a significant step forward in ensuring children across New Zealand and Australia can safely enjoy and learn in the digital world,” Netsafe Deputy CEO Andrea Leask said. 

“By combining our proven expertise in digital safety education and harm reduction with the Centre’s leading research capabilities, we can develop evidence-based approaches that truly meet the evolving needs of young people online.”

Distinguished Professor Susan Danby, Director of the Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, echoed the importance of the collaboration. 

“This partnership allows us to extend the impact of our research by working with an organisation that’s deeply embedded in digital safety policy and practice. Together, we can respond to the complex challenges and opportunities children face in their digital lives,” Distinguished Professor Danby said.

“In this new collaboration, we will work to shape a future where every child can thrive in the digital age.” 

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that children across Australasia can thrive in a digital world that is inclusive, safe, and empowering. As part of this commitment, the Digital Child’s newly released report on Generative AI (GenAI) and young childrenoutlines nine of the most urgent challenges and issues related to everyday use of GenAI tools by young children.

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