Regional students sharpen their cyber skills with Optus Digital Thumbprint Program

Eased restrictions mean we can again enjoy our favourite cafes and activities. For Optus, it also means our in-person Optus Digital Thumbprint Program has returned after a hiatus for much of 2020.  

As part of our vision of becoming Australia’s most loved everyday brand, we are committed to listening to and fulfilling the needs of our customers. And we know this program makes a difference to our customers, and future generations.

Personally, our Digital Thumbprint Program is one of my favourite Optus initiatives, the sessions spark conversations around digital practice as well as some of the other challenging topics related to the online world. Since its inception, our facilitators have been educating students across the country about important issues including how to protect your identity and information online and building positive and respectful cyber relationships.

Since we launched Optus Digital Thumbprint in 2013, the government- accredited program has educated more than 330,000 primary and secondary students across Australia on ways to be safer and smarter online.

We’ve just wrapped up our regional road trip of Australia, stopping in at almost 70 schools and engaging with nearly 24,000 students. We’ve travelled from Far North Queensland all the way down to Tasmania, across to South Australia and everywhere in between.

The program isn’t limited to helping students.  

As a parent, I love that this program also equips parents and guardians with the best possible solutions to ensure they can keep their children safe online.  Course content includes vlogs and articles for carers covering everything from safeguarding privacy online to understanding TikTok. We also offer a free seminar for the adults in regional hubs so they, too, can learn about navigating the challenges of the rapidly evolving digital world that young people face.

Early last year, we surveyed more than 1,000 Australian parents about their children’s internet and tech usage and their concerns about protecting their families online.

A whopping 72% of children in Australia had access to two or more devices in a typical day. It’s not a surprise that two-thirds of those surveyed were concerned for their children’s internet security and safety. Children’s access to inappropriate content, cyberbullying and internet addiction top the list of worries.

These insights also inform us on what features our customers will value. For instance, our McAfee Safe Family App allows parent to manage their kids’ usage on devices such as smart phones, iPads and laptops. This allows parents to restrict content and set screen time rules, directly addressing concerns we know many parents share.

COVID markedly increased our reliance on technology. Now, more than ever, we must be having conversations around necessary precautions such as creating strong passwords and enabling privacy settings on social media. Keeping this in mind, we made sure that this issue was one of this year’s workshop focal points. Students also took home valuable skills when it comes to cyberbullying and how to seek help, as well as cybersecurity by verifying credible information, and what to keep in mind to create a positive digital footprint.

Since 2013 we’ve enabled regional and rural students to experience the latest in thought leadership and technologies through interactive workshops and have big plans in this space for the future.  For us, it’s all about investing in the communities we operate in. We are bringing our fastest network ever to our regional customers, investing $7 billion in our national mobile network since 2015 along with more than 2,800 live regional towers – representing our expanding footprint outside of metro areas and offering real competition and choice for these communities. Safer internet doesn’t just come down to education but also reliable connectivity.

As a leading telecommunications provider, we recognise the role that we play in empowering the next generation. Our goal is to continue to share our message that you don’t have to be an expert at navigating the internet to practice these safe habits. We know 2020 wasn’t an easy year but we’re optimistic about what lies ahead, and know we can help young people shape their digital future for the better.