Safer Internet Day 2021 campaign promotes kinder, safer online world

Council is supporting this year’s Safer Internet Day (SID), a day dedicated to highlighting the need to be safe and responsible when using digital technologies and engaging in online activity.

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Nora Lamont, a representative on Council’s Liveability, Safety and Amenity Committee, encouraged the community to learn more about safe internet use during Safer Internet Day on Tuesday 9 February.

“Safer Internet Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the safe and positive use of digital technology, and to explore the role we can all play in creating a better and safer internet in our community,” Cr Lamont said.

SID is an international event recognised each year in over 140 countries with this year’s theme of ‘online wellbeing and digital resilience’ helping to raise awareness of the importance of fostering a safer online environment.

“Instilling positive online safety behaviour has never been more important as today’s generation of children grow up in an online world,” Cr Lamont said.

“While there are many benefits to being online, the availability of online games, social networking sites, smartphones and internet-connected tablets can sometimes leave children and young people vulnerable to harmful content and behaviours,” she said.

“The first step to better online use is to talk about the potential risks and ways to avoid them. Monitoring internet use and communicating with children and young people are important strategies.”

Cr Lamont said the relationship between parents and schools is increasingly important in addressing cyberbullying and responding to incidents.

“Parents can be encouraged to familiarise themselves with school policy and cyber safety education initiatives, including responsible use policies,” she said.

“Taking the simple step to stop and think about the consequences before sending or posting information may also help to reduce negative experiences online. What you send or post is placed in the public domain so it pays to be careful of what you put out there,” Cr Lamont added.

As the official coordinator of the day in Australia, eSafety (Office of the eSafety Commissioner) celebrates the day as one of the most important events of the year.

In 2020, the groundswell of support for eSafety’s SID awareness raising efforts showed just how important online safety is to Australians.

Over its week-long SID campaign, 33,000 primary school students joined eSafety’s #SID2020 virtual classrooms and more than 1500 parents and carers registered for eSafety webinars.

A record 1500 Safer Internet Day ‘Champions’ also joined eSafety’s campaign, spreading messages that encouraged people to ‘start the chat’ about online safety in their homes, schools, sports clubs, workplaces and communities.

A range of information, resources, webinars and tips to help you start the chat about online safety with students, family, friends, colleagues and community can be found on the

For more about Safer Internet Day 2021, including registering your support, visit the