Youth Advisory Group on Cybersafety
Established under the Australian Government's $125.8 million Cybersafety Plan, the Youth Advisory Group on Cybersafety (YAG) is a group of young Australians aged 8–17 who provide advice to government on cybersafety issues. The YAG was formed to provide a unique and invaluable insight into cybersafety issues affecting children and teenagers and the ways these issues can be addressed from the perspective of young people themselves.
The first YAG consultation was launched in 2009, and since then membership has continued to significantly expand. In its first year, the YAG consisted of 304 secondary school students from 15 schools from across Australia. Membership has nearly doubled in size in each respective year and in 2012, 1887 students represented over 190 schools from across Australia providing advice to government on a range of priority topics.
All Australian primary and secondary schools are eligible to register for the YAG program.
Students aged 8 to 17 from participating schools can join the YAG (with parental consent) and provide advice directly to government via the secure YAG online consultation website and face-to-face forums throughout the year. YAG members provide advice to government on a range of cybersafety topics including digital citizenship, cyberbullying, mobile phone safety, privacy, social networking sites and online computer games.
2013 YAG program
Australian Schools can register their interest in the 2013 program by completing this online form:
YAG membership is limited so interested schools should nominate for the program at their earliest convenience.
YAG 2013 consultation schedule
The YAG 2013 consultation schedule is as follows:
|
19–28 March |
NT, SA & WA (primary students) |
Expressions of interest have now closed |
|
23 April–3 May |
QLD & VIC (primary students) |
Expressions of interest have now closed |
|
8–17 May |
ACT, NSW & TAS (primary students) |
Expressions of interest have now closed |
|
28 May–7 June |
NT, SA & WA (secondary students) |
Expressions of interest now open |
|
12–21 June |
ACT, NSW, QLD, TAS & VIC (secondary students) |
Expressions of interest now open |
YAG achievements to date
Advice from YAG members has already informed a range of important government cybersafety resources including the Cybersafety Help Button. YAG advice highlighted the need for a 'one-stop shop' for cybersafety advice and assistance. The Help Button provides internet users, particularly children and young people, with easy online access to counselling, reporting and information resources to assist in dealing with cybersafety issues.
The YAG also assisted with the development of the Easy Guide to Socialising Online. YAG members reported that they wanted to know more about how to socialise online safely, and that their parents wanted more information about the sites that young people use. The Easy Guide provides cybersafety information about 27 different social networking sites, search engines and online games. This includes general tips on how to stay safe when using any social media site.
Teachers and Parents Advisory Group on Cybersafety (TAP)
Based on advice from YAG members that teachers and parents also need to be involved in cybersafety issues, the government has also established the Teachers and Parents Advisory Group on Cybersafety (TAP).
The TAP provides an opportunity for teachers and parents across Australia to come together via a secure online forum and face-to-face workshops to discuss and provide input on cybersafety issues affecting children in the digital world.
Membership to the TAP is open to all Australian teachers and parents with children in current primary or secondary school studies. Parents and teachers can register their interest for the TAP by completing the following membership form:
Cybersafety Summits
Representatives from the YAG, their parents and teachers, and representatives from the TAP are also invited to attend the annual Cybersafety Summit. Launched in 2010, the summit provides participants with the opportunity to meet with government and industry representatives to share their views on cybersafety topics and to provide advice on a range of government programs and initiatives aimed at keeping children safe online.
For more information
For more information, please see the forms and fact sheets available on the YAG site.
