Students aged four to nine to access expanded eSmart Digital Licence

All primary schools across Australia will now have access to a eSmart online safety course, likened to a “pen licence for the online world”.

The Digital License will be expanded to students from Kindergarten to Year 4 (ages four to nine), with the course focused on helping children build digital awareness, and recognition of manipulated or falsified online content.

Older children between seven to nine are also taught about online harm, how to regulate their feelings and think critically about their devices.

While an advanced version of the program is currently being available for students aged 10 to 14, from Wednesday all primary schools across Australia will have access to program.

The program has been run by not-for-profit organisation, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, which was given $6m funding by the Albanese government.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, who will launch the program on Wednesday at a primary school near Geelong, called on all schools to “take advantage” of the free resources.

“Australian children have long been getting a pen licence at school as they learn to write – this is the pen licence for the online world,” she said.

“By empowering children as young as four years old with the skills they need to

navigate the challenges of the digital world, we are building a young generation

of Australians who will be better equipped to engage safely online.”

Alannah & Madeline Foundation Policy and Prevention director Ariana Kurzeme said the course was a “modern-day pen licence,” with a third of children aged six to 13 owning a smartphone.

“It’s about empowering them with the knowledge and awareness they need in today’s digital landscape, setting them up for success in the same way the pen licence once did,” she said.

Older students have had access to the eSmart Digital Licence+ for students aged 10 to 14, with high school students able to access the Media Literacy Lab.