31 October 2024
Life Without Barriers welcomes the announcement by the Minister for Communications, the Hon. Michelle Rowland MP, introducing a free media and digital literacy program available to all primary schools across Australia.
The eSmart Digital Licence+ program empowers students aged 4 to 9 with essential digital literacy skills, helping them navigate the online world safely and responsibly. The new tool builds on existing programs already available for students aged 10 to 16 years.
Dale Murray, Life Without Barriers’ Executive Director of Education, said: “Education is the cornerstone of a positive future, and with access to this new digital literacy program, young Australians—including those in out-of-home care—can gain critical skills to stay safe and informed online.”
The program was designed to adapt to diverse learning environments and is accessible with or without classroom technology, making it more inclusive for all young Australians.
“We are particularly pleased that the program was developed through consultations with educators and nearly 1,000 primary school students," said Dale.
"Listening to young people ensures the program resonates with their experiences and meets their real needs.”
Life Without Barriers is committed to helping children and young people in our care achieve their full potential by ensuring supportive, accessible education that fosters a pathway to future opportunities and stable employment.
This is especially important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, who are over-represented in out-of-home care and face greater barriers to achieving educational outcomes.
“As a major provider of out-of-home care services, we understand barriers, including digital exclusion and low digital literacy and safety awareness, that can impact on a child’s education. Programs such as the eSmart Digital Licence+ play a vital role in levelling the playing field.”
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