Media statement: Man charged over alleged online grooming of 459 children
Act for Kids
Below can be attributed to Act for Kids:
Act for Kids is thinking of everyone impacted by the horrific allegations emerging from Queensland, where a Maryborough man has been charged with 596 offences relating to the alleged online grooming of 459 children through games and social media platforms.
These children and their families will need significant support to process, understand and heal from any trauma that they have allegedly experienced.
Protecting children is everybody's business and requires a whole-of-community approach.
Parents and carers can help keep their kids safe online by simply being in the same room as them when they are on devices.
Recent Act for Kids research found nearly three out of four children (74.3%) felt positive about their close adult being in the same room while they were online, including 17% who felt safer.
Despite this, only 10% of children reported always having an adult in the same room when they’re online.
Here are some other simple steps to help keep kids safe:
- Secure household devices by setting parental controls on all devices.
- Supervise children online and monitor the material they are accessing.
- Turn off chatroom functions on gaming platforms.
- Keep devices in a shared family area, this will assist to regularly check their privacy settings and internet search limitations as well as yours.
- Talk to children about the risks of sharing content online.
- Consider some wi-fi downtime in your household – hours in the day/evening where you turn off the wi-fi for everyone.
If you or someone you know needs support, help is always available:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
Please report any concerns you may have about a child – no matter how trivial or small it may seem to the relevant child protection authority.
In an emergency call 000
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Contact details:
Act for Kids media contact:
Melanie Whiting
0427 794 666
[email protected]