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Telstra To Fund Programs That Reduce Bullying |
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Written by Adam Gosling
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Monday, 04 February 2008 |
The Telstra Foundation is spending up to A$2 million over three years to fund a campaign designed to reduce bullying and harassment of
children using the Internet and mobile phones across Australia.
The program grants starting
from $75,000 per year over three years for organisations to tackle
cyber safety issues ranging from bullying to Internet addiction and
identity theft. The grants offered to reduce cyber safety, however, will focus on funding
programs to help educate parents about online technology, and simple
steps they can take to create a safe online learning and social
environment for their child, says Telstra Foundation Chairman, Herb Elliott AC, MBE.
"Sadly, there are more and more reported incidents of children and
young people who are victimised at the hands of bullies or people doing
the wrong thing online," said Elliott acknowledging that
children
are using the Internet and mobile phones at an increasingly young age.
Recent reports have revealed the growing number of children and young people using technology:
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93% of teenagers use the Internet
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84% use chat rooms daily
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59% of children use a mobile phone, and
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33% of children aged 8 or 9 started to use the Internet at the age of 5 or 6.
Elliot said the foundation wants to reverse the growing trend for
these young people to become victims by supporting programs and
research that help keep kids safe while they make the most of the
exciting opportunities the Internet and mobile phones offer.
"The Telstra Foundation is putting a 'spotlight' on cyber safety and
wants to work with people in community organisations with new ideas and
solutions to help keep children safe online," Elliott said.
The program will focus on four areas:
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encouraging children and young people to be actively involved in developing solutions;
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approaches that assist in educating parents to become more competent in addressing cyber safety issues;
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research that will enrich understanding of cyber safety issues; and
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approaches that bring together the community to share ideas and information.
Further information on the Telstra Foundation's Cyber Safety Grants and an online application form is available at http://www.telstrafoundation.com/.
Applications open on 4 February 2008 and close on 4 April 2008. Successful projects and applicants will be announced in June.
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