Cyber cop visits St Pats

CYBER safety expert Susan McLean has visited St Patrick’s College Ballarat to discuss being safe online with parents, carers and educators

The session, held last Wednesday, covered reality and risk, what kids are doing online, grooming, cyberbullying, sharing nude photos and sextortion, problematic gaming, exposure to damaging content, and cyber safety tips.

“It’s designed to educate key members of the community about the realities of the online world so they can best protect their children,” said Ms McLean.

Ms Mclean is one of Australia’s leading experts in cyber safety was a member of Victoria Police for 27 years.

Known as the ‘cyber cop,’ Ms McClean was the first Victoria Police Officer to hold a position involving cyber safety and young people.

She created Cyber Safety Solutions in March 2007 which has become one of the most in-demand cyber safety consultancy firms in Australia.

“I took my first report of cyberbullying in 1994 and it became an interest and a passion,” said Ms McLean.

“It became clear through the research that I’d done both here and overseas that there was going to be a significant issue in relation to the harms that the internet could cause.

“I decided I could reach more people and do a better job as a civilian.”

Ms McClean said it is crucial adults understand the dangers of the internet so they can protect young people.

“If they don’t know what the risk is, they’re not going to be able to protect their children from it,” she said.

“Their experiences of the internet will not mimic that of their children because the algorithms work differently to start with.

“They have to understand that even of their child is sensible and trusting and all of that, they are still a potential victim to other people’s poor choices.”