On Friday 2nd May, our Year 5 and 6 students took part in a special incursion run by Superintendent Martin Bourke and Senior Constable Caroll Runnalls. The session focused on helping students understand how to stay safe online, particularly when gaming or using social media.

Students were surprised to learn that the average age of a gamer is now 35 years old. This sparked important discussions around who we interact with online and why it's so important to keep personal information private.

The police officers introduced the students to a helpful strategy called A.W.A.R.E to guide safe online sharing:

A – APPROPRIATE: Is what you're about to post suitable and legal?

W – WHO: Who might see what you share? Is it just close friends or could strangers view it?

A – ACCURATE: Is the information you're posting true or could it be a rumour?

R – RESPECTFUL: Is your post kind and respectful, or could it hurt someone?

E – ENVIRONMENT: Does the background of your photo reveal private information like your location or school?

Students also learned key tips for safe gaming, such as playing in single-player mode or only with trusted friends, keeping chat focused on the game and using the report and block functions if someone acts inappropriately. A strong message was shared about being cautious—online friends are not the same as real-life friends and we can never be fully sure who is behind the screen.

The incursion reinforced the importance of using devices in open, shared areas at home, with nothing online considered ‘private’ for children at this age.

We thank Superintendent Bourke and Senior Constable Runnalls for delivering such an engaging and important session. Our students walked away with practical tools and a deeper understanding of how to stay safe and respectful online.