Login
iscover
Share this article on:
Powered by
MOMENTUM
MEDIA
Powered by MOMENTUMMEDIA
Aussie telco Optus becomes the first Trusted eSafety Provider to offer student workshops focusing on “online safety in the age of AI”.
Optus has announced a new workshop initiative that will reach more than 5,200 Australian students throughout February to teach them about the safe and responsible use of generative AI tools.
The telco’s Gen AI Workshop program will tour schools throughout the country, beginning with suburban schools in NSW and Victoria.
In addition, thousands more students will be able to attend virtual sessions. Optus’ Sydney campus will also host a two-day summit for 300 students on AI in the classroom and digital safety.
As part of Safer Internet Day 2025, Optus intends to launch a raft of initiatives that address the spread of misinformation, cyber bullying, and artificial intelligence, all as a part of its Digital Thumbprint Program.
With its Gen AI Workshop program, Optus has become the first Trusted eSafety Provider to provide an AI workshop to secondary students.
“Safer Internet Day is a powerful reminder of the importance of education in fostering digital resilience and safer online communities,” Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety commissioner, said in a statement.
“It’s encouraging to see our Trusted eSafety Providers throwing their support behind Safer Internet Day by helping make the online world a safer, more positive place.
“We can all play a role in making the internet safer by being respectful to others online and by reporting cyber bullying and abuse to the platform and then to esafety.gov.au.
“Initiatives like Optus’ Digital Thumbprint Program provide practical tools that empower young people, families and seniors to have safer, more positive online experiences.”
Optus’ senior director for group sustainability, Helen Maisano, said: “For more than a decade, our Digital Thumbprint Program has equipped hundreds of thousands of Australian students with the tools they need to stay safe online.
“As technology evolves, so too do the risks. The use of generative AI is growing rapidly, and while it has many positive benefits, it can also deepen existing challenges, such as cyber bullying and misinformation.
“Through Digital Thumbprint, we engage with thousands of young people every year, and this gives us front-row access to what they say are their biggest challenges online. Our new GenAI resources will educate and prepare young people to navigate these challenges, and support adults to have informed conversations.”
Schools can register for workshops via the Digital Thumbprint website.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
Be the first to hear the latest developments in the cyber industry.
