This webinar was originally presented on 6 February 2024

Tuesday 6th February 2024 marks Safer Internet Day. This worldwide initiative brings together communities, families, schools and organisations to help create safer online spaces.

We have seen technology evolve dramatically over the past 3 years and the benefits have been huge. These digital developments have also exposed us to many risks with real-world impacts, making online safety awareness even more important.

Safety by Design Course

RMIT CCSRI is excited to share with you the ways in which we are contributing to a safer online environment. In 2024 we wanted to focus on individual's online. 

In this event we will share details of our exciting Safety by Design short course that RMIT CCSRI has developed as part of RMIT Digital3, with The eSafety Commissioner.

You'll also hear our expert panel speak about privacy, online reputation, the ways in which individuals can experience harm online, and the ways in which we can all contribute to a safer internet.

Meet our Panelists

Nicola Henry - Professor and Australian Research Council Future Fellow in the Social and Global Studies Centre at the RMIT University.

Prof Henry research investigates the prevalence, nature and impacts of sexual violence, sexual harassment and technology-facilitated abuse. Nicola has provided expert advice to Meta, Twitter, TikTok and Google regarding their policies and practices on image-based abuse. Nicola is also a member of the eSafety Commissioner's eSafety Advisory Group.

Matt Warren - Director of the RMIT University Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation (CCSRI) and a Professor of Cyber Security at RMIT University

Prof Warren has held roles such as Deputy Director of University Research Centre, Head of School, Deputy Head of School, Program Leader for several programs during his tenure at Deakin University. Matt is a researcher in the areas of Cyber Security and Computer Ethics.

Arathi Arakala - Lecturer of Cybersecurity with the Discipline of Mathematics, RMIT University

Dr Arakala received her Ph.D. degree from RMIT University, Melbourne, in 2008. After a series of postdoctoral positions with RMIT University and Monash University, she is currently a . Her area of research interest includes physiological and behavioural biometric authentication, modeling of online user behaviour for cybersafety, and encryption algorithms that enable zero trust computation. 

Andrew Hine - Founder, CEO and CTO Reputationaire

Andrew Hine double scholar MEng Oxford University and participant of RMIT Activator accelerator and is passionate about improving trust online. His novel Startup Reputationaire, working towards 7 of the UN's 17 sustainability goals, empowers individuals to overcome lack of local (work/rental) references, local work experience, local credit scores - especially those from more diverse backgrounds. It also allows organisations to request alternative "peer reviewed reference checks" on individuals, getting verified soft and job skills as an additional data point. In short, it fast tracks proof of trust, a commodity very much lacking online today.

What is Safer Internet Day?

Safer Internet Day is a global initiative to raise awareness of online safety issues. The eSafety Commissioner leads the initiative in Australia. We educate people about online safety risks, like online abuse, how to be safe online and where to go for help. This Safer Internet Day we're encouraging you to take three simple actions when approaching online safety: Connect. Reflect. Protect.  

Connect safely by keeping apps and devices secure and reviewing your privacy settings regularly. 

Reflect on how your actions online may affect others or your safety. 

Protect yourself and others by visiting eSafety.gov.au to find out how to stay safe online and report online abuse.

By doing these things and sharing the Connect. Reflect. Protect message, we can work towards making every day a Safer Internet Day.