Funding measures
In addition to ongoing operational support for the eSafety Commissioner, the Australian Government has announced key funding packages to support online safety.
2022–23 Budget measures
In the October Budget, the Australian Government announced $6 million over 3 years for online learning tools to help schools keep children safe online. These resources, delivered by the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, will make digital literacy and media programs freely available to all schools, not just those that can afford them. The programs will help Australian students to develop the skills they need to be critical, responsible and active citizens online. Under the commitment, the Alannah and Madeline Foundation will deliver 3 resources:
- The eSmart Media Literacy Lab for secondary students aged 12 to 16 years, freely available from July 2023
- The eSmart Digital Licence+ for students aged 10 to 14 years, freely available from Term 1 2024
- A new eSmart Junior Digital Licence+ for primary students aged 5 to 9, freely available following its development in 2024.
The Australian Government confirmed an additional $31.6 million over 5 years (2022–23 to 2026–27) towards online safety measures targeted at keeping women and children safe.
- $16.6 million over 4 years (2022–23 to 2025–26) for eSafety to set up a new technology-facilitated abuse phone and online help service.
- $5.0 million over 5 years (2022–23 to 2026–27) to further increase awareness among women and girls of the support and resources available through the eSafety Commissioner.
- $10.0 million over 5 years (2022–23 to 2026–27) to eSafety to provide grant funding to non-government and charitable organisations for online safety education and projects focussed on women and children.
2021–22 Budget measures
In the 2021–22 Budget, the Australian Government announced an additional $29.2 million for online safety across four measures, including:
- A national online safety awareness campaign to raise awareness of the new and strengthened schemes available to Australians under the government's new online safety laws.
- A range of online safety measures through the Women's Safety Package led by the Department of Social Services, boosting eSafety investigations and funding a pilot of technology to detect image-based abuse content posted online
- Resources for frontline workers, children and families regarding technology-facilitated abuse targeting children.
- New education resources on recognising and preventing harmful behaviours online through the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse.
Online Safety Reform Measure
In the 2020–21 Budget, the Australian Government announced $39.4 million from 2020–21 to 2022–23 for the eSafety Commissioner to fulfil its existing functions, perform additional functions created through the Online Safety Act 2021 and meet the sustained increase in demand for support and assistance. This allows eSafety to prepare for and administer new online safety regulatory and enforcement regimes under the Online Safety Act 2021 and deliver programs to meet ongoing demand for advice and support on online safety.
Be Connected program
In the 2023–24 Budget, the Australian Government announced $31.2 million in funding to extend the successful Be Connected program until 30 June 2028. The program offers a range of resources to help older Australians improve their digital literacy, build confidence and engage safely online.
The program includes Be Connected Young Mentors, an intergenerational mentoring program between high school-aged youth and older Australians to provide them with the opportunity to learn from digitally-savvy young people, while equipping young people with valuable communication and leadership skills.
Find out more about the Be Connected program.
Online Safety Grants Program
In February 2019, the Australian Government announced $10 million over 4 years (2019–20 to 2022–23) for the Online Safety Grants Program. The program has enabled non-government organisations that are registered not-for-profit charities to apply for grant funding to deliver projects that improve the online safety of Australian children. Grant opportunities are targeted at education initiatives, assistance for parents and community and frontline support groups, and the online safety needs of vulnerable communities.
Find out more about the Online Safety Grants Program, including successful Round 1 (2020), Round 2 (2021) and Round 3 (2022) applicants.