Arabic version: كتب بلغات السكان الأصليين تعزز السلامة على الإنترنت

According to ABC News, the Australian Federal Police has worked with Indigenous translators and illustrators in two Northern Territory communities to create picture books about child safety online. The books are designed to help children and parents understand risks linked to online child sexual exploitation in culturally and age appropriate ways.

The Wise Emu and the Digital Dingo in Paradise was written in Western Arrarnta, while The Wise Brolga and the Digital Dingo in Paradise was written in Old Tiwi. Hermannsburg resident Maxine Malbunka, a Western Arrarnta woman, translated The Wise Emu. She said her role was to take the message to her community and educate young people about online safety.

Ms Malbunka said children frequently use the internet, phones and YouTube, and parents need to supervise their children while they are watching. She said there had been instances in the community in which children encountered “nasty people” online, though she could not provide specific examples to protect families’ privacy.

AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation online child safety team leader Kristy Thomson said the centre received more than 100,000 reports of online child sexual exploitation in the past financial year. That was about 275 reports a day and a 21 per cent increase from the previous financial year. She said grooming was one of the biggest online threats, with offenders using different tactics to encourage children to share intimate images.

Hermannsburg mother Kara Katakarinja said the books could help mothers teach younger children about dangers associated with phones and social media. Ms Malbunka said she hoped versions could be produced in more Aboriginal languages for communities across Australia. Digital versions and additional learning resources are available on the ACCCE website.