Protecting voices at risk online

Australia’s population of more than 25 million people is made up of diverse individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and communities.

eSafety’s research and reporting trends show certain individuals and groups are disproportionately at risk of online harm, or face additional barriers to protecting themselves from harm or accessing support. We recognise that many intersecting factors influence risk levels and individual experiences of online harm. So we shape and prioritise our programs and resources to support, protect and build the capacity of those who are most at risk.

At-risk groups include:

• children and young people
• older Australians
• women
• people with disability
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
• people who identify as LGBTQI+.

Our commitment

At eSafety we ensure our strategies, programs and resources are tailored to the needs of diverse people and communities.

We also recognise that we need to remain innovative, agile and culturally responsive in order to meet the changing online safety needs of Australia’s diverse and continually evolving population. 

With this in mind, we have adopted a multi-layered approach to continuously improving eSafety’s ability to meet the needs of at-risk groups. 

• We undertake whole-of-agency and individual training. 
• We conduct in-depth research and keep up-to-date with key findings from other national and international research. 
• We analyse trends identified through our reporting schemes and investigations.
• We test programs and resources in the field and modify them according to feedback.
• We consult target audiences and co-design resources with them.
• We share knowledge and best practice with other organisations in the online safety sector and those working with at-risk groups. 

This statement outlines eSafety’s current initiatives and defines our strategic priorities for ongoing protection of those who are most at risk of online harm.