Online safety issues encountered by health, education and law enforcement workers

Types of online issues

• The most common experiences that clients of workers encounter are cyberbullying, image-based abuse and technology-facilitated abuse.
• The types of issues depend on the profession. For example, educators see a broader range of safety issues in the course of their work compared to General Practitioners.

Response and support 

• Frontline workers respond to online issues differently, based on the nature of their work. 
• Early childhood and primary school educators are more likely to take an active role in dealing with student online issues. Secondary school educators generally make academic achievement their priority.  
• Law enforcement officers working in general policing have tight timeframes and they focus on evidence gathering or the potential for prosecution. 

The level of support provided can depend on:  

• whether mandatory reporting applies
• the likelihood of conviction or police investigation 
• the client's understanding of technology and how to protect themselves.

Barriers to engagement 

Frontline workers can be restricted by:

• Limited personal experience and lack of confidence in their own knowledge about online safety. (The report also highlighted their struggle to keep up with technology). 
• The challenge of assessing the cause of a client's behaviour and whether it's related to an online safety incident or not.
• Perceived role and competing job priorities. For example, many workers don't think that assisting their clients with online safety is a core part of their role.

Resource and support needs 

Practical support is needed to educate workers and build engagement, including:

• resources and training tailored to different sectors 
• a one page ‘cheat sheet’ including risks, signs of impacts, resources and referrals to manage incidents 
• a guide on how to prevent issues and have a positive influence online 
• information sheets that can be given to patients, students and clients.