Primary schools across Australia now have free access to a media and digital literacy program funded by the Albanese Government.

Developed by the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, the eSmart Digital Licence+ for primary schools is now available nationwide.

This educator-led program helps young learners aged 4 to 9 years to achieve their digital licence.

In doing so, they learn how to navigate the online world safely, responsibly, and respectfully through animated videos and hands-on activities.

“By empowering children as young as 4 years-old with the skills they need to navigate the challenges of the digital world, we are building a young generation of Australians who will be better equipped to engage safely online,” says Minister for Communications Hon Michelle Rowland MP.

“The eSmart Digital Licence+ is empowering school students to think critically, create responsibly, and navigate the online world in a safer and more responsible way.”

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Designed in collaboration with educators and close to 1,000 school children, the program is adaptable to diverse learning needs and can be delivered in classrooms with, or without, technology.

The new tool builds on the eSmart Digital Licence+ program already available for students aged 10 to 14 years, and the Media Literacy Lab for high school students aged 12 to 16 years.

The Albanese Government invested $6 million to ensure the digital literacy tools would be freely available for all schools across Australia.

“Australian children have long been getting a pen licence at school as they learn to write – this is the pen licence for the online world.”

“I encourage schools to reach out to the Alannah & Madeline Foundation to take advantage of these helpful resources,” she concludes.

In the digital age, young people learn, explore and connect online. Digital literacy skills help young people to have safer experiences online, enabling them to become respectful and resilient digital citizens, with education and learning a key part of achieving this goal.

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