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St James Featured Nationally for Innovative Online Safety Learning

St James’ Parish School, Sebastopol is being recognised nationally through a new case study released by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, showcasing how the school is helping young students build strong foundations for safe and positive digital participation. 

Featured as part of the eSafety Commissioner’s Mighty Heroes initiative, the case study takes viewers inside a lower primary classroom at St James to see how online safety concepts are being introduced through engaging, play-based learning experiences designed specifically for younger students. 

The recognition highlights St James’ commitment to contemporary teaching practice and reflects the school’s focus on equipping students with the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to navigate an increasingly digital world.

Building digital confidence from the early years 

Developed in collaboration with educators and informed by research undertaken with Deakin University and the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, Mighty Heroes supports teachers to introduce online safety in ways that are practical, age-appropriate and meaningful for lower primary learners. 

Rather than approaching online safety as a standalone lesson or a list of rules, the program encourages children to explore concepts through storytelling, discussion, play and everyday classroom experiences. 

At the centre of the program are four Australian bush characters, each helping students understand an important online safety concept: 

  • Responsibility – understanding how to protect personal information and make safe choices online 
  • Respect – recognising the importance of kindness and positive interactions 
  • Trusting feelings – helping children identify situations that do not feel right and know when to seek support 
  • Investigation – encouraging students to question and think critically about what they see and experience online 

The classroom-ready resources are designed to integrate naturally into existing learning programs and support educators to adapt activities to suit their students and local context.

Bringing Mighty Heroes to life at St James 

The case study highlights how educators at St James have embedded Mighty Heroes into everyday teaching and learning, creating opportunities for students to engage in meaningful conversations about digital citizenship and online behaviour from an early age. 

Through play-based approaches and intentional classroom experiences, students are encouraged to explore ideas, ask questions and develop practical strategies they can apply beyond the classroom. 

Importantly, the work at St James demonstrates that online safety education does not need to be separate from broader learning. Instead, it can become part of a school culture that supports student wellbeing, critical thinking and positive relationships. 

By participating in the case study, St James is helping demonstrate what effective online safety education can look like in practice and contributing to broader conversations across education about preparing children for life in a connected world. 

Watch the video below to see Mighty Heroes in action at St James’ Parish School, Sebastopol.