Daniel Morcombe Foundation to address ‘sexting’ with new child safety program

CHILD safety campaigner Bruce Morcombe has spoken out about the scourge of teenage sexting, declaring it poses an ‘incredible danger’ to young people.

Denise and Bruce Morcombe have joined the Australian Federal Police to launch a two-week Tweed to the Territory child safety tour. Picture: Lachie Millard

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BRUCE and Denise Morcombe will team up with the Australian Federal Police to launch a new education program on child safety and the dangers of sexting.

Mr Morcombe said sexting posed an “incredible danger” to young people and the alarming trend would form a key part of a two-week Tweed to the Territory child safety tour the Daniel Morcombe Foundation will launch today in Brisbane with the AFP.

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“This is frightening and we have not seen the full implications,” he said.

“The willingness of younger students to take photographs and share them in what they think is a humorous way can be very damaging.

“They do not understand the implications of that supposed harmless act, but it can affect their mental state and careers. It doesn’t just cause embarrassment, the effects can be more far-reaching.”

The AFP and the Daniel Morcombe Foundation’s Tweed to the Territory tour will visit more than 20 schools and speak to thousands of students and adults over the next fortnight, beginning today at Northpine Christian College, north of Brisbane.

The tour then heads south, through Tweed Heads and regional NSW, before finishing in Canberra on the annual Day for Daniel on October 28.

Mr Morcombe said the tour would include talks to students during the day as well as evening presentations to parents, which would cover topics such as online grooming, sexting, privacy and inappropriate online behaviours.

He said that when it came to checking what children were being exposed to, teachers played a role, but fundamentally it was the responsibility of parents.

“With children, the world is in their pocket with regard to accessing internet sites,” he said.

“Would a responsible parent leave pornographic material, such as a magazine on a bench, where a child could see it? No they wouldn’t. But they leave a mobile phone they are paying for with no safeguards in place.

“Kids being kids want to explore, but what they are being exposed to normalises the obscure and bizarre and is giving them a different perspective on what is normal in the world.”

The AFP’s co-ordinator of crime operations in Queensland Glen Fisher said federal police were proud to continue working closely with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation to deliver these new child safety presentations in schools.

“From a policing perspective, prevention of crime is key,” Detective Superintendent Fisher said.

Generation Sext Forum: It’s Time To Talk

Get Involved in The Courier-Mail/Qld Government forum tackling the issue of sexting.

We’re looking for people to take part as members of the audience. The forum will be held next Thursday, October 20, at the State Library of Queensland from 6pm. The panel will feature Education Minister Kate Jones, Argos chief John Rouse, and Queensland Children’s Commissioner Cheryl Vardon and will be moderated by Frances Whiting. Places are limited. To attend, register at [e-mail]