Presented by Zonta Club of the Perth Northern Suburbs, this workshop is filled with up-to-date information, real world examples, practical strategies, conversation starters, child friendly books and resource recommendations to support you.

6:00pm Guests Arrive

6:30pm Event Commences

8:45pm Event Concludes

The internet and technology have transformed the ways we learn, work, create, play, connect and are entertained. It’s given our children access to the world, but it has also given the world access to our children. Children gain immense benefits from being online, but there are also risks. Digital environments, including emerging environments, are not designed for children or with children’s safety in mind, yet they’re an integral part of their lives.

Globally the increasing number of children online has seen corresponding upward trends of online grooming, online child sexual abuse and exploitation, sextortion, youth produced sexual content, image-based abuse, cyberbullying, exposure to pornography and other illegal, hurtful, harmful and age-inappropriate content to name but a few challenges. Much of what children are exposed to and are navigating, is too much too soon. Digital harm is occurring on apps, platforms and online services at unprecedented levels.

Children’s exposure to harmful content online is not marginal, it’s mainstream and they need our support. The ubiquity of the internet and portable electronic devices has transformed the way pornography is accessed and how pornography accesses children. Consequently, children and young people are growing up in a world where it’s impossible to avoid sexualised media and pornography.

Whilst pornography is not new the accessibility of pornography has changed considerably. Children with access to the Internet on any device - at home, at a friend’s place, at school or in any of our community spaces are at risk of exposure. It’s not a matter of ‘if’ a child will see pornography but ‘when’ and the when is getting younger.  

Supporting children’s healthy sexual development can play an important role in building their resilience against sexual harms, including those associated with online pornography. Many parents assume this is an issue that will not be relevant until their child reaches puberty or secondary school, but pornography can impact and influence children of any age, even when they’re not looking for it.

Education to address the harms of pornography can and should begin in the early years. The primary school years present many opportunities and teachable moments. We can support children to develop knowledge and skills to mitigate pornography’s harmful messages without mentioning the word pornography. There is a wide range of skills that can be taught long before they have anything to do with sex, relationships and pornography.

This workshop has been developed to support parents/carers, educators and other professions talk, in age and developmentally appropriate ways, with children about pornography. 

You will leave this workshop with research and evidence-based up-to-date information, conversation starters, practical strategies and resource recommendations.

Topics Covered

• Overview of pornography in the digital age
• Children’s access and exposure to pornography
• Pornography’s influence and impact on children
• Beyond Age Verification: Creating safe and supportive spaces for education and conversation
• Specific education to support primary school aged children: Social norms & gender, stereotypes, sexual development, critical media literacy, body autonomy, body safety, consent, online safety and more
• What to do if your child is exposed to pornography
• Trusted Adults: Reducing barriers to help seeking
• Parental Controls: Safer devices and homes
• Resources to support parents and curriculum delivery

This workshop will be presented by Kayelene Kerr and Daniel Principe. 

Join us as Kayelene and Daniel translate research into easy-to-understand information, enriched by practical examples and strategies.

Kayelene Kerr is a child safety advocate and educator who is passionate about the prevention of child sexual abuse and exploitation. She supports the trusted adults in children’s lives to talk about challenging topics. Kayelene is endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider, is a Telethon Kids Institute trusted Expert Cyber Educator and an Ambassador for the Valuing Children Initiative.

Daniel Principe is a passionate youth advocate and educator. He champions boys across Australia to challenge culture and aspire to live courageous, respectful and empathetic lives. Daniel is a board member of the DART Institute, an ambassador for the Women’s Resilience Centre and the national campaign Consent Can’t Wait.

This workshop is not suitable for children to attend.