New eSmart Digital Licence from the Alannah & Madeline Foundation

Children are growing up online, yet digital safety education often begins too late. When expanding its successful Digital Licence program into the early years, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation needed to design a product suited to the realities of early education settings. Through co-design workshops and discovery sessions with teachers, it became clear that younger learners benefit most from social, play-based and teacher-led experiences. Individualised, device-based learning was not the right fit. The challenge was to create a solution that could adapt to these developmental contexts, empower educators, reduce barriers to access and deliver structured, curriculum-aligned learning for real classrooms.

The new eSmart Digital Licence reimagines digital safety education for early learners through a hybrid model shaped by co-design and qualitative enquiry with educators. Teachers follow a five-step sequence using printed maps, worksheets and QR-linked videos to guide students through the Alannah & Madeline Foundation’s 4Cs framework: Content, Contact, Conduct and Compulsion. This framework supports teachers in covering the key dimensions of online safety, including what children see, who they interact with, how they behave and how they manage their time online. Lessons are delivered through storytelling, discussion and classroom activities, supported by a simple, accessible Webflow-built platform.

Australian children are spending more time online from an earlier age, with 80% of 8 to 12-year-olds using social media platforms in 2024, often below the legal age of use. Reports of cyberbullying have increased by more than 450% in five years. The eSmart Digital Licence responds to this growing need by introducing online safety education during the early years of school. Educator feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting how easily the program fits into classroom routines. The program was designed to be scalable and adaptable, ensuring longevity so that it can evolve alongside changing technologies and school contexts.

The eSmart Digital Licence Program was designed with a deep understanding of how younger students learn and how teachers teach. Print-first classroom resources: Colourful maps, worksheets and completion certificates reflect the energy of early years classrooms and support hands-on learning. QR-linked video content: Light digital support tools enhance teaching and provide easy access for both teachers and parents. Structured pedagogy: The program follows a clear five-step sequence and aligns with AMF’s 4Cs online safety education framework, covering key areas of online safety risk—Content, Contact, Conduct and Compulsion. Flexible access: The public-facing Webflow site allows teachers to download materials without needing credentials or training. Scalable and future-proof: Designed for ongoing iteration, the solution can adapt to curriculum changes, safety updates and future delivery formats. Each feature was shaped by user research and testing with Australian teachers and primary-aged students. Character design, storytelling, and classroom visuals were all refined through feedback from real educators and learners.