SportWest and the eSafety Commissioner brought the sporting community together to explore online safety and digital safeguarding during Children’s Week WA.
As digital platforms become an increasingly important part of how children and young people participate in, communicate about and experience sport, understanding online safety is essential to creating safe and positive sporting environments.
On Wednesday 28 October, SportWest, through its True Sport program, hosted The Digital Sideline: Online Safety for Young People in Sport, a webinar delivered in partnership with the eSafety Commissioner as part of Children’s Week WA.
The session focused on the online safety challenges facing young people in sport and explored how sporting organisations, clubs, coaches, volunteers, parents and carers can work together to prevent online harm and support safer digital experiences.
Understanding the Digital Sideline
While sport provides valuable opportunities for connection, teamwork and belonging, the digital spaces surrounding sport can also expose young people to risks that require greater awareness and proactive safeguarding.
From social media and digital communication to the sharing of images, videos and livestreamed content, online interactions can have a significant impact on a young person's sporting experience.
The webinar explored current research and emerging trends in young people's online experiences, including different forms of online harm and emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI).
Participants also gained insights into responding to online safety incidents, supporting young people who may have experienced harm, and accessing practical tools and resources to strengthen online safety practices within sporting environments.
The session reinforced the importance of considering privacy, consent and the responsible use of digital content when photographing, filming and sharing sporting activities.
Safeguarding Young People Online and Offline
Delivered during Children’s Week WA, the webinar aligned with the broader importance of recognising children's rights and supporting their ability to learn, grow and thrive in safe and inclusive communities.
Through True Sport's Child Safeguarding Initiative, SportWest works to support the Western Australian sport sector to strengthen safeguarding practices and create environments where children and young people feel safe, respected and valued.
Online safety is an important part of this work. Safeguarding responsibilities extend beyond the physical sporting environment to the digital spaces where young people connect with teammates, coaches, officials and their wider sporting communities.
Creating safer digital environments requires a shared commitment. Sporting organisations can establish clear policies and procedures, coaches and volunteers can model appropriate online behaviours, and parents and carers can help young people navigate digital spaces safely.
Importantly, young people should know where to seek help and feel supported to speak up when something online makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
Continuing the Conversation
The Digital Sideline webinar provided an opportunity for the sporting sector to build its understanding of online safety and consider practical steps to better protect young participants.
SportWest thanks the eSafety Commissioner for partnering on this important initiative and everyone who registered and participated in the session.
By continuing to build awareness, share knowledge and strengthen safeguarding practices, the sporting community can help ensure children and young people experience the benefits of sport in environments that are safe, positive and inclusive, both online and offline.
To learn more about True Sport's Child Safeguarding Initiative and access further resources, visit the True Sport website.
