THE Queensland Police Service (QPS) is strengthening its approach to online safety with the launch of the Safer Together: Digital Community Champions Program, an innovative training initiative aimed at Facebook group administrators and moderators.
Developed by the QPS Digital Intelligence and Community Engagement (DICE) Prevention team, the program is the first of its kind in Queensland and seeks to support the volunteers behind popular community and crime pages.
These groups have become vital digital hubs for sharing real-time information, from severe weather alerts to missing persons, but often come with challenges including misinformation and online conflict.
The program, developed with the University of Technology Sydney, has already trained more than 300 moderators in a successful pilot, boosting confidence, improving content management and promoting safer, more reliable online spaces.
With the pilot complete, QPS is now expanding the program to reach an additional 100 learners.