A youth-led digital safety initiative aimed at keeping young Otago people safe online has received a $350,000 grant.
Otago Community Trust has provided the funding for three years, to support Netsafe’s Otago Young Digital Leaders Pilot initiative, which places youth at the heart of digital safety solutions in their communities.
Netsafe chief executive officer Brent Carey said the pilot programme would empower young people across Central Otago, Dunedin, North Otago and South Otago to become leaders in addressing online harm, designing their own projects and influencing policy decisions that affected their digital lives.
"Netsafe is also investing in this initiative as part of our ongoing commitment to serving all regions and communities across New Zealand — a commitment we strengthened when we opened our Dunedin office in 2024."
He said the initiative came at a critical time, as young people navigated what was becoming an increasingly complex digital environment.
The programme would establish four youth groups across Otago, where young people would collaborate with peers to develop community-specific responses to digital wellbeing challenges.
"Through youth-led workshops, leadership development and advocacy training, participants will build confidence, skills and networks that extend well beyond the programme.
"The projects they create — whether educational resources, policy recommendations, community events, or research initiatives — will be entirely determined by the young people themselves."
Mr Carey said the three-year pilot would begin with two locations in the first year, then expand across the region in the second year and then focus on sustainability and knowledge-sharing in the third year.
He said Netsafe brought more than 25 years’ expertise in online safety education and would facilitate the programme, while ensuring young people remained the primary decision-makers.
"The digital world is evolving rapidly and with major policy changes ahead, it’s more important than ever that the voices of young people are heard and reflected in the solutions we co-create." he said.
The grant is part of Otago Community Trust’s Tamariki and Rangatahi Impact Fund, which is aimed at supporting young people across the region.
Trust chief executive Jemma Adams said the project would have a lasting and intergenerational impact.
