PowerUp Online Safety Developmental Evaluation
Online safety for students aged 15-17 is the focus of a new digital program just launched by Port Adelaide FC 's non-profit-arm, Power Community Limited, in partnership with Centacare Catholic Community Services - Adelaide , the eSafety Commissioner, and CatholicCare NT . The Centre for Social Impact at Flinders University is proud to have undertaken a 12-month research project across 13 SA and NT schools, including remote communities, to inform the program’s design.
Executive Summary
This report documents the development of Power UP, an e-safety program aimed at 15-17 year olds, which leverages popular AFL and AFLW players to deliver key messages about online safety. The program was co-designed through three developmental stages: foundational, adaptation for remote communities, and feedback for ongoing development. A total of 201 participants, including 168 students (aged 15-17) and 26 teachers from 13 schools across Adelaide, Darwin, and Alice Springs, and 7 practitioners contributed insights via 13 focus groups and four interviews conducted between August 2023 and May 2024. The central research question was:
What constitutes effective and appropriate content for the Power UP program, including its relevance for remote communities?
This report compiles three sub-reports that present the developmental evaluation of Power UP, co-produced with the Centacare team and informed significantly by CatholicCare NT (CCNT) and Power Communities. The thematic analysis of data guided the real-time development of Power UP modules. Since this evaluation was iterative, many of the changes suggested in the recommendations have already been implemented as part of the ongoing development and are marked as ‘adopted’ throughout the report. Power UP aims to deliver e-Safety learning outcomes that align with the South Australia and Northern Territory Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum and national education curriculum standards.
Findings indicated that while all proposed topics (see Appendix A) were deemed important to 15-17 year olds, subjects like “online dating”, “gamer culture” and “finding your tribe” were less relevant. Key platforms for this age group included TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. Privacy, consent, and digital footprints emerged as critical issues, highlighting the necessity of e-safety programs like Power UP to mitigate the negative impacts of harmful online content. Young people want these e-safety programs to include strategies to prevent, manage, and stop harmful online interactions. They also want to know how to protect themselves from any resulting mental health issues.
Power UP Development Findings
The Power UP program’s development process incorporated insights from stakeholders to address online safety concerns for 15-17 year olds. The foundational stage highlighted the importance of distinguishing online safety from online security and the necessity of age-appropriate language. Key findings emphasised the interconnection of privacy, safety, and digital footprints, highlighting the need for increased awareness of the eSafety Commission’s role, including the support and assistance it offers, as well as strategies to address harmful interactions when they occur.
In remote communities, the feedback revealed critical issues such as the escalation of online bullying into physical conflicts and the importance of accessible content in local languages. Stakeholders also emphasised the need for offline access to the Power UP program due to unreliable internet connectivity. It is also noteworthy that while the Power UP modules are primarily designed for 15-17 year olds, the remote community modules will specifically target younger age groups. This adjustment is based on findings related to composite class arrangements and school attendance patterns found in these communities. The tailored approach ensures that the program remains relevant and effective in addressing the unique needs of diverse age groups within remote settings.
The ongoing development stage indicated opportunities for enhancing Power UP modules through improved navigation, inclusivity for neurodivergent learners, and the integration of engaging, interactive elements.
Recommendations
In light of the findings presented in this report, which highlight key challenges and opportunities related to online safety for young people, several actionable recommendations were proposed for the different stages of Power UP development. These recommendations aim to enhance the effectiveness of the Power UP program and ensure its relevance and accessibility for diverse communities. By implementing these strategies, stakeholders can foster a safer and more supportive online environment for young people. It is important to note that many of the recommendations have already been considered and adopted by the Power UP program in real-time, as the developmental evaluation program was iterative and ran alongside and integrated with the process of program development. This report serves as the final documentation of the developmental evaluation process and results, co-developed with Centacare and the broader project team.