This week the Telstra Foundation announced it would provide $1 million to create a safe online community for Australian primary school children to communicate and learn.

Telstra is partnering with La Trobe University and Intuitive Media to deliver SuperClubsPlus in Australia.

Telstra Foundation Director, John Stanhope, said SuperClubsPlus operates in the UK, providing a fully protected and mediated online community for primary school children to communicate with other children in the UK and around the world.

“Telstra is delighted to be supporting this hugely successful program to be rolled out in Australia,” Mr Stanhope said.

“The online community in SuperClubsPlus is mediated by handpicked education professionals, and they will monitor all the activity on the site.

“SuperClubsPlus gives parents and teachers peace of mind that children are online in a safe environment learning and having fun.”

Mr Stanhope said new cyber technologies provide many exciting learning and communication opportunities, but there are also some potential problems.

“Increasingly the community is becoming aware of issues such as cyber-bullying and harassment, and identity theft which can place the safety and well-being of children and young people at risk,” he said.

“This is even more of a concern when you consider that internet users are getting younger - one third of 8 and 9-year-olds started using the internet at the age of 5 or 6.

“SuperClubsPlus is a fantastic initiative as it takes out the risk factor and ensures children are safe, and all their interaction is monitored when they go online.”