Several of our Western Australian AngliSchools recently enjoyed enlightening presentations from former police officer Paul Litherland from Surf Online Safe. Paul delivered insightful presentations on cyber safety that opened the eyes of parents, teachers and students to online risk.
The 2022 WA Australian of the Year, Paul is recognised as Australia’s leading expert in tech crime. With a background as a WA Police officer in the Technology Crime Investigation Unit since 2008, Paul has worked specifically with juvenile victims and their families, using those experiences to develop highly informative presentations about the risks of the online world. With this expertise, Paul has dedicated his time to educating thousands of students across Australia, giving them knowledge and insight into the dangers of the online world and what they can do to protect themselves.
The AngliSchools hosting Paul in 2025 include Peter Moyes Anglican Community School, John Wollaston, Peter Carnley Anglican Community School, Frederick Irwin Anglican School, Georgiana Molloy Anglican School, John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School, St George’s Anglican Grammar School and Swan Valley Anglican Community School.
Staff at Peter Carnley Anglican Community School said, “It is incredible to see Paul’s ability to engage students of all ages in such a sensitive and important topic.”
At John Wollaston Anglican Community School, staff said, “Mr Litherland’s presentations are always engaging and eye-opening for our students; here’s what they had to say:”
‘He started off with his usual joke, “Son, son come here I can’t get the laptop to stop beeping. Dad that’s the microwave you idiot!” Paul then showed us the statistics about how many people in each age category have social media many years ago to right now… He talked about a huge scam that happened in London where they created a website where you could get free Vbucks, and how they stole the credit card information and used it to get money. We can’t wait to see him again next year and learn even more!’ Keira, Year 6 Primary Hale Captain.
‘My favourite part of the cyber safety presentation was that Paul could find 48 people on SnapChat from our school and two on TikTok. It showed that even though people might have their account on private, with the right tools you still can hack into someone’s account and find out their school, address and share photos that might not want to be shared.’ Abi, Year 7.
‘I found Paul’s presentation very informative and engaging as well as shocking. He talked to the Years 9 and 10 students about how to keep our information private on social media, the rise of AI and real-life cases he has dealt with while working to protect youth online. After the session, I believe I am more informed about choices I make on social media and other online platforms as well as the protections I must put in place to keep myself safe in these spaces.’ Lila, Year 10.
Peter Moyes staff said, “The sessions provided valuable tips and strategies for staying safe online. Parents gained insights into managing their child’s technology use and understanding the potential dangers of the digital world, while students learned how to navigate the internet safely and responsibly.”
Paul Litherland responded, “Thanks for another amazing visit to the wonderful Peter Moyes Anglican Community School. The kids were amazing as usual, and it was also brilliant to see such a great turnout for the parent presentation. Most importantly, thanks so much to the Year 9’s! The world of advocacy against juvenile harm is very challenging and often overwhelming. The last few months have been tough, but the greeting I got from you all was truly inspiring and has lifted my spirits tremendously. In particular, those of you who stayed back to chat, thank you for your amazing feedback and encouragement. Legends!”
Get in touch with Paul Litherland at [email protected], or read more on his blog: Paul Litherland – Blog
