Tertiary institutions resources hub
eSafety’s tertiary resources are designed to help create safer online environments for all those studying and working in these organisations.
The resources aim to help tertiary communities be safer online by:
- building greater awareness of online safety risks
- providing guidance on how to prevent, prepare for and respond to online safety incidents
- supporting student and staff wellbeing.
Tertiary Toolkit
The Tertiary Toolkit contains 12 resources offering targeted advice to three key audiences:
- Tertiary institutions
- Staff
- Students
Downloads
Find individual toolkits for each audience
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The big issues
Help managing key online safety issues impacting your campus.
More resources
Recommend students explore videos dealing with dating and relationships, navigating difficult situations, online safety and connecting with respect.
'Technology-facilitated coercive control' or 'tech-based coercive control' involves the use of digital technologies as part of coercive control. Tech-based coercive control is not just a single act, but a pattern of behaviour used against a person.
Our video 'It isn't love... it's control' illustrates an example of this serious form of online abuse.
| Audio |
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I believe social media websites should have a duty of care to protect its users. Especially when cyberbullying is so much easier to do behind the screen than face-to-face. |
So, what's cyberbullying? It can range from someone at school posting indirect but aggressive comments about you or someone setting up a fake or embarrassing account in your name. It's behaviour that's consistent, persistent and designed to humiliate you and anyone can cyberbully you – from a friend to a stranger. No matter the form it takes, cyberbullying is never okay. |
If you feel comfortable enough, you can try asking the person to take their comments down. If the cyberbullying misrepresents you or your opinion, you can try saying, 'Hey, this is unfair' before explaining your reasons why. If the bullying gets worse, this is usually a sign that things aren't going to get better without outside help. |
Often cyberbullies like a fight, especially from behind the screen. If this happens, it's time to screenshot, report and block. The websites you're on are also responsible for your welfare, which means that any cyberbullying should be reported to them first to address. If nothing changes, eSafety can also step in. Report it to eSafety and they'll do their best to help you out. So my final word of advice is to stay positive, and the cyberbullying itself reflects the cyberbully not you and it's okay to seek help. |
Lachlan: How to deal with cyberbullying
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[A series of text messages appear on a phone screen, which cracks more and more as the conversation plays out] |
I miss you who you with? who's there now your ex? |
Just the usual crew |
what's happening tell me wish you didn't leave |
call you later? |
can't believe you left |
im so sorry I had to leave |
you always do this thought you loved me |
[Phone screen moves right and words appear to the left] It isn't love. It's control. |
It isn't love... it's control
Posters and digital signage
Find out more
If you are a tertiary staff member and are interested in learning more about our tertiary-specific resources
Social media changes are coming
From 10 December 2025, certain social media platforms won’t be allowed to let Australians under 16 create or keep an account. Under-16s will still be able to see publicly available social media content that doesn’t require logging into an account.
What you need to know:
- The age restrictions are likely to apply to Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X and YouTube, as well as other platforms. See the latest list.
- Under-16s will still be able to see publicly available social media content that doesn’t require logging into an account.
- Schools may need to explore alternative methods for communicating with parents and students.
- There are exclusions for a number of platforms, including educational tools such as learning management systems. For example, Google Classroom and YouTube Kids will not be age restricted, and YouTube videos that can be seen without logging in can still be shared by teachers.
- For further guidance, including whether educators will be able to use their own accounts to share age-appropriate education materials, please refer to school or sector policies and procedures.
Find out more at eSafety’s What do the social media age restrictions mean for educators.
Last updated: 26/11/2025
