As Australian students return to school, many are not just navigating new classrooms and teachers — but also a digital world with increasingly complex challenges.

New data from eSafety shows a staggering 450 per cent rise in cyberbullying reports over the past five years, with children transitioning into secondary school accounting for more than a third of all cases.

If parents can take away one message as they start the school year, it’s this: do not wait for an incident to occur to have a conversation with your child about cyberbullying. Early conversations about online safety will provide your child with the social and emotional skills needed to reduce risks and make our communities safer for all.