New Eras in Online Safety: Building Healthy Societies for Future Generations

Join leading figures, Distinguished Professor Ben Mathews, Chanel Contos Founder and Executive Director of Teach us Consent and Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner to discuss landmark developments, consider the next dimensions in optimal public policy, Moderated by Australia’s National Commissioner for Children, Deb Tsorbaris. This is an event you will not want to miss.

The online world presents both opportunities and dangers for children and young people. With 1.8 billion adolescents aged 10-24 globally, and 4.6 million in Australia, ensuring online spaces are safe is paramount. To date, powerful technology corporations have been able to introduce new products with few guardrails and limited oversight. Online platforms have enabled new forms of violence including gendered and sexual violence, extortion, and bullying, as well as risks of dependence and anxiety. Such violence poses unique threats for young people. The dawn of this era has been rapid and poses critical new challenges for public health and safety nationally and internationally. Australia is leading the way in research, innovation and regulation.

About the event

The forum will explore

new research identifying the scale of violence experienced by young people and which types are most harmful;
innovative education programs that build young people’s knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to navigate the online world and develop healthy, respectful relationships;
world-first regulatory reforms, including social media minimum age restrictions and safety-by-design measures, that provide a global model for building healthier digital societies; and
implications of emerging technologies, including AI, which demands sustained vigilance and proactive public policy to protect online safety and public health.

The event format will include a panel discussion with live Q&A. Hosted by QUT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Margaret Sheil AO.

Age Recommendation

Suitable for ages 12+

About the Speakers

Ben Mathews, Distinguished Professor, QUT School of Law, Faculty of Business & Law.
Ben is world-renowned researcher in child abuse, violence against children, and public health. For 25 years he has conducted innovative research into violence against children, and his work has influenced major socio-legal reforms in Australia and overseas. He led the Australian Child Maltreatment Study, which was the first study to identify the prevalence, nature and health outcomes of all forms of child abuse. Recently he completed the first Australian study to identify the national prevalence, characteristics and health outcomes of online sexual violence against children. He is an Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, was named in The Australian’s Top 250 Researchers in 2025 and has twice been nominated for Australian of the Year awards.
Chanel Contos, Founder and Executive Director, Teach Us Consent.
Chanel was the driving force behind national reforms introducing enhanced sexuality, consent and relationships education in Australia. These reforms represent a tectonic change in social policy to better educate children and youth about healthy and safe relationships. Now, Teach Us Consent's Promoting Consent Initiative designs and delivers social media resources aiming to reduce all forms of sexual violence and promote healthy intimacy. Chanel holds Masters degrees in Education, Gender and International Development from University College London and in Public Policy from the University of Oxford. She chairs the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership’s Youth Advisory Committee, and is the author of Consent Laid Bare: sex, entitlement, and the distortion of desire. A leading innovator in prevention of gendered violence and promotion of healthy relationships, Chanel was awarded the Australian Human Rights Commission Young People’s Medal in 2021, was named one of the BBC’s 100 inspiring and influential women worldwide, and was NSW Young Woman of the Year in 2023.
Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner. Julie leads eSafety, the world’s first government regulatory agency committed to keeping its citizens safer online. Julie has extensive experience in the non-profit and government sectors and spent two decades in senior public policy and safety roles in the tech industry at Microsoft, Twitter and Adobe. As Commissioner, she has led the introduction of world-first regulatory regimes under the Online Safety Act 2021, including the landmark social media minimum age restrictions which commenced in December 2025. In 2020, Julie was appointed by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Apolitical as one of the #Agile50, the world’s most influential leaders revolutionising government. Julie was recently named one of Australia’s most influential women by the Australian Financial Review, and a leading Australian in Foreign Affairs by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Deb Tsorbaris, National Children’s Commissioner Deb is a leading advocate for children, young people and families with over 30 years of experience in executive roles in the not for profit and public sectors. As National Children's Commissioner, Ms Tsorbaris promotes and protects children's human rights. An essential part of her job is listening to Australia's children and young people about their needs and experiences, so she can inform decision-makers and hold them accountable for policies and services. Before commencing as National Children’s Commissioner, Ms Tsorbaris was, since 2023, the CEO of the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, Victoria’s peak body for child and family services. She also holds several key advisory roles, including as a member of the Victorian Children’s Council and the Victorian Women’s Ministerial Correctional Services Committee, and as Co-Chair of the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse Advisory Group. She provides policy leadership to governments across Australia and has been instrumental in advancing the rights of vulnerable and marginalised children. In recognition of her outstanding work with children, Ms Tsorbaris was honoured with the prestigious Robin Clark Leadership Award in 2022.

Share big ideas, invite conversations, and inspire curiosity

Link to livestream will be available three days before the event.

Contact the host of QUT Bold: New Eras in Online Safety Livestream