About Optus Digital Thumbprint
Optus Digital Thumbprint supports young people and families to achieve, thrive and belong in today’s digital world. The program supports digital safety and wellbeing through free, curriculum-aligned in-school workshops and a range of resources for use at home.
As technology and digital innovation transforms the world around us, concerns around online safety and security continues to rise. Issues such as cybersecurity and scamming threats, cyberbullying, and image-based abuse continue to grow and deepen, particularly through the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI.
Since 2013, Optus has been running our free, award-winning Digital Thumbprint Program in schools across Australia – an initiative to educate young people around crucial digital safety and well-being topics. This award-winning program has been endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider. Through facilitator-led and teacher-led digital interactive workshops, students learn about the importance of cybersecurity, digital identity, digital discernment, digital balance, cyberbullying and respectful relationships online.
We also have a range of guides and interactive quizzes for young people and families.
Want to learn more about how Optus is driving lasting positive change for our people, customers and community? Check out our latest Sustainability Report.
Advisers and Contributors
Dr Michelle Blanchard
Honorary Principal Fellow
Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne
Dr Blanchard’s expertise lies in leveraging technology to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people. She played a key role in the development of the Digital Thumbprint program, serving on its advisory panel, reviewing workshop content, attending pilot sessions, and providing feedback that helped shape the initiative.
Michelle is deeply committed to youth mental health, previously serving on the board of Batyr and the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation’s advisory panel. She holds a PhD in Youth Mental Health and multiple degrees from the University of Melbourne.
Dr Mark Gregory
BEng(Elec)(Hons), MEng, PhD, FIEAust, SMIEEE
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
School of Engineering, RMIT University
Dr Mark Gregory made a significant contribution to the Digital Thumbprint program though his technical expertise, and his knowledge of effective teaching of technology subjects.
Mark is an Associate Professor focusing on network engineering and Internet security in the School of Engineering at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia and has published more than 100 refereed papers. Mark is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. and received an Australian Learning and Teaching Council Citation in 2009.
Dr Gregory is the Managing Editor of the International Journal of Information, Communications Technology and Applications and the General Chair of the IEEE International Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference.
He has been the founding director of several companies that provide IT services, systems and software development, was an elected member of the Engineers Australia Victoria Division Committee 2010-2012 and is a Senior Member of the IEEE and a Fellow of Engineers Australia.
Ben Peters
Digital Literacy Co-Ordinator
Technology Co-Ordinator
Waratah Technology Campus, Callaghan College, NSW
BA Visual Arts, BA Education (Secondary), MA Education
Ben Peters contributed to Digital Thumbprint by sharing his deep knowledge of pedagogical approaches to technology learning for young people.
Ben is a secondary school teacher who, in addition to educating students in Information Technology has analysed, designed, and implemented many whole school and college online learning spaces encouraging the use of effective technology use in teaching and learning.
