SUSAN MCLEAN

TOPICS: Leadership and  Digital Wellness/Cyber Bullying

AUDIENCES: Middle + High School / College / Educators / Administrators / Parents / Corporate / Prevention Stakeholders

Cybersafety Expert

I am passionate about empowering young people, parents and those who work with them with knowledge to prevent online harms and where and how to ask for assistance when things go wrong.

Susan is Australia’s leading expert in the area of cyber safety and was a member of Victoria Police for 27 years. She was the first Victoria Police officer appointed to a position involving cybersafety and young people where she established and managed the Victoria Police Cybersafety Project. She has completed advanced training in the USA in 2007, 2012 & 2015 including the Protecting Children Online Certificate from Fox Valley Technical College and has successfully completed the ‘University Certificate in Child Safety on the Internet’ from the University of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom. She also has qualifications from Netsmartz/NCMEC (USA) and NSPCC/CEOP (UK). She has also been awarded The National Medal, the Victoria Police Service Medal – 2nd Clasp, and the National Police Medal. Susan presents to over 450,000 students each year as well as tens of thousands of parents and educators both within Australia and Internationally. She provides 100’s of hours of pro bono support to parents and schools each year in relation to online issues.

Susan is a published author with her book Sexts Texts and Selfies, acknowledged as the definitive guide to online safety. She collaborates with a variety of international bodies and is an ambassador for Collective Shout and Positive Schools. Susan reviews and develops Policy for a range of organizations and is considered an ‘expert witness’ in court proceedings. She is also a member of the Meta APAC Safety Advisory Group. She has authored resources for the Victorian Education Department and was engaged by the New South Wales Education Department to conduct a review into the personal use of mobile phones in schools by students. She is the commentator of choice for both Australian and International media where she is known for her clear and balanced comments.

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PROGRAMS

What you really need to know about staying safe online.

Susan’s High School student sessions are delivered with clarity and humor that will challenge students to stop and think about what they do online and what the consequences might be for them not only today, but for the rest of their lives. This presentation is suitable for all High School aged teens. This presentation is ~90 minutes and is themed around Respect and Responsibility. She speaks to the students, and not at them. 

This interactive session includes discussion, a vibrant Powerpoint presentation and is supported by videos and Susan’s real-life experiences. Time for questions is always included at the end and Susan will chat privately to students who may need advice about sensitive issues. Topics covered include:

The Facts – What do you need to know about cyberspace to make good online decisions? Fact vs. fiction ; Reality vs. perception.

Digital Reputation – How what you do online now and what you post will have an impact on your future opportunities. What do people look for and how to make your digital reputation and digital footprint as positive as possible.

Cyberbullying –  What is cyberbullying and how/when does it occur? The impact on the victim, and what we can do if we see it. How/where to report if it is happening to us, as well as laws and legislation. Cyberbullying is a crime and police can be involved.

Grooming and online child sex offenders – How offenders find us online and what they might ask us to do. We look at online child sexual predators, where they hang out, and how to avoid. What is online grooming and what does it look like?

Sending/asking for Nudes Sending, receiving and possessing naked or sexually explicit images. What are the real consequences for under 18-year-olds; pressure to conform and legal considerations.

Sextortion – What it looks like and how and where to report

Consent and the law

Q&As

An educational & empowering session for parents and caregivers, Susan’s unparalleled knowledge leaves audiences shocked at the reality of the online world. It is a wake-up call to even the most switched on parent and is delivered with Susan’s famous “no-nonsense” approach. The session will cover the positive benefits of technology as well as what parents need to be aware of:


  • Reality & risk – The reality of the online world. It’s not a matter of if — rather than when.
  • What are kids doing online? Learn the latest apps and platforms your kids are either on, want to be on, or are being told about at school. TikTok, Omegle, Discord, Yolo, Wink & more.
  • Online Grooming – What is it and when/how does it occur? Preventative measures. What are the warning signs & what to do if you suspect this is happening to your child.
  • Cyberbullying – What it is, where it happens, what it looks like, how to prevent and what to do if it occurs. Also, the legal consequences and the possible criminal charges.
  • Sharing Nudes – The taking and sending of explicit images. The social and emotional consequences as well as the Law and the serious issue of Sextortion
  • Problematic Gaming – How to manage digital devices in your home to avoid problems and what to do if/when they arise.
  • Exposure to damaging content – Including online pornography & sites that encourage suicide, self-harm & earing disorders.
  • Top Tips – How to assist the children in your care to stay safe online with rules, parental controls and restriction passcodes.
  • Q&A

Addressing the issue of cybersafety & young people for Principals, teachers and other professionals.

With the explosion of technology, we are also seeing a dramatic rise in its misuse. The issues of cyberbullying & “sexting” are emerging as the number one issue confronting the safety and well-being of young people and the wider community. Cyberbullying or technology misuse is often the number one non-academic issue that schools deal with on a daily basis.

Today’s youth have access to — and are accessible by — many millions of people worldwide. Teens are often not aware that their words and/or photos, which may have been intended for a smaller audience, sometimes find their way to a larger one, often with both the unexpected and undesirable consequences. Misuses of technology primarily conducted out of school hours, are now becoming a time consuming and confronting issue for Principals, teachers, medical clinicians and other professionals who work with, or care for, young people. Schools have a duty of care to their students and this now includes an acknowledgement of online issues and the role that they must play in both the prevention and investigation of such misuses. Staff must be educated in order to assist those in their care.

This session is 90 minutes and can be delivered over a half day or full day, which includes an interactive quiz and working through actual scenarios.

This professional development session for educators/youth workers will cover:

What are the sites young people are using? You know Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram & TikTok but what about Omegle, Yubo, Yolo and Sendit? What are the age restrictions and why are they important? What are they young people being exposed to (including pornography) and why can this be a problem?

How are where are kids groomed online? How do predators find kids & what sites/apps do they use. The difference between an ‘online friend’ and a ‘stranger.

Misuse of technology – How/where does this occur? What is Cyberbullying, Sexting & Sextortion?

The Law – When is cyberbullying and ‘sexting’ a crime? When and how to involve local Police. A schools legal and moral responsibility. Your legal Duty of Care.

Risks, dangers and safety tips – How to assist the children in your care to stay safe online.

Office of the eSafety Commissioner – Role, Resources & Reporting. (Australian schools)

Where to next for your school? Considerations and policy development – What to include in Policy including the issue of photos and videos? Has permission been obtained? What about students or parents taking pictures at a school event? Online safety for teachers and staff (and how to protect your privacy)

Professional Conduct – should staff maintain public social networking sites? Relevant state/organizational guidelines. Social interactions with students online.

Q&As

How to have fun and stay safe online!

Susan’s fun and interactive Primary School student session is suitable for students in the final four years of primary school and two year levels can be combined if a suitable venue is available. The theme of this 90-minute session is Respect and Responsibility. Students complete a comprehensive four-page workbook, which reinforces the learning outcomes.

The book is signed by the student in class then taken home & signed by a parent/guardian to acknowledge and reinforce the content discussed. This can be a very useful tool for schools should online issues arise & can also be used for further classroom sessions.

This age appropriate, fun & interactive session for primary students includes discussion, a vibrant Powerpoint presentation and is supported by videos and Susan’s real life experiences. Topics covered include:

  • Rules and Laws – Where are they found, why we have them and what happens when we break them? Susan challenges the students to think clearly about their decisions.

  • Cyberbullying – what is cyberbullying and how/when does it happen. How does it make a victim feel and what can we do if we see it happen or if it is happening to us. Did you know that cyberbullying is a crime & Police can be involved?

  • Online ‘friends’ – who are not really friends. How strangers find us online and what they might ask us to do. The issue of “rude pics” is discussed in an age appropriate way so that children understand that ‘private’ in the real world is ‘private’ online as well. What should they do if asked for a naked picture

  • What are the sites & apps that children are using and what are the age requirements for each site. Why it is important that online rules are NOT broken or disobeyed?

  • Staying safe online – how we can be as safe as possible online. How to identify a problem and what can we do if there is a problem.

  • How to be a good Digital Citizen – Time for discussion and Q&A.

Please note that sessions can be tailored to suit your schools requirements in relation to content or as a result of a specific concern.

What Susan McLean doesn’t know about Cybersafety is not worth knowing. She is absolutely brilliant, and her presentations are dynamic and entertaining. She has the unique ability to connect with each audience from young people to adults.
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg
Adolescent Psychologist
Senior Program OfficerDepartment of Education Victoria
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She has always presented in an engaging and dynamic manner with up to the minute observations and patterns pertaining to cybersafety and young people. I would recommend Susan McLean as she is a passionate and articulate advocate for improving the cybersafety of young people in our schools.
Barbara StonePrincipal
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Susan McLean makes cybersafety straightforward and common sense. She gives parents and teachers the understanding to be able to manage fears confidently and effectively. Susan’s wealth of practical experience in the issues surrounding cybersafety makes a word of difference to anyone luck enough to hear her.
All Saints College
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A very worthwhile investment! The material presented by Susan was realist and user-friendly. She managed to connect with students, staff and parents, presenting age-appropriate material that sent a strong message about the positives and negatives of our cyberworld.
Katherine IanelloTeacher
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Thank you for such an effective presentation. This was the most engaging and straight to the point information I have ever seen for students and I will be making recommendations to past colleagues who now work at other schools.
Gippsland Grammar School
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Susan is an excellent presenter. She is personable and easy to get on with. She is also quick, clever and witty. Her presentations were well received and contained a lot of excellent and current information.
Deputy Head PEGS Essendon Campus
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The PEGS community gained great insight form Mrs McLean’s vibrant and informative sessions. Teacher and students were given invaluable advice on how to safety manage online actives and parents in particular were reminded of the importance of vigilantly monitoring their child’s online behavior.
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AUTHOR OF

Sexts, Texts and Selfies: How to keep your children safe in the digital space

Soon enough, every parent will have to discuss online safety with their children. This book is your salvation. Widely regarded as Australia’s first cyber cop, cyber-safety expert Susan McLean helps you understand and connect with your child’s online world, and guide them safely through it in this revised and updated edition of her bestselling book. She shows you how to establish good online habits, set time restrictions and boundaries, identify good apps and bad apps, deal with cyber bullying, work out who to ‘friend’ and ‘unfriend’, and manage your child’s digital reputation.

Filled with case studies about what children get up to online and the very latest research, Susan’s advice is firm but fair. With her clear guidelines, parents can allow their children to embrace and enjoy technology, without the stress or worry.

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BOOK SUSAN MCLEAN FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT