Optus equips regional communities to thrive safely online

Through our participation in News Corp Australia’s 2025 National Bush Summit, Optus is showcasing programs that create lasting impact in regional Australia. Our Digital Thumbprint program is one of them, equipping young people and their families in regional communities with the skills and confidence to navigate the digital world safely.

For today’s young Australians, the digital world is as real as the physical one and with it come unique challenges, from cyberbullying to identity theft and online scams. In regional areas, these risks can be compounded by fewer educational resources and support services.

Optus’ Digital Thumbprint program has been addressing this gap since 2013, delivering free, curriculum-aligned digital literacy workshops to over 700,000 students nationwide, including 120,000 in regional areas.

The program’s strength lies in its interactive approach, putting students in realistic online scenarios like group chats that escalate into cyberbullying and helping them explore safe, practical responses. The current regional roadshow launched in Wagga Wagga in July 2025, engaging eight schools and 2,500 students, with a nationwide rollout planned over the coming months.

Workshops also extend to parents, helping them better understand the digital spaces their children inhabit and empowering them to have meaningful conversations at home.

“A parent stopped me at a café after one of our sessions,” says Matt Connell, Optus’ local GM for southern NSW and ACT. “She told me her kids came home talking about password safety and online respect. It sparked a real conversation in their family and that’s exactly what we hope to achieve.”

As technology continues to evolve, Optus is committed to equipping regional communities with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to thrive safely online.

Read the full Daily Telegraph story on Digital Thumbprint here.