School of Education

Cyber Security in K-12 Schools

There is no doubt cyber security is of national interest given the rife nature of cyber-crime and the alarming increase of victims who have endured identify theft, fraud, and scams. 50% of Australians have been scammed. Cyber criminals continue to be innovative and creative – they are now looking at how they can deceive the next generation of cyber victims.

Digital technology usage and technologies itself change so fast. So does cyber-crime – exponentially. Curriculum within K-12 schools tends to be fixed and any modifications are subject to extensive consultation within a prolonged review cycle. The teaching of cyber security skills and knowledge is highly dependent on the personal confidence and competence in cyber security of the individual teacher. In pursuance of teachers having the confidence and competence in knowledge and skill surrounding teaching cyber security, multiple models of professional learning ought to be provided to both in-service and pre-service teachers. The role of leaders in various school sectors and systems is critical for a successful roll out.

Engaging in a national conversation about behavioural change can lead the way in addressing the high level of cyber risk that individuals, including students and teachers, face online every day.

The deliverables of this project are:

• A national cyber security public health campaign targeting year 7 – 12 students.
• A national dynamic digital cyber security licence for students, teachers, and schools.
• Consultation with principals to identify professional learning needs of their staff.

The team are designing a dynamic digital cyber security licence for roll-out to WA students, teachers, and schools, followed by a national roll-out across Australia. The licence will be developmental and encompasses basic levels of cyber hygiene and cyber awareness, moving towards higher and more sophisticated levels of cyber safety and cyber security.

The cyber security licence is in an early design stage. The research team is thinking that, just like the national swimming certificate sequence, every level must be passed before the next level is made available for completion. That is, users need to demonstrate achievement of all previous stages before accessing the next stage in the sequence. Each certificate is offered regardless of age or past experience, although appropriate minimum ages will be identified.

Instead of changing the curriculum or adding to it (meaning some things would need removing), we believe professional learning should be offered to teachers so they can highlight and point out implications for all things cyber as they go about teaching the curriculum. If confident and capable, teachers can use the ‘teachable moments’ to reinforce cyber safety practices. Given the prevalence of digital device use and the incessant spamming and scamming that occurs, incorporating a focus on or reminding about ‘all things cyber’ throughout the school day appears workable. There is an opportunity for teachers to incorporate cyber awareness, cyber hygiene, cyber safety, and cyber security augmenting the teaching of the eight learning areas. When learning cyber is addressed at the cultural level of society and the whole school, teachers are supported. If school leaders are required to embed cyber secure practices within schools, teachers will also be supported.

Please visit to the following websites for direct access to the pdf reports:

Interim report - https://cybersecuritycrc.org.au/cybersecurity-curriculum-wa-primary-and-secondary-schools

Final report - https://cybersecuritycrc.org.au/going-beyond-cyber-security-curriculum-western-australian-primary-and-secondary-schools

Consultation workshops with principals, teachers and industry will occur in late 2023. If you are interested in attending, please email cyberlicence@ecu.edu.au

Funding: $126,000

Researcher Team

Associate Professor Nicola Johnson
Dr Ahmed Ibrahim
Dr Leslie Sikos

Research Assistant

Ms Marnie McKee

Project Duration

July 2023 – June 2024

Funding Agencies / Collaboration

Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre

Office of Digital Government, WA

Security Research Institute

For more information, please contact:

Associate Professor Nicola Johnson