27 August 2020

What do Girl Guides, online meetings and cybersafety have in common?

They’re just three of the ways that Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT as an organization and through its network of volunteer Unit Leaders are continuing to support girls and provide them a safe place to grow by moving and adapting the delivery of their programs to a virtual and flexible model while keeping the girls connected and busy with interesting activities.

Girl Guides are devoted to the growth and development of girls. They provide a place where girls can learn, build their skills and connect with like-minded peers. When delivering this service online, safety is paramount.

Introducing…Cyber A.C.E.S.

Volunteer Guide Leader Carolina Peters works for global cybersecurity giant Palo Alto Networks, cybersecurity experts who care about young people and a future where each day is safer and more secure than the one before.

Palo Alto Networks gathered experts in cybersecurity, training, curriculum development, social impact, marketing and more to create 16 lessons that address four cornerstones of cyber safety for kids, and Carolina Peters has worked alongside her colleagues at Palo Alto Networks and Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT to adapt the Cyber Activities in Cybersecurity Education for Students program, or Cyber A.C.E.S. in short, for delivery to Girl Guides.

In launching the Cyber A.C.E.S program for Girl Guides, Carolina Peters said “Cybersecurity is one of many STEM related areas where a gender imbalance is quite pronounced. It is also an area of significant growth and in Australia, we will need to fill up to 9000 cybersecurity positions this year.

“Fundamentally, the challenges are designed to demystify cybersecurity and empower the next generation to be cyber safe. If the program then inspires someone to pursue a career in cybersecurity, then that is an added bonus” continued Carolina.

Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT's State Commissioner Sarah Neill added “Cyber A.C.E.S. is a terrific program that includes age appropriate activities to show all Girl Guides how to be aware and responsible whilst online. This collaboration with Palo Alto has really empowered Girl Guides as an Association to continue to support our girls through this period where meeting in person is not always possible, knowing that have the resource to really understand cybersecurity.”
By participating in Cyber A.C.E.S., Guides will learn cybersecurity basics like how and why they should physically secure their technology, who they’re talking to online, and the permanence of information on the internet.

Each tailored challenge offers Leaders, facilitators and parents:
  • Introductions: Explanations of the topics and suitable development level
  • Vocabulary lists: Quick reference guides for the Leader
  • Activity instructions: Materials lists, sample scripts, and more
  • Pro tips: Notes for Leaders to accompany activity instructions
  • “Try this at home”: Follow-up activities for parents and Guides
To help our youth understand the value of protecting their digital future—a future where every day is safer and more secure than the one before—select an age group from the opions below, and find out where to begin. Please note this content is restricted to members of Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT and Leaders will need their username and password to access.
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