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World Youth Skills Day 2025 is here, and it’s time to celebrate the young trailblazers who are shaping the future. This year’s theme, touching on the increasing presence of AI in our everyday lives, focuses on the importance of making sure no child is left behind when it comes to digital literacy. For us, this also means equipping young people with online safety skills to tackle today’s challenges and shape a more peaceful, inclusive and sustainable future.

Young people today aren’t just scrolling – they’re actively shaping the online world. Whether they’re in the heart of a busy city or the quietest rural community, young people are growing up online. Every day, kids in places like Australia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, the Solomon Islands and Fiji are logging in, connecting with the world and discovering new opportunities. But here’s the reality: they’re also facing new risks – cyberbullying, online exploitation and even digital addiction. As high-speed internet becomes more accessible, children are increasingly vulnerable to these digital dangers.

Protecting Children in a Digital World

In this increasingly digital age, our mission to ensure no child is left behind takes on new meaning. ChildFund Australia’s long-standing commitment to child protection has naturally evolved: online safety is now a key pillar in our modern strategy, essential for every child’s wellbeing and their ability to reach their full potential in this interconnected world.

The digital world can be an incredible space, but it’s also a dangerous one if we don’t help kids navigate it safely. This is why, in countries where ChildFund works, like Vietnam and Brazil, we’re helping young people build the skills they need to move confidently through a digital-driven world full of opportunity and risk. That’s where Swipe Safe comes in. Designed by online safety experts, this program is a direct extension of ChildFund Australia’s child protection efforts, ensuring kids don’t just survive the digital world – they excel in it. And, now, our Swipe Safe program also includes a unique app designed to speak the language of kids, helping them navigate the constantly shifting digital landscape and protect themselves from potential harm.

Why Online Safety Matters: A Playground of Opportunity and Risk

Every day, more and more children are logging on. They’re online to study, watch tutorials, play games and connect with friends. But for all the positives of growing up in a digital age, they’re also stepping into a world full of dangers.

It doesn’t matter where they live – whether in remote villages or busy cities – kids today are becoming digital citizens. And while that brings amazing opportunities, it also means they’re exposed to things they’re not ready to handle: cyberbullying, online scams and the pressure to be “always on”. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned about the mental health risks of digital exposure, particularly for young people still learning to manage their emotions and boundaries. It’s not just about how much screen time they get. It’s about how well they’re prepared to handle the online world safely.

Algorithms increasingly shape what young people see online, and this isn’t always for the better. With the rapid advancement of AI, these algorithms are becoming far more sophisticated, amplifying serious challenges like misinformation, scams and cyberbullying. For example, if a young person clicks on a video about relationships, AI-powered algorithms might start showing them more content from strangers giving “advice.” Some of these people could be predators trying to build trust and groom. Liking a funny prank video might lead to more extreme or violent content showing up in their feed. Even commenting on a giveaway post could result in scam accounts sending direct messages with fake links or asking for personal information. These systems don’t just reflect what we choose – they influence what we see next. And for young people, that can affect their safety, confidence and community.

Swipe Safe: Skills That Matter

In today’s increasingly digital world, the right skills are crucial. Young people need to know how to use technology responsibly, creatively, and safely, because their futures are being shaped in the digital space. Organisations like the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) highlight the growing online dangers, from scams to exploitation. But digital skills offer more than just protection – they unlock a world of opportunities.

While the online challenges are significant, so is our commitment to protecting young people. We’re providing tangible, proactive solutions to bridge the gap between digital risks and safe navigation. That’s where our Swipe Safe program comes in. It offers practical skills and essential knowledge, helping young people to be not just protected, but truly empowered to use the digital world for good.

Developed by online safety and child protection experts, Swipe Safe helps young people:

  • Recognise misinformation
  • Support their friends and families
  • Make informed choices in their online lives

This innovative program began in Vietnam in 2017 and has since expanded its reach, empowering over 60,000 young people across the Asia-Pacific, including Cambodia and Timor-Leste. Swipe Safe is all about empowering youth to take control of their digital futures. It’s not just about avoiding risks; it’s about teaching kids to navigate the digital world with confidence and responsibility.

Building an Online Protection Network in Vietnam

In Vietnam, our Swipe Safe program is directly addressing growing online safety concerns. Data from the Centre for Health and Population Initiatives reveals a troubling reality: 36.5% of children are exposed to violent information and images, and over 13% are unintentionally exposed to pornographic content online.

Through the Swipe Safe program, passionate teachers are now integral to raising online safety awareness for their students, including risks associated with image sharing, as part of their school’s curriculum. This effort now includes using the recently launched Swipe Safe App, putting safety tools directly into kids’ hands.

For students like Em Hồng, from Hòa Bình province, participating in the program has been transformative. He says he “gained valuable experience and useful lessons” and has also been able to share his newfound knowledge with his classmates, helping to raise broader awareness about online safety challenges.

Hear more from Em, and his teachers, to see how Swipe Safe is protecting kids online and transforming the digital landscape below.


Digital Skills: The Key to Unlocking the Future

With Swipe Safe, we’re giving kids the skills to use the internet for good, whether it’s for learning, creating or building relationships. It’s not just about today; it’s about giving them the tools to be successful in an increasingly digital future. The recently developed Swipe Safe App will enable us to develop a safer future for more children around the world, building on the success of the face-to-face program. ChildFund also supports broader digital learning initiatives, addressing the digital gap in places like Kenya by strengthening school infrastructure, training teachers and educating parents on online safety.

Your Support = Real Progress

Last year, more than 12,000 young people in Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Vietnam took part in Swipe Safe training. Nineteen schools across Indonesia and Vietnam also integrated Swipe Safe into their curriculum, with students learning to spot scams, scroll smart and stay safe!

Now, thanks to your support, Swipe Safe continues to grow, reaching young people in the Philippines, and most recently, Brazil and Ecuador. This means that more young people are learning how to protect themselves and take charge of their digital lives.


Why It Matters: The Future Is in Their Hands

The digital divide is shrinking but the risks of logging into this new, increasingly evolving world are not. With Swipe Safe and other online learning initiatives, we’re making sure kids are prepared to take charge of their digital lives – protecting themselves and their friends online, making smart decisions and actively shaping a connected world.

Here’s How You Can Be Part of This Change:

Let’s Build a Safer Digital Future, Together

The world is evolving, constantly changing how we connect, learn, and grow. Kids today are experiencing a new digital age where every corner of the world is just a click away. They should be able to explore its endless possibilities without fear, and through our online safety initiatives and programs like Swipe Safe, we’re making that a reality. Because the future? It’s theirs to shape. And we’re here to make sure they’re ready to lead the way, safely.

Learn more about Swipe Safe and how, together, we can build a safer digital world for children and young people everywhere.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of Australia’s closest neighbours, but for many women, the realities of pregnancy and childbirth are often dramatically different from what most Australians experience.

While maternal mortality has reduced from 470 per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 171 per 100,000 live births in 2019, PNG’s maternal and newborn mortality rate remains one of the highest in the Western Pacific region. Only about 45 percent of women gave birth at health facilitates in 2023 and only 5 percent of health centres are equipped to provide emergency obstetric care 24/7. This means many women and newborns are going without the care they need.

This stark reality is primarily driven by limited access to healthcare. With much of the population residing in remote and rural areas reaching health facilities can be a monumental and difficult task. Even for those who can, clinics often suffer from a severe lack of essential infrastructure like running water and electricity and are chronically short on vital medical supplies, equipment, and crucially, trained healthcare professionals, especially skilled midwives.

This World Rural Development Day (6 July), we are spotlighting the incredible work of Village Health Assistants in PNG, who are actively bridging the gap between communities and health services.

We sat down with ChildFund Australia’s Health Advisor, Nusrat Jahan, to learn more about the critical role ChildFund-trained Village Health Assistants (VHAs) play in improving access to essential healthcare services for families in hard-to-reach areas in PNG.

What is a Village Health Assistant?   

A Village Health Assistant is a trained community member who provides basic health services, delivers community health education and facilitates referrals to nearby health facilities. ChildFund, in partnership with local health authorities, mobilises and trains community members to serve as VHAs.  

With strong social and cultural ties, they serve as trusted intermediaries between their communities and the formal health system, playing a transformative role in extending healthcare access and ensuring essential health services reach remote areas.  

What type of healthcare support do they provide?   

Village Health Assistants play a vital role in connecting remote communities to essential healthcare through mobile outreach clinics – a one-stop access point for basic health services. These clinics provide pregnancy care, support for new mothers, routine childhood immunisations and growth monitoring, family planning and TB screening.  

ChildFund equips VHAs to deliver healthcare directly to communities that would otherwise go without. Their duties in these outreach clinics include essential tasks such as bringing communities together in one place, record keeping, making referrals and promoting health awareness while people receive various health services.  A major part of their role is providing health education – engaging women in practical conversations about breastfeeding, nutrition and child health, often within culturally safe spaces where women can access accurate information and family planning advice. VHAs also regularly refer pregnant women to health facilities for safe deliveries, identify children needing vaccinations, and assist with births when health facilities are unreachable.   

On a recent visit to an outreach clinic in rural PNG, I saw this work in action. I met Alice Lagani, one of the VHAs who identified early symptoms of TB in a pregnant woman in her community and referred her to the health facility. Thanks to Alice’s referral, she was screened, diagnosed and quickly began treatment – a powerful example of the life-changing impact just one volunteer can have. 

From safe births to early detection of illness, VHAs are improving health outcomes in some of PNG’s most remote and underserved communities.  

Josephine’s Story

Josephine has been a Village Health Assistant in her community for over 12 years. She’s a respected leader. There for her community, day and night. She regularly runs groups for pregnant mums in the village, teaching them the early signs of labour so they can alert her in time to make it to the health centre.

The closest Health Centre to Josephine’s village closed over a year ago, leaving her community without easy access to essential healthcare.

Josephine, a Village Health Assistant, with Wendy and her newborn in their community in Papua New Guinea
Josephine, a Village Health Assistant, with Wendy and her newborn in their community in Papua New Guinea.

Recently, she assisted a young woman called Wendy, who went into labour in the middle of the night. Josephine immediately sprang into action, calling for an ambulance, helping Wendy cross the river in a dinghy and waited with her until help arrived. Without Josephine, Wendy might not have had the chance deliver her baby safely at a health centre.

“Wendy’s labour pains began around 5am in the morning so there was no transport for us to bring her to the health centre in Kwikila. I was struggling and calling the ambulance. Unfortunately the dinghy to get us across the river was gone. I got on the canoe to bring Wendy over to the ambulance.”

– Josephine

Health services in PNG are overstretched, under-resourced and simply not meeting the needs of the most vulnerable people. For women and children living in remote areas, where the nearest health centre is often a long and arduous journey away, community health volunteers like Josephine are a lifeline.

With your support, Village Health Assistants can continue to make a significant difference in the lives of mums and their kids. Donate via our Gifts for Good Catalogue today.