Technology
Camden Council Launches Cyber Safety Program for Local Communities
A new cyber safety initiative funded by the Australian Government is delivering tailored training for seniors, young people, and culturally diverse communities across the region.
How we reported this
Camden Council is rolling out the 'Cyber Savvy Camden' program in 2026, a cyber safety initiative funded by an Australian Government grant that provides tailored training to seniors, young people, people with disability, and culturally diverse communities across the area.
The council is promoting three core cybersecurity practices: installing all software updates promptly, setting up multi-factor authentication on all accounts, and using strong, unique passphrases for every online account. These measures form the foundation of the program's message to residents.
Partnerships and Workshops
Camden Council has partnered with ISACA to deliver cybersecurity awareness workshops. One of the key offerings is a 'Be Connected' session, designed to help less digitally confident residents learn how to stay safe online. The program also includes a 'Digitally Connected Seniors Festival' event held at Camden Civic Centre, which provides hands-on guidance for older residents navigating digital services.
The initiative reflects a growing need for accessible, community-based cyber safety education at a time when online scams and data breaches continue to affect individuals and businesses globally.
Practical Advice for Residents
Council officials are urging residents to adopt the three core habits as a baseline for protecting personal information. Multi-factor authentication, software updates, and unique passphrases are considered the 'cyber hygiene' equivalent of locking doors and windows.
Residents can access a series of guides and resources through the council's website, which outline step-by-step instructions for enabling security features on common devices and accounts. The program also provides translated materials for culturally diverse communities, ensuring language is not a barrier to understanding digital safety.
For older residents, the 'Digitally Connected Seniors Festival' at Camden Civic Centre offers a supportive environment to ask questions and build confidence. The sessions cover topics from identifying scam emails to managing privacy settings on social media.