Cyber Safety Solutions director Susan McLean says parents must speak to their children about cyber safety and the potential consequences if they send or receive sexualised images.

“What people have to understand is – it doesn’t matter what photo it is, the minute you share it online you’ve lost control of it,” Ms McLean said. 

Her comments come as police agencies urged parents to discuss this with their children, after revelations of an online porn-syndicate posting photographs of naked school girls were made last week. 

In a joint media release Australian Federal Police , New South Wales Police, South Australia Police, Northern Territory Police, Victoria Police, Queensland Police and Tasmania Police, and relevant government agencies, including the Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner committed to work together to evaluate the offshore website and determine the appropriate course of action.

Parents Victoria immediate past president Elaine Crowle said more education and information sessions for parents could help them have appropriate and relevant conversation with their children about cyber safety.

Police have urged victims of this website to come forward and speak to their local police. 

Police said it was  critical for parents, caregivers and teachers to talk to their children about the importance of respectful relationships, both on and offline.

They said many children and young people are unaware of the legal and ethical consequences of sexting.

Under Commonwealth law, an image of someone under the age of 18 in which they are naked, in a sexualised pose, or engaged in a sexual act may constitute child pornography.

Ms McLean said parents should use high profile incidents to raise the topic of sexting and cyber crime with their children.

“It’s a way into a conversation,  the minute you give your child a device, even little children that have tablets, they’ve got to understand (what can happen),” Ms McLean said.

“If you post something that is likely to embarrass or humiliate – the sad reality is it’s probably going to happen.

“We need the sports coach and dance coach and parents and teachers.  We need all the people who work with kids to be on the same page.”