As part of its Catalyst’s Gaming Safely Resource Hub, the Christchurch Call Foundation (CCF) has developed Level Up Safely!, an e-learning course designed for parents, educators, and caring adults who support young people at home, school, or in the community. The course explores the world of online gaming and sets out practical, age-appropriate strategies to help young people build resilience to harmful content, and clear pathways for escalation and support.
A substantial multi-disciplinary undertaking that took place over more than 18 months was required for the development of this course. The curricula are informed by literature and scoping reviews, interviews, and consultations with subject matter experts in online safety, violent extremism prevention, gender-based violence, gaming culture, education, youth engagement, and instructional design.
The course is designed to help participants:
· Build understanding of young people's digital lives and the role that gaming communities play, including both the opportunities and challenges they present.
· Increase participants' ability to recognise online risks and harms, including harassment, violent misogyny, online extremism, and pathways to radicalisation.
· Develop the confidence and practical skills needed to support digital resilience, online safety, and proactive safeguarding conversations with young people and for digital communities.
The curriculum underwent a rigorous localisation process to ensure the content reflected Canadian realities, support pathways, and evidence-based practice. Draft content was reviewed by experts from Public Safety Canada, CPN-PREV, Next Gen Men, BGC Canada, McGill University, and the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children (CREVAWC).
Early findings from the Canadian feedback indicate that courses are rated highly for practical value and usefulness, and participants felt better equipped to support young people and online digital communities in navigating and responding to online harms.
Complete the course and discover the other available resources here: www.christchurchcall.org/learn !
