Central Otago youth will be empowered to design their own digital wellbeing solutions, thanks to a $350,000 grant from Otago Community Trust.

The Netsafe Otago Young Digital Leaders Pilot is a new programme that puts young people at the centre of digital safety initiatives across the region.

The pilot will run in Central Otago, Dunedin, North Otago, and South Otago, giving rangatahi the opportunity to lead projects, respond to online harm, and help shape policy affecting their digital lives.

Netsafe chief executive Brent Carey said there were incredibly grateful to the Otago Community Trust for backing youth-led innovation in online safety.

“Netsafe is also investing in this initiative as part of our ongoing commitment to serving all regions and communities across New Zealand, a commitment we strengthened when we opened our Dunedin

office in 2024.”

The programme will establish four youth rōpū, where participants will collaborate to develop community-specific responses to digital wellbeing challenges.

Through youth-led workshops, leadership development, and advocacy training, young people will gain skills, confidence, and connections that continue beyond the life of the programme.

The projects they develop, from educational resources to policy recommendations, community events, or research, will be fully shaped by the rangatahi involved.

The three-year rollout will begin with two locations in its first year. It will expand across Otago in the second year and move to sustainability and knowledge-sharing in the final year. 

Netsafe will facilitate the pilot, drawing on more than 25 years of online safety education expertise while ensuring young people remain the decision-makers.

“The digital world is evolving rapidly, and with major policy changes ahead, it’s more important than ever that the voices of young people are heard and reflected in the solutions we co-create,” Brent said.

The funding comes through Otago Community Trust’s Tamariki & Rangatahi Impact Fund, designed to support the wellbeing and leadership of young people across the region.

The trust said the initiative has strong potential for long-term, intergenerational impact, not only for the young leaders directly involved, but for future generations who will benefit from their work.

The pilot is also supported by additional philanthropic funding and Netsafe’s own investment, reinforcing a collaborative commitment to youth-led digital safety in Aotearoa.