AISA's Charitable Activities
As an independent not-for-profit charity regulated by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), we fulfil our mission of educating Australians and raising awareness of the risks and dangers of cyber attack and data theft in the Australian community by engaging in regular community outreach and charitable activities.
COSBOA National Small Business Summit
AISA was pleased to have a presence at the COSBOA National Small Business Summit in Sydney 3 & 4 April 2024 where we were able to influence small businesses on the importance of cyber security best practice.
AISA is closely aligned with COSBOA and their Cyber Wardens Program. The AISA booth was effective in facilitating conversations with small businesses and other industry associations about upskilling in cyber security.
Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Australian Governance Summit - 20-21 March 2024
AISA was again pleased to support and have a presence at AICD's Australian Governance Summit in 2024. Boards are now paying attention to the need for cyber security oversight, and new regulations and legislations are increasing the need for boards to become familiar with cyber security best practice. Boards have a particularly important role to ensure the appropriate management of cyber risk. As cyber threats increase and companies worldwide bolster their cyber security budgets, company directors are increasingly obliged to be educated on cyber security best practice, hence our presence at this event.
Splendour in the Grass Music Festival
In both 2022 and 2023, AISA volunteers ran cyber security 'Tune Up' clinics at one of Australia's largest annual music festivals, Splendour in the Grass, offering festival goers free cyber security advice and an assessment of the security of their phones and online accounts.
Although young Australians may be savvy online, there is still a long way to go to improve uptake of the most important end-user security tools. The relaxed setting of the festival, combined with the ‘no judgement’ chats with the volunteer team, made people comfortable to have their devices tuned up and ask further questions.
Read more about AISA's Splendour in the Grass outreach activities HERE and HERE
2023 Digital Innovation Futures (DIF) Festival
AISA was please to open the 2023 Digital Innovation Futures festival with over 100 people in attendance to witness a live cyber debate on ‘The cyber risks of using AI tools like ChatGPT outweigh the benefits’ at Melbourne Connect.
The two teams, headed by EJ Wise and Dr Kobi Leins, engaged in intellectual combat, showcasing the cyber risks and rewards of using AI in Cyber Security.
The Shadow World Children’s Book
AISA also focused on educating the younger generation of Australians throughout 2023 by sending complimentary children’s cyber awareness books to over 50 primary schools in regional and low socio-economic areas across the country, with the aim of educating students on the importance of cyber safety and staying safe online.
Best suited to students between the ages of 8-12 years, The Shadow World is an engaging and entertaining cyber awareness book that includes a full set of classroom-based discussion questions as well as explanations for teachers/parents at the back of the book.
This book has already positively impacted the lives of young people and will continue to help the next generation to be prepared for the online world which is constantly merging with the real world.Cyber awareness training needs to begin early. Books such as The Shadow World have the potential to provide real education and behavioural change in the next generation.
Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Australian Governance Summit 2023
AISA was pleased to have an information booth at AICD's Australian Governance Summit in 2023 to help educate board directors on how to be better prepared for a cyber incident.