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Academic to receive crime prevention award
A University of the Sunshine Coast academic will receive a Queensland Police Service award for crime prevention for the creation of an online computer game that helps children avoid abduction.
Senior Lecturer in Interactive Digital Media Dr Christian Jones was part of a joint University and QPS partnership when he designed and developed the Being Safety Smart game, which was launched on the Sunshine Coast in February.
It is currently being trialled in nine local schools to assess its effectiveness in boosting the personal safety knowledge of children aged 6-8.
The concept for the game came from local Sunshine Coast police officers in response to the disappearance of Daniel Morcombe, 13, at Palmwoods in December 2003.
The QPS funded the Being Safety Smart project, which also has strong support from the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and Education Queensland. Chancellor College primary students provided the voices for the game’s animated characters.
Dr Jones said an official statewide launch of the program was planned for later this year, but 45 Education Queensland schools and dozens of schools interstate already were registered users of the game.
He said the project was in the running for either a gold, silver or bronze QPS Award for Excellence to be announced in Brisbane on Friday 21 August.
“This is great recognition for the project and the team that has been involved in it,” Dr Jones said. “It is part of a relationship between QPS and the University that will extend into the future with other educational gaming projects.”
Sunshine Coast residents can try out the Being Safety Smart game at the University’s annual Open Day from 10am to 3pm on Sunday 16 August at the Sippy Downs campus.
— Terry Walsh