Life in Australia Guide

Australia has a dedicated government body for online harm — the eSafety Commissioner. Empowered under the Online Safety Act 2021 to issue removal notices for harmful content and impose fines for non-compliance, it is one of the few official regulators of its kind in the world. If you have suffered non-financial online harm such as non-consensual sharing of private images or cyberbullying, anyone in Australia can report for free, regardless of visa type. Being harmed is not your fault, and reporting is the most reliable way to stop the harm from spreading.

For most cyberbullying and abusive content, reporting to the relevant platform (social media, app or game) first is a requirement for reporting to eSafety. If the platform does not act within 48 hours or has no reporting feature, report through the online form on the official eSafety site (esafety.gov.au/report). Reporting is free and the form is in English, but if you need an interpreter you can get help from TIS National (131 450).

The urge to delete it quickly is strong, but if you request removal, the evidence disappears with it. Whether you report to the platform, eSafety or police, evidence determines how quickly your case is handled, so secure the items below before requesting removal.

• Copy the URL (link) of the post or profile and save it in a separate document.
• Take screenshots showing the offender's account name and profile screen as well as the entire post.
• Capture the threatening or harassing messages together with the date and time, and if there are several, arrange them in chronological order.

eSafety accepts reports of the following four types of online harm. Check which one your situation falls under and report using the relevant form. If the type is unclear, you can report under the closest type and eSafety will guide you during its review.

If you have received a threat demanding money or more images using a private image, it is frightening and distressing, but giving in to the threat is the most dangerous choice. This kind of threat is more common than you might think and has been resolved through reporting in many cases, so respond calmly in the order below.

• Never comply — if you send money or more images, the demands will not stop and will only repeat.
• Before blocking, capture the account name, the conversation and the details of the payment demand to secure evidence, then stop the conversation and block them.
• Report it to eSafety as image-based abuse, and because threats and extortion are crimes, also report it to police via ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au).
• If a minor (under 18) is involved, report to the ACCCE (Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation) — never save any related images.
• To prevent recurrence, check your 2FA (two-factor authentication), change your passwords and review your social media privacy settings (see the scam prevention guide).

In the immediate aftermath, shame and anxiety can easily cloud your judgment. Just avoiding the mistakes below will make responding far easier. And remember — the fault lies entirely with the offender.

• Requesting removal before securing evidence — capturing screenshots and URLs comes first. Without evidence, handling by eSafety and police can be delayed.
• Giving in to the threat — the moment you send money or images, the demands repeat. Do not comply — report it.
• Trying to confront or persuade the offender directly — this can make the situation worse and give them further leverage. Just keep records and block them.
• Enduring it alone — get support from Lifeline (13 11 14, 24 hours), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) for young people, or 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) if the image abuse is intertwined with domestic or relationship violence.
• The misconception that "reporting will disadvantage your visa" — reporting harm has nothing to do with your visa assessment. If English is a burden, use TIS National (131 450) interpreting.