Digital inclusion and the ability for vulnerable Australians to avoid online scams is set to be enhanced by a $1.5 million auDA grant to Monash University researchers.
Led by Dr Kate Gould, the project will see Monash University and the National Anti-Scam Centre, Westpac, QUT, Brain Injury Matters and disability consumers develop prevention and support strategies and resources to help people with cognitive disability, such as brain injury, intellectual disability, or dementia avoid and recover from online scams.
The project will aim to strengthen frontline responses for cyberscam victims, conduct a national trial of a co-designed support program for victims, and distribute free education material nationwide, empowering people with disability to participate more securely online.
Dr Kate Gould, from Monash University’s School of Psychological Sciences, is a practising clinical neuropsychologist and a Senior Research Fellow with the Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre focusing on cognitive, psychiatric and behavioural changes following acquired brain injury (ABI).
“Scams have significant financial, emotional and social impacts on Australians. Anyone can be scammed, but people with cognitive disabilities are particularly vulnerable. Funding from auDA will enable leading research to enhance Australia’s prevention, disruption and response to scams, ensuring safer internet participation,” said Dr Gould.
“Scammers use sophisticated emotional manipulation and social engineering to defraud Australians of their funds and personal information. Cybersafety solutions we will develop will be based on our decade of psychological research, clinical expertise and co-design with key stakeholders across disability and technology sectors.”
