- Alexandra Whitwam - Youth and Community Senior Manager, Telstra Foundation
Each year, Moonhack brings together more than 30,000 young people from around the world to explore coding, creativity and digital problem-solving. Behind the scenes, partnerships and volunteers work together to ensure the experience is relevant, accessible and engaging for as many young people as possible.
This year, two initiatives are helping extend Moonhack’s reach and impact: a new collaboration with the eSafety Commissioner to bring cyber safety and digital literacy into coding projects, and a team of Telstra volunteers helping make those experiences accessible to young people around the world.
Building cyber safety into coding
As technology and AI become an increasingly important part of young people’s lives, digital skills need to go beyond learning how to code. Young people also need the knowledge and confidence to navigate online spaces safely, responsibly and critically.
That’s why Code Club Australia and the eSafety Commissioner have partnered, with support from Telstra Foundation, to develop seven new Moonhack 2026 projects focused on cyber safety and digital literacy.
The projects translate complex cybersecurity concepts into fun, hands-on coding activities that can be completed at school, in coding clubs or at home. Importantly, they require no prior coding experience and align with the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies, making them accessible to a wide range of learners.
Through these projects, young people can:
- Explore how digital photos can reveal hidden personal information through metadata
- Learn how devices communicate securely using encryption concepts
- Build games that introduce cyber safety concepts in engaging ways
- Identify common signs of scams and phishing attempts
- Explore emerging technologies, including AI and machine learning
From creating a Priva-See Detective project that explores digital footprints, to building Phishy Finder to spot online scams, and experimenting with AI through Avatar Defender, participants are developing practical digital skills while learning how to stay safer online.
It’s a powerful example of how coding can be used as a gateway to broader digital literacy, helping young people understand not only how technology works, but also how to engage with it safely and responsibly.
Making Moonhack accessible around the world
At the same time, a group of passionate Telstra volunteers has been working behind the scenes to help make Moonhack accessible to more young people globally.
This year, more than 30 Telstra team members volunteered their time to translate around 50 Moonhack projects into multiple languages, helping remove language barriers that can prevent children and young people from participating.
Their contribution means more learners can engage with coding challenges in a language they’re comfortable with, creating greater opportunities for participation, learning and confidence building.
It’s a practical example of inclusion in action and a reminder that accessibility is about more than technology. It’s about ensuring opportunities are available to as many young people as possible.
Supporting safer and more inclusive digital futures
Together, these efforts reflect Telstra Foundation’s commitment to helping build safer and more inclusive digital futures for young people.
The partnership with the eSafety Commissioner is helping strengthen the learning experience by embedding cyber safety and digital literacy into coding activities, while our employee volunteers are helping ensure those opportunities can reach more young people around the world.
Whether it’s teaching a young person how to spot a scam, understand their digital footprint, explore AI responsibly or simply access a coding challenge in their own language, these contributions help equip the next generation with the skills and confidence to participate, create and thrive in an increasingly digital world.
A huge thank you to our partners at the eSafety Commissioner, Code Club Australia and the more than 30 Telstra volunteers who contributed their time and expertise to this year’s Moonhack. Together, they’re helping more young people build the skills they’ll need for the future.
