Have you ever supported a participant who was being targeted — or financially impacted — by an online relationship or romance scam?
We’re developing a new awareness and prevention app specifically with the disability sector in mind. We’re seeking frontline feedback to ensure the resource supports safeguarding responsibilities, reporting pathways, and early warning signs.
If you’re willing to share professional insights (confidentially), we’d value your input.
Model Purpose The Cyber Romance & Special Needs Awareness Model is a preventative and early intervention framework designed to reduce harm caused by online romance and relationship scams. It supports carers and vulnerable individuals by translating complex cyber-risk behaviours into simple, visual, and emotionally safe cues that can interrupt scam progression before serious financial or psychological damage occurs. The model recognises that romance scams are not primarily technical crimes, but emotional manipulation events, particularly effective against people with specific cognitive, psychosocial, or social vulnerabilities.
⚠️ The Core Problem
- Romance scammers deliberately build emotional attachment before requesting money
- Traditional cyber-education fails once emotional investment is established
- Victims often do not perceive themselves as being “scammed”
- People with disability or reduced digital literacy are disproportionately impacted
Questionnaire
The sector’s feedback is critical in the development of this tool. Please share your insights.
About the Project
Read the full background and project overview
Background
This pilot project originated during my involvement in a collaboration with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) titled Cyber Security Enhancement Project: Developing Policies and Training Resources.
The initiative was designed to connect university students studying cyber security with real-world business environments, enabling them to gain practical experience while also developing a deeper understanding of workforce challenges. My role in the project centred on sharing insights from the disability support sector — particularly in relation to safeguarding vulnerable individuals in an increasingly digital world.
The project involved a series of virtual sessions attended by up to ten students, the course lecturer, and various guest presenters. During these discussions, I spoke about my firsthand experiences supporting people living with disability who had been targeted through so-called romance scams. I highlighted the absence of practical, sector-specific resources that support workers and service providers could use to both understand and respond to these situations.
The need identified was for a resource that could help frontline workers navigate conversations with participants, explain how these scams operate, recognise early warning signs, and implement preventative strategies.
Since then, the project has progressed into its pilot phase, where we are actively gathering critical feedback from the disability sector to ensure the platform reflects real-world needs, frontline experiences, and participant safeguarding requirements.
Overview
Alignment with NDIS Principles Participant Safety and Wellbeing
- Supports safeguarding of participants from financial exploitation and emotional harm
- Promotes early identification of risk before significant harm occurs
- Reduces stress, trauma, and crisis escalation Capacity Building
- Builds participant awareness of online risks using visual cues and simple language
- Supports decision-making skills through repeatable, structured prompts
- Encourages greater digital confidence and independence Choice and Control
- Non-judgmental and supportive approach respects participant autonomy
- Enables informed choices without removing agency
- Avoids confrontational or restrictive interventions Accessibility and Inclusion
- Visual-first design supports people with cognitive, intellectual, or sensory impairments
- Plain-language explanations reduce reliance on literacy or technical knowledge
- High-contrast colours and icons support accessibility needs Target Cohorts
- Participants with:
✔ Intellectual disability ✔ Psychosocial disability ✔ Acquired brain injury ✔ Age-related cognitive decline ✔ Limited digital literacy
Informal and formal carers, including:
✔ Family members
✔ Community-based supports Functional Outcomes Supported Improved Safety
- Earlier recognition of online grooming and manipulation
- Reduced likelihood of financial exploitation Emotional Regulation and Wellbeing
- Supports calm, structured conversations during high emotional stress
- Reduces shame, fear, and distress associated with scam disclosure Social Participation
- Encourages safer online engagement rather than withdrawal Supports healthy relationship boundaries App Features
Visual Risk Indicators
✔ Colour-coded cues indicating escalating concern
✔ Icons representing common scam behaviours
✔ Guided Support Pathways
✔ Step-by-step prompts for carers
✔ Suggested language for supportive conversations
Early Intervention Triggers
Carer Guidance Mode
NDIS Outcomes Framework Alignment
- Outcome 1: Daily Living – safer management of finances and online activities
- Outcome 2: Social and Community Participation – safer online relationships
- Outcome 7: Health and Wellbeing – reduced emotional distress and trauma
- Prevents avoidable financial loss that often leads to crisis funding
- Reduces need for reactive safeguarding interventions
- Supports carers with practical, scalable tools
- Complements existing safeguarding and cyber-safety initiatives Summary Statement