We went into 2024 with the ambitious goal of creating a safer future for the tamariki and rangatahi of Aotearoa New Zealand, and we are proud to share how we have worked towards this over the past year.
Some of our key achievements are listed below:
- We released a new Safeguarding Children in the Religious Sector e-learning course. This is timely with the tabling of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care final report, as we aim to support meaningful change in this space. Read more on the findings from our Consultant, Dr Michelle Egan-Bitran.
- Calling for the Children’s Act to be changed. Safeguarding Children petitioned for an overhaul of the legislation, and in August, our CEO Willow Duffy addressed parliament’s Social Services and Community Committee on the shortcomings of the Act.
- Safeguarding Consultant, Jessica McQuoid worked closely with a group of ECE centres in Ōtautahi Christchurch in response to the need for increasing child protection knowledge among kaiako.
- Our consultants worked with Te Puna Aonui to develop the National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence.
- We worked with Uber to develop a training package for their drivers participating in the Uber for Teens service. The training teaches how to recognise and respond to signs of child abuse, while promoting safe interactions with minors.
- Safeguarding Children continue to advocate in the family and sexual violence space, and recently three of our consultants were asked to share their knowledge and experience at two national conferences.
- Child Safeguarding Week 2024 put a spotlight on Keeping Kids Safe Online. We hosted a number of engaging experts on our podcast and webinars, providing awareness and advice on how to keep children safe online.
- A groundbreaking initiative, Safe in Sport, was launched in partnership with Sport Tasman. The programme aims to enhance child safeguarding in sport and recreation, with huge potential to expand into other regions, organisations and clubs.
Click on the link below to see what we’ve been up to!