Safeguarding Children New Zealand

Safeguarding Children New Zealand Safeguarding Children is a NZ charity supporting organisations and communities to keep children safe. Named the 2026 NZ Community of the Year.

We provide safeguarding and child protection training and tools. Safeguarding Children Initiative is changing the lives of children and the people who work with them. We offer training in child protection by providing seminars and eLearning. Safeguarding Children is a charitable organization which aims to reduce child abuse in New Zealand by delivering evidence-based seminars. We have trained over 35,000 people with astonishing outcomes that make a difference. Attendees come from the community: health, education, recreation, social work, faith and the general public, basically anyone who has contact with children. Child abuse is any form of physical, emotional or sexual mistreatment or lack of care that leads to injury or harm. It commonly occurs within a relationship of trust or responsibility and is an abuse of power or a breach of trust. Abuse can happen to a child regardless of their age, gender, race or ability. Many people who attend say that the training we offer is the most informative and practical they have ever attended.

A final reminder from Child Safeguarding Week 💛Throughout September, we’ve made three of our organisational safeguarding...
29/09/2026

A final reminder from Child Safeguarding Week 💛

Throughout September, we’ve made three of our organisational safeguarding resources free to access.

They’re designed to help organisations take a closer look at safeguarding, start useful conversations and identify practical ways to strengthen how they keep children safe.

Today is the final day they’re available free:

✅ Child Safe Organisation Assessment Tool
See what’s working well across your safeguarding practice and where there may be areas to strengthen.
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/5erf5rht

✅ Creating Child-Safe Organisations recorded webinar
Explore the policies, systems and practices that help prevent harm and create safer environments for children.
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/49dzej4p

✅ Safeguarding for Boards & Trustees recorded webinar
A 35-minute webinar exploring the role boards and trustees play in making sure safeguarding is understood and prioritised.
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/ywkztz3d

Free access ends today, 30 September.

If you know an organisation, leader or board member who could make use of these, please pass them on.

What does it take to create a child-safe organisation?Keeping children safe takes more than good intentions. Organisatio...
23/09/2026

What does it take to create a child-safe organisation?

Keeping children safe takes more than good intentions. Organisations need clear systems, policies and practices that help prevent harm, recognise concerns and respond appropriately.

Our Creating Child-Safe Organisations recorded webinar explores the practical foundations of good safeguarding, including:

🔹 what makes an organisation child-safe
🔹 the systems and processes that help prevent abuse and neglect
🔹 the role of safeguarding and child protection policies
🔹 relevant legislation and guidance
🔹 practical application

It’s designed for managers, CEOs, committees and others with responsibility for safeguarding.

🎥 1.5 hours | Online and on demand

And until 30 September, it’s completely FREE.

Usually $70 | Free throughout September

Watch here: https://tinyurl.com/49dzej4p

Would you recognise a child-safe organisation?When we leave our children with a school, sports club, activity, after-sch...
22/09/2026

Would you recognise a child-safe organisation?

When we leave our children with a school, sports club, activity, after-school programme or another organisation, we’re placing a lot of trust in the adults caring for them.

So how can you tell whether an organisation takes your child’s safety seriously?

There are some good signs to look for.

They should be open about how they keep children safe. Staff and volunteers should be appropriately checked and trained. Children should know who they can talk to if they’re worried. And there should be a clear way for you or your child to raise a concern.

And remember, you are allowed to ask questions about your child’s safety.

We’ve created a free guide to help parents and caregivers understand what good safeguarding can look like, what to look for and what questions to ask.

👉 Read the free guide: https://tinyurl.com/yc3xtrzj

Please share this with another parent or caregiver. Knowing what to look for can help all of us ask better questions about the places our children spend time.

What does it take to make an organisation safer for children?Gymnastics New Zealand has been on a significant safeguardi...
17/09/2026

What does it take to make an organisation safer for children?

Gymnastics New Zealand has been on a significant safeguarding journey, making practical changes across its organisation and affiliated clubs to help create safer environments for children.

In this episode of the Together podcast, Andrea Nelson, former CEO, and Belinda Randall, Head of Community Sport at Gymnastics New Zealand, share what they’ve learned along the way and some of the changes they’ve made.

👉 Swipe through for some of the key lessons from their journey.

Then listen to the podcast to hear more about what they’ve learned, the challenges they’ve faced and what other organisations can take from their experience.

🎧 Gymnastics New Zealand: Leading Change to Create Safer Organisations

https://tinyurl.com/sea8s9cu

What could your organisation do next?

What a week!Child Safeguarding Week 2026 may have finished, but before we move on, we want to say a huge THANK YOU to ev...
16/09/2026

What a week!

Child Safeguarding Week 2026 may have finished, but before we move on, we want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who got behind it.

Thank you to everyone who shared a post or resource, joined a webinar, listened to a podcast, completed training, started a conversation, or passed something on to a friend, colleague, parent or organisation.

The more this knowledge is shared and put into practice, the stronger the safeguarding around children can become.

And although the week has finished, the resources are still here.

There is plenty to explore for parents, caregivers and organisations, including practical resources, tools, training and our latest Together podcast conversations.

Plus, three organisation resources remain FREE until 30 September:

👉 Child Safe Organisation Assessment Tool
👉 Creating Child-Safe Organisations recorded webinar
👉 Safeguarding for Boards & Trustees recorded webinar

If you didn’t get a chance to explore everything during the week, you haven’t missed out.

Explore the resources:
https://childsafeguardingweek.org.nz/

Thank you for helping these conversations and resources reach further, and for continuing to help strengthen safeguarding around children 💛

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori | Māori Language Week 💚A little learning happening behind the scenes at Safeguarding Children thi...
16/09/2026

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori | Māori Language Week 💚

A little learning happening behind the scenes at Safeguarding Children this week.

Throughout Mahuru Māori, our team is taking part in Great Scott Communications four-week Kōrero Challenge, with weekly sessions covering pronunciation, everyday kupu, greetings, karakia, tikanga, Te Tiriti and more.

We’re all at different stages in our learning. For us, it’s about giving it a go, building our confidence and finding more opportunities to use what we learn in our everyday mahi.

This year’s Ake Ake Ake - A Forever Language theme is a great reminder that keeping te reo Māori strong is something we can all contribute to, one step at a time.

A big thank you to Great Scott for helping us along the way. We also love that proceeds from the course are supporting NOAIA Charitable Trust.

We’re looking forward to plenty more learning over the next few weeks!

Kia kaha te reo Māori. Ake ake ake.

12/09/2026

We put a lot of trust in the places our children go.

Schools, sports clubs, after-school care, activities and other organisations become a normal part of family life.

Most of us probably don’t stop to ask what happens behind the scenes to help keep children safe.

But these are questions we should be asking.

Not because we expect something to be wrong, but because asking questions is part of keeping children safe.

How are staff and volunteers checked and trained?
What safeguarding policies are in place?
How can children and parents raise a concern?
What happens when they do?

You don’t need to be a safeguarding expert to ask.

This Child Safeguarding Week, we’re encouraging parents and caregivers to ask these questions of every organisation their child spends time with.

Asking questions helps keep children safe 💛

Explore our free resources for parents and caregivers: https://tinyurl.com/3arf64uz

11/09/2026

Safeguarding is built into the everyday.

It’s in who we bring into our organisations, how we support staff and volunteers, how concerns are raised, and how we respond when something doesn’t feel right.

This Child Safeguarding Week, we’ve brought together practical tools and learning to help organisations strengthen the way they keep children safe.

Our resources, including the Safeguarding Culture Checklist and Child Safe Organisation Assessment Tool, can help you take stock of what’s already in place, identify where there may be gaps, and work out what could be strengthened next.

Explore the free resources for organisations: https://childsafeguardingweek.org.nz/for-organisations/

Family safety messageConsider regularly reminding your child or young person:“You can talk to me about anything. If some...
11/09/2026

Family safety message

Consider regularly reminding your child or young person:

“You can talk to me about anything. If something makes you feel uncomfortable, confused, scared, or worried, I will listen and help. You will not get in trouble for telling me.”

And ensure your actions match your words.

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+64277724469

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