25 July 2012

Train our Professionals… Save our Children.

The Coroner’s report on the deaths of Chris and Cru Kahui has once again highlighted the need for child protection training of our professionals.

This morning Dr Russell Wills, the Children’s Commissioner, Dr Patrick Kelly, Paediatrician and Paula Bennett, the Minister of Social Development have all spoken about the Coroner’s report.

Anthea Simcock, Chief Executive of Child Matters, New Zealand’s specialist child protection education organisation, says “A consistent thread in all of their comments is the need to train professionals in child protection to ensure they are equipped to identify children at risk, and respond appropriately.”

“I congratulate all of these key people for highlighting this critical need. It is imperative that we have a single voice on this issue, to create the momentum to ensure all of our professionals receive this essential training.”

“The comments by the Minister, the Children’s Commissioner and Dr Kelly absolutely reinforce the message Child Matters has been conveying since it was established 18 years ago.”

“The information in this report has reminded us that there were clear signs from even before these two children were born that that they were at risk. If these signs had been identified and acted on, the twins may be alive today.”

Mrs Simcock goes on to point out that “Child Protection training is a very specialised subject. Over the last 18 years of providing Child Protection training, Child Matters has shown that, to be really effective, child protection training needs to be delivered by those who are both subject experts and also specialist trainers.”

“I look forward to working with professionals from Government agencies and other organisations to ensure the ongoing provision of effective child protection education to their key staff.” says Mrs Simcock.

More information about Child Matters professional child protection education at www.childmatters.org.nz.

About Child Matters:

Child Matters is the only organisation in New Zealand solely focused on child abuse prevention, education and advocacy.

It works to prevent child abuse by 1) speaking up for New Zealand children; and 2) educating adults to identify child abuse and take the appropriate action.

Child Matters is a catalyst in communities, working to connect organisations and build leaders who are making positive impacts on child abuse prevention.

Child Matters is an independent charitable trust with a cross sector view and influence around child abuse in New Zealand. It has links to all organisations who work with children and enables them to tackle the issue of child abuse in their local communities.

Every adult in New Zealand is affected in some way by child abuse and, therefore, Child Matters believes every adult has a role to play in protecting children. Its child abuse prevention educational programmes are a powerful solution.

Child Matters believes child abuse prevention education must be made compulsory for all key organisations working with children.

Child Matters works with a range of organisations to educate their staff to identify child abuse and take the appropriate action. It encourages organisations to adopt a child abuse prevention education and staff wellness programme to demonstrate they take child abuse prevention seriously.

Child Matters operates nationally.

For more information, visit: www.childmatters.org.nz

ENDS

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