Police Launch All About Me - Toku Ahuatanga Whânui

New Zealand Police National News Release
9:37am 30 March 2007
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release.html?id=2927
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Eighteen helium balloons will be released over Civic Square in Wellington today in memory of children under-five who have died from child abuse since 2002.

The release will be part of the launch of a new child protection module All about Me - Toku Ahuatanga Whânui developed by police and other agencies to help early child care centres prevent and handle evidence of child abuse.

Gill Palmer from Police Youth Education Services (YES) says the tragic deaths of Chris and Cru Kahui shocked the nation last year, and reminded us all of New Zealand's unhappy record of child abuse.

"A key question in stopping the abuse must be how an ECE centre can help prevent and handle evidence of child abuse when they find it."

All about Me - Toku Ahuatanga Whânui, is part of the Police Keeping Ourselves Safe child abuse prevention programme which has been operating in Primary Schools since the 1980s. The new module was developed by a group of early childhood teachers, police and other experts in the early childhood education area.

ACC is also involved in funding the programme.

Alison Maloney ACC Sensitive Claims Manager says ACC is very proud to be involved with a programme that ultimately aims to give children the confidence and skills to recognise harmful situations", says.

"Child abuse has become increasingly prevalent in New Zealand society with a reported 1 in 3-5 girls and 1 in 6-10 boys suffering some form of sexual abuse. ACC has a Sensitive Claims Unit that deals with claims for sexual abuse. On average, there are 1379 new and ongoing claims for children who have been victims of sexual abuse every year. "We recognise that there are a lot of children who don't seek help from ACC until they become adults, unfortunately by this stage many people have suffered from depression and many other issues resulting from the abuse. The cost to society is really immeasurable and the cost to the economy in funding appropriate treatment for victims of sexual abuse is now running into millions of dollars every year, that's why programmes such as these are so crucial, Ms Maloney said.

The new All about Me module will assist ECE centres to:• ensure their child protection policy is effective• prepare to protect children from child abuse• lessen anti-social behaviour• increase parent confidence in the centre, leading to more clients• protect staff and provide professional development• help children reach their full potential¢ 'future proof' against possible developmenῴs

Ms Palmer says it is a very difficult thing for young children to disclose abuse and ECE teachers can be in the position of being the child's voice.

"Evidence of child abuse is a terrible thing to be confronted with, but we need teachers to be prepared to deal with it when it happens and know what to do" Ms Palmer said.

"The baby, toddler or young child is not in a position to stand up for itself and it is not enough to say after the event what a terrible thing that was. We all need to act now to bring about some change."

ECE Centres are also well placed to make parents and caregivers more aware of abuse and how they can protect their children.

All about Me Toku Ahuatanga Whânui was piloted in 21 centres in Dunedin, Porirua and Auckland in Term 1 2006 and the pilot has been evaluated by ERO.

The module will only be available to centres once they have undertaken the training package for the module.

ENDS

The official launch of All about Me Tôku Âhuatanga Whânui will take place today (Friday, 30 March), at Capital E, Civic Square, Wellington.

Children from Waitangirua Kindergarten and Positively Poneke Kids Early Childhood Centres will be at the launch

Speakers will be:

Hon Marion Hobbs

World expert on Child Abuse, Emeritus Professor Freda Briggs

Ends

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