Child protection (more information, resources, support)

Child protection (more information, resources, support)

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Where to go for more information and support

On this website
 
ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) www.acc.co.nz
ACC provides ACC-approved counsellors for children who have been sexually abused. ACC can help with some of the costs of counselling. You can find registered counsellors by region, including ACC-approved sexual abuse counsellors, at the ACC website. You can also phone your local ACC office to ask about counsellors. See the ACC website  for ACC contact details or check the government phone listings in the front of the white pages of your phone book.
 
Barnardos works within the community to provide a range of care, education, information and support services for children and their families. Services include home-based care and education services, as well as family support and early learning centres. Barnardos also runs supervised access programmes. You can find contact details of an office near you by visiting the Barnardos website.
National Office physical address: 85-87 Ghuznee Street, Wellington.
Postal address: PO Box 6434, Wellington
Phone: 64 4 385 7560
Fax: 64 4 382 6700
 
CAB (Citizen’s Advice Bureau) www.cab.org.nz
You can contact your local CAB  for details of local crisis counselling services, as these differ from centre to centre. There is also a CAB Multi-lingual Information Service.
Call free on 0800 FOR CAB (0800 367 222)
 
Child, Youth and Family Services www.cyf.govt.nz
Child, Youth and Family works with families to protect children and young people, promote the well-being of children, young people, their families and family groups, ensure that children in need are secure and cared for and help families maintain and strengthen their child-rearing role. Child, Youth and Family is the government agency that has legal powers to intervene to protect and help children who are being abused or neglected or who have problem behaviour.
Phone: 64 9 912 3820 or 0508 FAMILY (326 459)
Fax: 64 9 914 1211
 
See the Child, Youth and Family website for:
Child Matters (Educating to Prevent Child Abuse) www.childmatters.org.nz
Child Matters is a registered charitable trust dedicated to preventing harm to children in New Zealand. Child Matters provides the following services, aimed at safeguarding children and helping in early detection and intervention when children are at risk or are being abused:
  • training programmes (NZQA approved)
  • seminars
  • workshops
  • advice, resources and handbooks
Training and professional development programmes are held throughout New Zealand.
 
Address: PO Box 679, Hamilton
Phone: 64 7 8383370
Fax: 64 7 8389950
Email: info@childmatters.org.nz
 
DSAC (Doctors for Sexual Abuse Care) www.dsac.org.nz
DSAC is a professional organisation of doctors and nurses from many disciplines. Their main focus is training and supporting health professionals in sexual abuse care.
Postal address: PO Box 90-723, Auckland
Phone: 64 9 376 1422
Fax: 64 9 376 0790
 
Family Court of New Zealand www.justice.govt.nz/courts/family-court
The Family Court aims to help people sort out their own problems own about family matters as much as possible. Court appearances are seen as a last resort.
 
See the Family Court website for:
Family Violence - It's not OK www.areyouok.org.nz/home.php
This Ministry of Social Development website has information about family violence, what it is and where to get help.
 
You can call the Family Violence Information Line to ask for help 0800 456 450.
 
Gr8mates gr8mates.org.nz
This is a website for teenagers supporting friends who have had an unwanted sexual experience.
 
Jigsaw Family Services www.jigsaw.org.nz
Jigsaw is a national organisation focused on the wellbeing of all New Zealand children and their families. The diverse group of independent, community-based social service agencies that make up the Jigsaw network, advocate against all forms of child abuse, neglect, and family violence and provide support to families so they can raise their children in safe and nurturing ways.
Physical Address: Level 1, 13 Adelaide Road, Newtown, Wellington
Postal Address: PO Box 7285, Wellington South 6242
Phone: 64 4 385 7983
Fax: 64 4 385 9897
 
KidsLine www.kidsline.org.nz
KidsLine is New Zealand’s only 24-hour helpline for New Zealand children (five to 18 years). KidsLine is part of the LifeLine family of services. Children and young people can ring any hour of the day on an 0800 number and talk to a trained counsellor about anything that might be worrying them. These counsellors are caring, understanding adults who will listen. Children can also talk on weekdays between 4-6pm to a Kidsline Buddy. KidsLine Buddies are specially trained year 12 and 13 students.
Postal address: PO Box 74 010, Market Rd, Remuera, Auckland
Call free on 0800 KIDSLINE(0800 543 754) any time
 
NZAC (New Zealand Association of Counsellors) www.nzac.org.nz
The professional organisation for counsellors in New Zealand. NZAC offers ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation)-approved counsellors and, if the correct procedures are followed, costs are met by ACC. You can check whether a counsellor is a member of NZAC by asking the individual counsellor to show you their certificate, by emailing membership@nzac.org.nz or by phoning 64 7 834 0220. Remember, if your child has been the victim of abuse, they should only see an approved counsellor who has experience in this area. Check with ACC for approved counsellors.
 
New Zealand Police www.police.govt.nz
See the New Zealand Police website for a list of local police contact details, or for information about dialling 111. See information about YES (Youth Education Service), a child abuse prevention programme for schools
 
Office of the Children’s Commissioner www.occ.org.nz
The Office of the Children’s Commissioner is an independent authority promoting children’s and young people’s wellbeing through advocacy, consultation, monitoring, research and investigation.
Email: children@occ.org.nz
 
Parentline www.parentline.org.nz
Parentline deals with children who have been sexually, physically or emotionally abused or who are at risk of abuse. Parentline acts as a child advocacy service:
  • to bring to light cases of child abuse or neglect; through public education and raising public awareness of the effect of abusive parents
  • to explore fully the factors giving rise to abuse or neglect of children by providing documentation and undertaking research
  • to consult with and refer where appropriate to organisations both voluntary and statutory connected with the welfare of children
  • to provide immediate and ongoing support to families where child abuse or neglect has occurred, to achieve rehabilitation of the abusing family where possible and reconciliation of the child with his or her family
  • ensure that a Maori perspective is encouraged and maintained
Postal address: PO Box 11077, DX Mail: GX 33397, Hamilton
Phone: 64 7 839 4536
Fax: 64 7 839 4515
 
Shine www.2shine.org.nz
Shine (previously known as Preventing Violence in the Home) provides a range of services (not all are national), including a comprehensive web site on family violence. Although the organisation is Auckland based, the information on the website is nationally relevant. The organisation provides a national helpline: 0508-DVHELP (0508 384357). The helpline operates 7:30am -11:00pm every day.
 
Victim Support www.shatteredlives.org.nz
Victim Support provides 24-hour emotional support, personal advocacy and information to all people affected by crime and trauma throughout New Zealand.
Call free on 0800 VICTIM (0800 842846) or 64 4 474 8862
 
What’s Up www.whatsup.co.nz
What’s Up is a free, national telephone counselling service for New Zealanders aged five to 18 years. The service operates seven days a week from noon to midnight. Paid, trained and closely supervised professional counsellors answer the telephones. What’s Up aims to provide early help to children and teach them skills that will help prevent the development of major problems later in their lives. What’s Up is provided by The Kid’s Help Foundation Trust in association with Barnardos New Zealand.
Call free on 0800 WHATSUP (0800 942 8787)
 
Women’s Refuge www.womensrefuge.org.nz
Women's Refuge is an independent community organisation, run by women, for women and children. It provides support and information when you are dealing with violence in your life. Support includes a 24-hour helpline, 24-hour access to a safe house, counselling, support with financial and legal matters, childcare programmes and information and education. Services are confidential and free. For crisis, support and advocacy please contact a local Women's Refuge.
 
Helpline: 0800 REFUGE (0800 733 843)
 
See the Women’s Refuge website for:
Young New Zealanders’ Foundation (formerly the Safer Streets Trust) www.youngnz.org.nz
The Young New Zealanders’ Foundation aims to create safer communities by supporting, educating and empowering young people in their families and in the wider community. The Foundation supplies a range of educational resources.
 
The Youth Court deals with young people 14, 15 and 16 years old.
 
See the Youth Court website for:
Youthlaw is a law agency set up just for young people. They have a huge range of brochures and booklets on most things that involve young people and the law. Give them a call if you need some legal advice, or want to know your rights in a particular situation. They are friendly and helpful and their information is free to young people.
The website has a section about domestic violence and young people.
Phone: 64 9 309 6967. If you are outside of Auckland, collect calls are accepted.
 
A free telephone counselling service for young people.
Call free on 0800 376 633
 
Content endorsed by the Paediatric Society of New Zealand 26 April 2012
© Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 – 2013
Printed on 22 May 2013. Content is regularly updated so please refer to www.kidshealth.org.nz for the most up-to-date version