Together with Safeguarding Children

A conversation with Willow Duffy, Chief Executive at Safeguarding Children, and Nicola Robinson, Acting Executive Director of Queensland’s Worker Screening Services What if checking whether someone is safe to work with children was not limited to a one-off police vet? In this special Child Safeguarding Week release, we look across the Tasman at Queensland’s Blue Card system, which has been helping safeguard children for 25 years. Unlike a standard police check, the system assesses a broad range of child safety information, continuously monitors cardholders and alerts linked organisations if someone’s eligibility changes. Nicola explains how the system works and shares that, in the last financial year alone, more than 6,000 high-risk cases were identified where people were prevented from working with children. Willow and Nicola also discuss information sharing, concerning behaviour that may fall below the criminal threshold, organisational accountability, and the importance of connecting separate pieces of information to identify potential risks. With Queensland and New Zealand having similar-sized populations, New Zealand does not need to reinvent the wheel. We have an opportunity to learn from an established system and consider how a similar approach could strengthen safeguarding here. Willow also calls for a cross-party commitment to improving the safety checking of people who work or volunteer with children and young people. Protecting children must extend beyond election cycles and changes of government. Children’s safety is everyone’s responsibility, regardless of political affiliation. Listen to the podcast, share it with your networks and help build momentum for change.

A conversation with Willow Duffy, Chief Executive, and Jess McQuoid, Safeguarding Consultant and Training Lead at Safeguarding Children Safeguarding starts with leadership. The decisions leaders make help shape the culture, priorities and everyday practices that determine how seriously child safety is taken across an organisation. In this episode of Together, Willow speaks with Jess about the role leaders at every level can play in safeguarding, from boards and senior leaders through to managers and team leaders. Their conversation looks beyond having policies and training in place to explore culture, accountability and everyday decision-making, and the practical steps leaders can take to help create safer environments for children.

In conversation with Andrea Nelson, former CEO, and Belinda Randall, Head of Community Sport, Gymnastics New Zealand Creating safer environments for children takes commitment, strong leadership and ongoing work. But what does that actually look like within an organisation? In this episode of Together, Andrea and Belinda share Gymnastics New Zealand’s safeguarding journey and the changes they have helped lead across the organisation and gymnastics community throughout Aotearoa. It’s an open and practical conversation about creating meaningful change, what they have learned along the way, and what other organisations can take from their experience as they work to strengthen safeguarding.

In conversation with Amigene Metcalfe from Sport Waikato Sport is one of the many places children spend time each week, and the behaviour of the adults around them can have a big impact on their experience. In this episode of Together, Amigene shares more about the Positive Vibes Only® campaign, why it was created and what it can teach us about creating safer, more positive sporting environments for children and young people. From coaches and clubs to parents and spectators, this is a practical conversation about the role we can all play in helping children feel safe, supported and able to enjoy their sport.

A practical conversation with the Safeguarding Children team, led by Jess McQuoid, Safeguarding Consultant and Training Lead Parents and caregivers don’t need to be safeguarding experts. But knowing what to look for, what to ask and what to expect from the places your child goes can make a difference. In this episode of Together, Jess is joined by members of the Safeguarding Children team to answer real questions from parents and caregivers about safeguarding. The conversation covers what good safeguarding looks like, questions you can ask, things to look out for and what you can do if something doesn’t feel right. It’s designed to help parents and caregivers feel more informed and confident asking questions about their child’s safety.

When it comes to safeguarding children, which information are you allowed to share? And what about the privacy act? Those are the questions at the heart of today’s episode, where Willow and her team of safeguarding consultants break down the legislation and what it means for you. Topics include: Importance of Information Sharing: Effective information sharing among agencies is crucial for early intervention and child protection, helping to prevent escalation to severe child protection issues. Legislation Support: The Privacy Act and subsequent laws like the Oranga Tamariki Act and the Family Violence Act facilitate and encourage information sharing for the wellbeing of children, contrary to common misconceptions. Consultation Over Consent: Professionals are encouraged to consult with children about sharing their information, but obtaining explicit consent is not legally required, which can alleviate concerns about breaching confidentiality. Role of Universal Services: Universal services like schools and healthcare providers play a critical role in safeguarding children. Sharing relevant insights and information within these networks enhances the protection and support system for children. And more! Enjoy the show! To learn more about how you can help safeguard children, visit our website ⁠https://www.safeguardingchildren.org.nz Feel free to reach out via the website, or connect with Willow and Safeguarding Children on LinkedIn⁠. Join the Conversation: We are all stakeholders in the safety and well-being of children. Whether you are a professional working with children, a parent, or a concerned citizen, your voice matters. Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions with us. Together, we can make a difference in creating a safer world for children. Contact Us: Website: Safeguarding Children Email: [email protected] Social Media: Join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates and discussions. Subscribe and Rate Us: If you found this episode informative and empowering, please subscribe to "Together" on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a rating. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue our mission to safeguard children. Thank you for tuning in to "Together." Remember, every child deserves a safe childhood, and together, we can make that a reality.

In Part Two of this two-part episode of Together, Willow Duffy continues her conversation with journalist, author and Decult founder Anke Richter about children growing up in cults and high-control groups.  This episode looks more closely at why children in these environments may struggle to recognise harm, speak up or ask for help. Willow and Anke discuss what can happen when a child’s whole world is shaped by control, fear, obedience and isolation, and why a child who appears quiet, compliant or “well behaved” may still be experiencing serious harm.  They also explore what professionals, neighbours, family members and communities need to understand, the long-term impacts for those who leave, and why New Zealand needs greater awareness of the risks and vulnerabilities facing children in high-control groups.  A thoughtful and important conversation about curiosity, compassion and the need to better recognise hidden harm.  This is Part Two of the conversation. You may like to listen to Part One first.  Content warning: This episode discusses child abuse, coercive control and spiritual trauma.  Learn more about Decult and Anke Richter’s work: https://decult.net/   Learn more about Safeguarding Children’s training and resources: https://www.safeguardingchildren.org.nz/   If you are worried about a child, contact Oranga Tamariki or Police. If a child is in immediate danger, call 111. 

In Part One of this two-part episode of Together, Willow Duffy speaks with journalist, author and Decult founder Anke Richter about children growing up in cults and high-control groups.  Anke shares how her work investigating groups such as Centrepoint and Gloriavale led her to focus on the experiences of children, many of whom are born into these environments and have little or no choice about the world around them.  Willow and Anke explore what cults and high-control groups really are, why common myths can stop us from recognising harm, and how systems of control can affect a child’s safety, identity, relationships and sense of self.  They also discuss fear, spiritual trauma, obedience, isolation, attachment and the complex role of parents who may also be controlled by the group.  Part One helps us understand what life can feel like for children inside these environments. In Part Two, Willow and Anke continue the conversation by looking at why children may struggle to recognise harm, ask for help or be noticed by the adults around them.  Content warning: This episode discusses child abuse, coercive control and spiritual trauma.  Learn more about Decult and Anke Richter’s work: https://decult.net/   Learn more about Safeguarding Children’s training and resources: https://www.safeguardingchildren.org.nz/   If you are worried about a child, contact Oranga Tamariki or Police. If a child is in immediate danger, call 111.   

In this episode of Together, Willow Duffy speaks with Gloria Masters, survivor, author, founder of Handing the Shame Back and the creator of the Global Hand Sign for under-16s. The Global Hand Sign is a silent cry for help for children who are unsafe or unable to speak out. Willow and Gloria discuss why Gloria created the sign, how it is helping protect children around the world, and what every adult needs to know if a child uses it with them. They also talk about Gloria’s work supporting survivors, shifting shame away from children and back to where it belongs, and the importance of being a safe adult a child can turn to. Listen to learn about the Global Hand Sign, how to respond if a child uses it, and how we can all help children feel seen, heard and protected. Content warning: This episode discusses child abuse and survivor experiences. Learn more about Gloria Masters and Handing the Shame Back: Handing the Shame Back Learn more about Safeguarding Children’s training and resources: safeguardingchildren.org.nz If you are worried about a child, contact Oranga Tamariki or Police. If a child is in immediate danger, call 111.

In this special episode of Together, we focus on one of the biggest challenges facing parents and caregivers today: helping children navigate the digital world safely. Before recording, we asked parents to share their biggest concerns and the questions they most wanted to ask about online safety, wellbeing and resilience. Their honest, anonymous responses showed how many families are trying to manage the same worries, from harmful content and online exploitation to pornography, scams, social media, privacy and knowing how to have the right conversations at home. To help answer these questions, we brought together a panel of experts to share practical advice, insight and guidance for parents and caregivers. In this episode, you’ll hear from: Tim Houston, Manager of the Digital Child Exploitation Team at New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs. Tim has led major national and international investigations into online child sexual exploitation and abuse and is also a board member of Safeguarding Children. Nikki Denholm MNZM, Director of The Light Project, which works to build understanding around pornography, young people, healthy relationships and sexual wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand. Sean Lyons, Chief Online Safety Officer at Netsafe and head of Netsafe Lab. Sean brings expertise in online safety, education, child protection and digital harm prevention. Together, the panel explores what parents and caregivers need to know, how to talk with children about online risks, and how adults can support children to build digital resilience. This is a practical and reassuring conversation for anyone raising, caring for or supporting children in an online world. Content warning: This episode discusses online child sexual exploitation, pornography and other online harms. Learn more about Safeguarding Children’s training and resources: safeguardingchildren.org.nz If you are worried about a child, contact Oranga Tamariki or Police. If a child is in immediate danger, call 111.