Ministry of Education

Child Protection Training Services

Child protection and wellbeing require organisations, professionals, and communities across the children’s sector to work together to keep children and young people (under 18) safe from abuse, neglect, and harm. This includes recognising and responding to concerns, sharing relevant information appropriately, and collaborating across organisational and professional boundaries to support children’s safety, protection, and wellbeing. Recent reviews highlighted significant shortcomings in these areas, demonstrating the need to strengthen capability and practice across the system.
In May 2022, six children's sector agencies commissioned Dame Karen Poutasi to undertake an independent review (the Review) into the children’s system. The Review examined how agencies and professionals identified, assessed, and responded to concerns about the safety and wellbeing of children, and identified opportunities to strengthen the wider children's system.
The Review made 14 recommendations to improve the ability of professionals to recognise and respond to abuse and neglect, strengthen child protection practice, and better meet the needs of children and young people. The Government has accepted all recommendations arising from the Review.
A key component of the Government's response is the implementation of mandatory child protection training to strengthen the capability of core children's workers to recognise, respond to, record, and report concerns about child abuse, neglect, and harm.

Department/Business Unit: Te Mahau Education Services