The Safeguarding Children Initiative is a nationwide movement developed by charity Safeguarding Children, dedicated to preventing abuse and protecting tamariki and rangatahi. Since its inception, it has trained more than 85,000 advocates, including 16,000 in the past year alone, equipping people in homes, workplaces and community settings across Aotearoa New Zealand to recognise concerns early and respond to abuse. For example, in Te Tai Tokerau alone, 94 kaimahi received training and funding was secured for 300 free e-learning courses for frontline workers. Over 900 resources were downloaded, while confidence to identify and act on abuse rose from 58 per cent to over 90 per cent.

More than 70 organisations across health, education, sport, justice, faith and community sectors have embedded safeguarding into their culture, creating safer environments nationwide. Because this growing community is stepping up, tamariki and rangatahi are safer where they live, learn, play and receive care. Through innovative training, prevention-focused policy advocacy and collaboration with communities across the motu, the Initiative is growing one advocate, one organisation, one community at a time, proving that when collective responsibility meets compassion, we can prevent abuse and create change for tamariki and rangatahi.