Skip to content

Child Protection Training

for people & organisations

Empowering you to keep children safe

We provide practical, evidence-based training and resources across New Zealand to help you recognise, respond to and prevent harm to children and young people.

Trusted by

Award-winning Safeguarding in Aotearoa

Safeguarding Children has been named the 2026 New Zealand Community of the Year at the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards. This national recognition highlights the impact of our training and support, and the growing number of people and organisations committed to keeping children safe.

Trusted by professionals across education, health, sport and community services, we support organisations to strengthen safeguarding practice and create safer environments for children in the places they live, learn and play.

Learn More
The safeguarding children team

What is safeguarding and child protection?

Safeguarding is about preventing harm before it happens

Child protection is about responding when there are concerns about abuse or neglect

Safeguarding culture wheel

The reality of abuse and neglect

Child abuse and neglect often happen within relationships of trust. It can occur anywhere – at home, in communities or in organisations – and can affect any child, regardless of age, gender, culture or ability. Those who cause harm may be adults or even other children, and they’re usually someone the child knows and trusts.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is when someone deliberately hurts a child, such as hitting, kicking or shaking, which can seriously impact their health and development.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is less visible but just as harmful. It includes ongoing behaviours like threatening, criticising or ignoring a child, which can affect their emotional development.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse involves forcing, pressuring or tricking a child into sexual activity, with or without physical contact, and whether or not the child understands what is happening.

Neglect

Neglect is when a child’s needs are not met, including failing to provide the care, supervision or support they need to stay safe, healthy and develop well.

Spiritual Abuse

Spiritual abuse is when religion, beliefs or spirituality are used to harm, frighten or control a child or young person.

Keeping our children safe isn’t a job for ‘someone else’. It’s down to every single one of us. We all have a role to play and the time to act is now.

How we help you keep children safe

Keep children safe

Use evidence-based, tested and proven systems and proactive measures to strengthen child safety by supporting and empowering your staff.

Build confidence

Implement clear, strategic safeguarding plans to build staff confidence, support wellbeing, and improve day-to-day practice.

Ensure compliance

Protect your funding and operations by meeting child protection requirements and maintaining a strong culture of safety.

Enhance risk management

Shift from crisis management to risk prevention, so you can respond early, manage issues effectively and make informed decisions.

Protect your reputation

Avoid negative publicity and maintain trust with parents and stakeholders through strong safeguarding practices and tools.

Who is it for?

Honestly? Everyone! But especially those of us with a responsibility towards children and their families…

staff and volunteers - teacher helping child draw

Staff & Volunteers

We equip you with the education and strategies to prevent, recognise and respond to abuse, enabling you to focus on your core role without constant worry. The result is a supported and confident team that knows what steps to take when concerns arise.

Leadership and governance - people in a meeting

Leaders & Governance

Empower your team with education, tools, and strategies to prevent, recognise and respond to abuse so you can prevent institutional neglect and protect the children, as well as your team’s mental health, and the reputation and finances of your organisation.

whanau and community - group of hands on a tree - safeguarding children

Parents & Community

We’re all responsible for fostering a secure environment where children can thrive. By actively participating, you’re not only protecting your own child, but also contributing to the collective wellbeing, creating a safer, healthier community for all children.

Training options developed and delivered by subject-matter experts

On Demand

Enjoy cost-effective training, learn at your convenience, and have the flexibility to pause and resume as needed – an empowering solution tailored to your pace and schedule.

Webinars

Our live, interactive webinars offer the best of both worlds – the convenience of online learning and the opportunity to connect with subject matter experts offering high-quality, engaging training at your fingertips.

Seminars

Scheduled throughout the year, or tailored to your organisation’s needs, these interactive sessions offer real-time guidance from experienced instructors where you get tailored advice for your specific challenges.

In-house

Benefit from our expertly crafted courses, tailored to your team’s needs. Via a pre-training survey, we pinpoint your knowledge gaps and deliver easy-to-access, on-demand and in-house training.

Step up and join the ranks of proactive organisations prioritising child safety with Safeguarding Children

It’s an investment in our future, a protection of your reputation, and a testament to your commitment to the wellbeing of children

Safeguarding Children

Safeguarding Children is not a statutory care or protection agency, which means we are unable to intervene directly in matters involving a child’s immediate safety. We provide training, advice and advocacy to help organisations and professionals keep children safe. If you are concerned about a child’s safety, you should contact the appropriate authorities, such as Oranga Tamariki or the Police, who are legally responsible for responding and taking action. To email Oranga Tamariki directly please click here.

Charities Number: CC49059
NZBN: 9429043276134

To request permission to use or replicate Safeguarding Children content please contact us.

Support

Other Information

Subscribe for updates

Be kept up to date with the latest in research & resources and on what training and events are happening online and around your community.

Subscribe Now
Back To Top