Child Safe Organisations

ECPAT NZ has a working relationship with Childwise Australia and with their support conducted a pilot series of workshops themed "Choose with Care" at the end of 2007. The courses provide practical tools on establishing a safe environment for children and will be be further extended to a large scale "Child Safe Organisations" program in the near future.

The Child Safe Organisations program has been developed in response to sex offenders targeting organisations working with children. It is now well known that sex offenders seek employment in organisations where they can gain access to vulnerable children. They will often seek out positions which, not only provide them with access to children, but also a professional subterfuge to conceal their abusive activities. Unfortunately it is not easy to identify a child sex offender. There are no reliable psychological tests or profiles to identify them.

Child Safe Organisations is highly relevant to any organisation or voluntary group working with children. It will assist in developing awareness and outlines practical steps that organisations can take to reduce the opportunities for children to be abused, whilst in their care.