Local organisations are taking up the opportunity to complete a course which helps ensure children are kept safe during extracurricular activities.

Safeguarding Children NZ has partnered with Sport NZ to provide free resources - including essential document templates and an eLearning course - on recognising and responding to child abuse and neglect in a sporting environment.

The Wanaka Recreation Centre is one of the first local organisations to take up the opportunity to complete the course.

Safeguarding Children NZ volunteer Mike Barker said he was spreading the word among local organisations and groups about the importance of the course, which is designed for clubs, groups and classes that are involved with children, as well as helpers and volunteers. 

“Safeguarding Children courses are mandatory in the UK where I was a policeman for 32 years,” Mike, who now lives in Wanaka, said. “I was shocked to find that when I approached a senior officer in Queenstown they had never even heard of it.”

The course helps people in organisations looking after children to recognise and respond to to child abuse and neglect.

The course takes two to three hours to complete, Mike said. It includes videos, case studies, and quizzes to help participants gain an understanding of the topics, and allow them to learn at their own pace. 

The Wanaka Recreation Centre has offered their staff the opportunity to complete the course, Mike said.

Two other local organisations have also made steps towards completing the programme, Mike said, and he hopes more local groups will take up the opportunity and join the more than 20,000 New Zealanders who have been trained in how to recognise and respond to child abuse and neglect.

To learn more about the programme, click here or send Mike an email at [email protected].

PHOTOS: Wanaka App