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In a significant move to bolster the frontline response to family and sexual violence, the New Zealand government is launching comprehensive training for workers across critical public services. The initiative aims to train 10,000 staff over the next two years as part of the broader Te Aorerekura strategy to prevent and respond effectively to such violence.
### Targeted, Practice-Focused Training
Karen Chhour, Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, highlighted the transformative potential of this training: “This will ensure that victim-survivors receive best practice support and empower staff to safely recognize, refer, and respond to family and sexual violence.”
The training covers a wide range of agencies, including justice, corrections, and police. Each sector receives tailored content suited to their role in supporting victims and preventing further harm. Chhour stressed, “This is not just a box-ticking exercise; it’s about building the confidence and competence of those who are often first in contact with victims.”
### Training Highlights Across Agencies
– **Ministry of Justice**: Over 800 court-related staff have completed specialist training, with an additional 500 targeted annually.
– **Department of Corrections**: More than 4,700 staff have undergone essential-level family violence training to enhance safety both within correctional facilities and among the communities they serve.
– **New Zealand Police**: The training curriculum for new recruits was redesigned in 2024 to include a dedicated two-week module on family violence. Over 550 recruits completed the program in its first year, with projections suggesting over 850 will be trained by the end of 2025.
### Part of Te Aorerekura Action Plan
The rollout is a key component of the second Te Aorerekura Action Plan, New Zealand’s national strategy for eliminating family and sexual violence through a unified, multi-agency approach. Chhour said, “The Action Plan sets out bold but necessary targets that will require sustained cross-agency collaboration and reinforced commitment across the public sector.”
### Cultural and Structural Shift
Te Aorerekura aims not only to improve procedures but also to shift cultural understanding and discussions around family and sexual violence. Training is seen as a foundation for embedding this change, especially at the frontline where victims often seek help first.
Chhour commended early progress as evidence of growing alignment and urgency among government departments, noting that the integrated response model was already delivering measurable improvements in service delivery and victim engagement.
### A Coordinated, Trauma-Informed Approach
As training programs expand, the government anticipates not just improved individual capabilities but also a more coordinated, trauma-informed, and survivor-centered approach to family and sexual violence. This approach aims to reduce re-traumatization and promote long-term safety and well-being for individuals, whānau (extended families), and communities across Aotearoa.
The Ministry of Justice continues to play a pivotal role in supporting the Te Aorerekura strategy through robust training programs.
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