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Join Willow and the team of consultants at Safeguarding Children as they bring some of the ’hard to talk about’ safeguarding and child protection topics to the table with the hope of inspiring listeners to have similar conversations in their communities.
Episodes
Aug 21, 2024
Aug 21, 2024
48 min
In this episode of Together, the team at Safeguarding Children discuss the critical role that training plays in preventing child abuse and neglect, particularly in light of the recent findings from the New Zealand Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry. They explore the need for sector-specific, ongoing training that is not only tailored to the unique needs of various settings—such as state care, faith-based institutions, and sports—but also extends to leaders and decision-makers within these organizations. The conversation addresses common barriers to effective child protection, such as misconceptions and the fear of making mistakes, and stresses the importance of external oversight to ensure that training leads to real, actionable change. This episode underscores that while training is just one component of a comprehensive child safeguarding strategy, it is a foundational step towards creating a safer future for all children in Aotearoa.
Last week, we unpacked the New Zealand Abuse in State Care Report and its key findings.
In today’s follow-up episode, we go deeper into a core recommendation outlined in the Inquiry: The critical role that training plays in preventing child abuse and neglect.
Topics include:
- The Urgent Need for Comprehensive Training: Why mandatory, sector-specific training in safeguarding and child protection is critical across all settings, including state and faith-based care, sports, health, and education.
- Leadership's Role in Safeguarding: The importance of training not just frontline staff, but also high-level managers and leaders to create a culture of safety and ensure the implementation of child protection policies.
- Addressing Misconceptions and Barriers: How training dispels myths, builds confidence, and provides practical tools for recognising and responding to signs of abuse
- External Oversight and Accountability: Why independent audits and external oversight are crucial to ensure that safeguarding practices are not just theoretical but are effectively embedded into everyday practice within organisations.
Enjoy the show!
To learn more about how you can help safeguard children, visit our website https://www.safeguardingchildren.org.nz
Feel free to reach out via the website, or connect with Willow and Safeguarding Children on LinkedIn.
Join the Conversation:
We are all stakeholders in the safety and well-being of children. Whether you are a professional working with children, a parent, or a concerned citizen, your voice matters. Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions with us. Together, we can make a difference in creating a safer world for children.
Contact Us:
- Website: Safeguarding Children
- Email: office@safeguardingchildren.org.nz
- Social Media: Join us on Facebook and Instagram for updates and discussions.
Subscribe and Rate Us:
If you found this episode informative and empowering, please subscribe to "Together" on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a rating. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue our mission to safeguard children.
Thank you for tuning in to "Together." Remember, every child deserves
Aug 29, 2024
Aug 29, 2024
30 min
In this episode of Together, Safeguarding Children consultant Jessica McQuoid, and guest Brent Carey, CEO of Netsafe, explore the evolving landscape of online safety for children and young people. They discuss Netsafe's growth and its critical role in protecting New Zealanders from online harm, with a particular focus on scams targeting youth. The conversation underscores the importance of family involvement in digital safety, offering practical tools and resources to help manage online risks. They also introduce Netsafe's Innovate for Impact Fund, designed to further develop safety tools and programs.
Online safety is one of the most critical and challenging issues for protecting our children and young people in today’s digital world.
In this episode of Together, we talk to Brent Carey, CEO of Netsafe, to explore the evolving landscape of online safety for children and young people.
Topics include:
- Netsafe's Role in Online Safety: Netsafe has evolved into New Zealand's leading online safety organisation, providing a range of resources and support for different age groups, from children to seniors.
- Scams Targeting Youth: The episode highlights the growing concern of scams targeting young people, especially on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, and the regional efforts being made to combat this issue.
- Empowering Families: Netsafe emphasises the importance of family discussions around online safety, advocating for social media plans and utilising family safety centres on platforms to protect young users.
- Innovate for Impact Fund: Netsafe has launched an Innovate for Impact Fund to develop more educational tools and programs, with significant initial support already raised to further their mission.
- Practical Next Steps: Listeners are encouraged to explore Netsafe's resources, such as social media planning tools and reporting mechanisms, to stay informed and proactive in managing online safety.
And more.
Enjoy the show!
To learn more about how you can help safeguard children, visit our website https://www.safeguardingchildren.org.nz
Feel free to reach out via the website, or connect with Willow and Safeguarding Children on LinkedIn.
Join the Conversation:
We are all stakeholders in the safety and well-being of children. Whether you are a professional working with children, a parent, or a concerned citizen, your voice matters. Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions with us. Together, we can make a difference in creating a safer world for children.
Contact Us:
- Website: Safeguarding Children
- Email: office@safeguardingchildren.org.nz
- Social Media: Join us on Facebook and Instagram for updates and discussions.
Subscribe and Rate Us:
If you found this episode informative and empowering, please subscribe to "Together" on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a rating. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue our mission to safeguard children.
Thank you for tuning in to "Together." Remember, every child deserves
Sep 3, 2024
Sep 3, 2024
1hr 15 sec
In this episode of Together, Willow Duffy speaks with Dr Emma Barker-Clarke, an educator and researcher specialising in sexual violence and family violence prevention.
Emma’s work focuses on young people’s experiences of online harm, including peer-to-peer digital sexual harassment, image-based abuse and sextortion.
Together, Willow and Emma discuss why young people’s voices need to be centred in conversations about online safety, and why education must reflect the realities of what young people are experiencing in digital spaces.
They explore how online harm can happen between peers, not just from strangers, and why this can create complex social pressures for young people. They also discuss the role of schools, parents and caregivers, the importance of non-judgemental conversations, and where young people and families can go for help.
This is an important conversation for anyone wanting to better understand online harm, digital sexual harassment and how adults can support safer online environments for children and young people.
Topics include:
- Peer-to-peer online harm
- Digital sexual harassment, image-based abuse and sextortion
- Why young people’s voices need to be centred
- Consent, digital safety and online sexual ethics
- The role of schools, parents and caregivers
- Current gaps in legislation and support
- Where young people and families can go for help
Content warning: This episode discusses online harm, digital sexual harassment, image-based abuse and sextortion affecting young people.
Learn more about Safeguarding Children’s training and resources: safeguardingchildren.org.nz
If you are worried about a child, contact Oranga Tamariki or Police. If a child is in immediate danger, call 111.
Sep 5, 2024
Sep 5, 2024
48 min
Children and young people are growing up in an increasingly online world. For schools, this creates new safeguarding challenges that cannot always be seen or heard in the classroom.
In this episode of Together, Safeguarding Children consultants Jessica McQuoid and Ruth Browning speak with Saunil Hagler, Education Director for Linewize in Aotearoa New Zealand, about how schools can better protect and support students in digital spaces.
Together, they discuss the online risks children and young people may face, what digital safeguarding means in a school context, and how schools can put practical safeguards in place to help recognise and respond to online harm.
They also explore the role of technology, including filtering harmful content, monitoring online behaviour and using wellbeing tools, alongside the importance of clear policies, trained staff and a strong safeguarding culture.
This is a practical conversation for school leaders, teachers, safeguarding leads and anyone working to create safer environments for students, both online and offline.
Topics include:
- Digital risks facing children and young people
- What safeguarding looks like in online spaces
- How schools can recognise and respond to online harm
- The role of filtering, monitoring and wellbeing tools
- Why policies, training and clear responsibilities matter
Content warning: This episode discusses online harm affecting children and young people.
Learn more about Safeguarding Children’s training and resources: safeguardingchildren.org.nz
If you are worried about a child, contact Oranga Tamariki or Police. If a child is in immediate danger, call 111.
Sep 3, 2025
Sep 3, 2025
1hr 18 sec
In this special episode of Together, we focus on one of the biggest challenges facing parents and caregivers today: helping children navigate the digital world safely.
Before recording, we asked parents to share their biggest concerns and the questions they most wanted to ask about online safety, wellbeing and resilience. Their honest, anonymous responses showed how many families are trying to manage the same worries, from harmful content and online exploitation to pornography, scams, social media, privacy and knowing how to have the right conversations at home.
To help answer these questions, we brought together a panel of experts to share practical advice, insight and guidance for parents and caregivers.
In this episode, you’ll hear from:
Tim Houston, Manager of the Digital Child Exploitation Team at New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs. Tim has led major national and international investigations into online child sexual exploitation and abuse and is also a board member of Safeguarding Children.
Nikki Denholm MNZM, Director of The Light Project, which works to build understanding around pornography, young people, healthy relationships and sexual wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Sean Lyons, Chief Online Safety Officer at Netsafe and head of Netsafe Lab. Sean brings expertise in online safety, education, child protection and digital harm prevention.
Together, the panel explores what parents and caregivers need to know, how to talk with children about online risks, and how adults can support children to build digital resilience.
This is a practical and reassuring conversation for anyone raising, caring for or supporting children in an online world.
Content warning: This episode discusses online child sexual exploitation, pornography and other online harms.
Learn more about Safeguarding Children’s training and resources: safeguardingchildren.org.nz
If you are worried about a child, contact Oranga Tamariki or Police. If a child is in immediate danger, call 111.
Nov 13, 2025
Nov 13, 2025
34 min
In this episode of Together, Willow Duffy speaks with Gloria Masters, survivor, author, founder of Handing the Shame Back and the creator of the Global Hand Sign for under-16s.
The Global Hand Sign is a silent cry for help for children who are unsafe or unable to speak out. Willow and Gloria discuss why Gloria created the sign, how it is helping protect children around the world, and what every adult needs to know if a child uses it with them.
They also talk about Gloria’s work supporting survivors, shifting shame away from children and back to where it belongs, and the importance of being a safe adult a child can turn to.
Listen to learn about the Global Hand Sign, how to respond if a child uses it, and how we can all help children feel seen, heard and protected.
Content warning: This episode discusses child abuse and survivor experiences.
Learn more about Gloria Masters and Handing the Shame Back: Handing the Shame Back
Learn more about Safeguarding Children’s training and resources: safeguardingchildren.org.nz
If you are worried about a child, contact Oranga Tamariki or Police. If a child is in immediate danger, call 111.
Jul 7, 2026
Jul 7, 2026
44 min
In Part One of this two-part episode of Together, Willow Duffy speaks with journalist, author and Decult founder Anke Richter about children growing up in cults and high-control groups.
Anke shares how her work investigating groups such as Centrepoint and Gloriavale led her to focus on the experiences of children, many of whom are born into these environments and have little or no choice about the world around them.
Willow and Anke explore what cults and high-control groups really are, why common myths can stop us from recognising harm, and how systems of control can affect a child’s safety, identity, relationships and sense of self.
They also discuss fear, spiritual trauma, obedience, isolation, attachment and the complex role of parents who may also be controlled by the group.
Part One helps us understand what life can feel like for children inside these environments. In Part Two, Willow and Anke continue the conversation by looking at why children may struggle to recognise harm, ask for help or be noticed by the adults around them.
Content warning: This episode discusses child abuse, coercive control and spiritual trauma.
Learn more about Decult and Anke Richter’s work: https://decult.net/
Learn more about Safeguarding Children’s training and resources: https://www.safeguardingchildren.org.nz/
If you are worried about a child, contact Oranga Tamariki or Police. If a child is in immediate danger, call 111.
Jul 7, 2026
Jul 7, 2026
35 min
In Part Two of this two-part episode of Together, Willow Duffy continues her conversation with journalist, author and Decult founder Anke Richter about children growing up in cults and high-control groups.
This episode looks more closely at why children in these environments may struggle to recognise harm, speak up or ask for help. Willow and Anke discuss what can happen when a child’s whole world is shaped by control, fear, obedience and isolation, and why a child who appears quiet, compliant or “well behaved” may still be experiencing serious harm.
They also explore what professionals, neighbours, family members and communities need to understand, the long-term impacts for those who leave, and why New Zealand needs greater awareness of the risks and vulnerabilities facing children in high-control groups.
A thoughtful and important conversation about curiosity, compassion and the need to better recognise hidden harm.
This is Part Two of the conversation. You may like to listen to Part One first.
Content warning: This episode discusses child abuse, coercive control and spiritual trauma.
Learn more about Decult and Anke Richter’s work: https://decult.net/
Learn more about Safeguarding Children’s training and resources: https://www.safeguardingchildren.org.nz/
If you are worried about a child, contact Oranga Tamariki or Police. If a child is in immediate danger, call 111.