Child, Youth and Family launches Pacific ‘Everyday Communities’ programme
Child, Youth and Family launches the Pacific strand of its ‘Everyday Communities’ programme today (5 April) at a
ceremony attended by Hon. Taito Philip Field, Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment and the Associate
Minister for the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs. Sir Barry Curtis, Mayor of Manukau City and Pam Lafferty, Child,
Youth and Family site manager, are also speakers at the launch which takes place in Otara, Auckland.
‘Everyday Communities’ is a Child, Youth and Family (CYF) public education programme which focuses on promoting
well-being, positive parenting and safety for children, to create an environment where child abuse is less able to
exist. It has been piloted in Whakatane, Wairarapa, Auckland and Wanganui. The programme follows a holistic,
decentralised approach that aims to use the community as an intrinsic part of the solution to the care and protection of
children and young people. Over time, the programme aims to build community ownership and understanding that child abuse
is socially unacceptable and that the community has a part to play in preventing abuse and caring for children.
Speaking about the programme, the Hon. Taito Philip Field said: “The well-being of our children is important to all of
us, they are our future. We must make an investment in the Pacific family in this country to give our children the
opportunity to stand tall in our community and to take a lead in New Zealand society, for all our futures. Most
significantly, the ‘Everyday Communities’ programme assists us to find our own solutions which will achieve positive
results in our communities.”
‘Everyday Communities’ includes a comprehensive communications strategy across community radio and print media ranging
from panel discussions, interviews with experts on talkback radio slots, real-life statements and stories about child
abuse from local communities and parenting tips. A series of events has also been planned to raise awareness of the
issues of child abuse, neglect and family violence. The Pacific ‘Everyday Communities’ programme has been revised to
include three new strands: Healthy Public Policy to ensure robust child abuse management protocols exist
in communities; an Everyday Theatre initiative that will explore the issues of child abuse, neglect and family violence
with 11 and 12-year-olds and capacity building so communities can continue to address abuse issues in the long-term.
Seven groups have been targeted within the programme: Samoan, Cook Islander, Tongan, Fijian, Nuiean, Tokelaun and
Tuvaluan.