Child Protection Training Day for speech-language therapists

This is a specialised Care and Protection (face to face) training day for speech-language therapists who work with children and young people. It may also be useful for speech-language therapists who work with adults, but the focus of the training and workshop examples and tasks will focus on children under 18 years.

FACILITATOR: This training will be facilitated by Emily Stephen, Child Protection Community Educator at Te Puaruruhau Child Protection at Puawaitahi, Starship Children's Health: the Auckland District Health Board health service for children and young people who have experienced abuse or neglect. Emily Stephen comes to her role as a child protection community educator as a clinical social worker, with a background working in both Canada and New Zealand in child & adolescent mental health within education, health, and community practice. Emily’s role is funded through Starship Children’s Health, and she sits with the child protection specialist team for the Auckland District Health Board called Te Puaruruhau. This team is part of a child advocacy centre, where three ministries work together out of one building – this multi-agency centre includes Police, Health and Oranga Tamariki – and is called Puawaitahi. Emily has presented at a previous SIG meeting in 2020 which was very well-received. Participants are not required to have attended this previous session.

This training is being organised by Talking Trouble Aotearoa NZ, who also organise the Special Interest Group for speech-language therapists working with children, youth and adults involved with care and protection, justice, mental health or behaviour agencies. https://talkingtroublenz.org/i-am-a-speech-language-therapist/

SCOPE: The aim of this training is to equip speech-language therapists (SLTs) with the skills and knowledge to address the child protection issues and situations that might arise in their specific roles as SLTs so they understand their role and responsibilities in keeping children and young people safe. There will be opportunities to explore what they might need to be aware of while working with children and whānau, what child protection policies and legislations are in place, and what this means for them in their roles.

REGISTRATION ESSENTIAL: Numbers are limited, so registration via Eventbrite must take place. Registration will close on 19 February 2021. If a registered participant is unable to attend, please contact the organiser as possible, so the place can be offered to someone else.

COST: There is no fee to attend as Emily's time is provided at no cost, and the costs of the venue are being covered by Talking Trouble Aotearoa NZ, but participants are encouraged by the organisers to organise koha to the Starship Foundation https://www.starship.org.nz/foundation

LUNCH: Tea, coffee and morning and afternoon tea will be provided. Participants can bring their own lunch, or if they wish, they can order and pay for lunch in advance as the organisers will be putting in an order for delivery from Eat My Lunch. Please contact by emailing contact@talkingtroublenz.org by 15 February 2021 to arrange an optional lunch order and payment.

VENUE: There is some parking at the venue or on the surrounding streets. https://bit.ly/2VIl29N