Safe Network

26/08/2025

At Safe Network, we have recently updated our Child Protection Policy to ensure the welfare and safety of children is of primary importance. This policy guides our actions where current harm or risk to children is identified, including risk of harm to self of others. It also ensures the appropriate safety checking is in place for all staff engaged in work that involves contact with children.
To read our Child Protection Policy, please go to https://zurl.co/3mCJT

Children Children - Most children engage in and display a range of sexualised behaviour that is healthy and normal for their age, but sometimes it may be concerning and age-inappropriate Safe Network's Kaituhura Explorer programme is a specialised service for children aged 5-12 years whose sexualise...

11/08/2025

Congratulations to Hayley from Best Start in Waiuku.

Hayley and the team from Best Start attended the Great Childcare and Education Expo in May. While at the Expo, Hayley visited the Safe Network stand, entered our prize draw, and was the lucky winner!

If you would like to know more about the work we do with Tamariki, go to https://zurl.co/t7vs2

27/07/2025

We are delighted that Johnathan Bruning has achieved full membership with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors. Johnathan has been a clinician with Safe Network for 3+ years, working with our rangatahi to ensure they have the support needed to discover new ways of thinking, change behaviours, and move towards a more positive future.

Johnathan says he was "drawn to this work because he believes every young person is more than what they’ve been through or what they’ve done. At the heart of counselling is the chance to help someone feel human again, especially when shame or stigma has stripped that away. It’s a privilege to walk alongside rangatahi as they begin to trust, reconnect, and realise their own worth.”

Congratulations Johnathan, on achieving full NZAC membership!

14/07/2025

At Safe Network, we are committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our team, clients, and people visiting our sites. To support this commitment, all of our frontline staff have recently completed basic first aid training with Hato Hone St John.

This training has given our team the skills and knowledge to respond effectively in emergency situations and to provide care until medical professionals can take over.

Well done team, and thanks for helping to keep us all safe!

29/06/2025

Congratulations Claudia for achieving your Bachelor of Applied Counselling!

Claudia joined the Safe Network team in May as an Adult Clinician working across both our Auckland and Whangarei sites. Prior to this, she worked in the mental health and wellbeing field where she discovered a true passion for supporting people through challenging times.
While living in Whanganui, she took the next step in her journey by studying online with MIT (Manukau Institute of Technology), completing a Bachelor of Applied Counselling - a 3-year full-time course - while also working full time.

"I’m grateful to be part of such a supportive team environment at Safe Network. The team environment here is supportive and collaborative, and I value the non-judgmental, strengths-based approach we take with clients. Every day brings learning and growth, and I feel grateful to be part of a service that empowers people with coping strategies and helps prevent future harm".

12/06/2025

We are on the move!

After a number of months/years of looking for an alternative site, we have finally secured new premises, purchasing our own property at 6A Nugent Street, Grafton. We will be moving to the new premises at the end of July 2025.

Getting our own premises in Auckland that better fits the needs of our clients and offers an enhanced work environment for our team, has been a huge task with a lot of false starts and dead ends. This is an exciting new phase for our Auckland work and everyone involved.

Watch this space for more updates on the move...

02/06/2025

Safe Network's Problem Sexual Behaviour Indicator App can assist you to identify whether someone's sexual behaviour is concerning or not.

By completing the app's questionnaire, you will be able to identify whether the behaviour appears normal, concerning or harmful.

Note:
If you are referring another person then you should make them (or their parents/guardians in the case of a minor) aware you are doing so, prior to submitting a referral. We always require a client’s consent prior to being able to engage them in our services.

Follow the link below to access the survey:
https://zurl.co/doD8

19/05/2025

In April, Safe Network hosted another valuable Week of Development for our team. Over two days, our clinicians engaged in informative sessions designed to enhance their skills and knowledge.

Our first session focused on Su***de Risk Awareness, providing essential tools to identify and support individuals at risk. Facilitator, Barry Taylor has worked in mental wellbeing promotion and su***de prevention/postvention for 34 years at local, national, and international levels.

The workshop emphasised a person-centered approach to assessing su***de risk and imminent danger using a wellbeing outcomes framework. This was a great opportunity for our team to continue developing their skills in supporting people at risk.

For more information visit: https://zurl.co/wY3it

We then welcomed Arletta van den Bosch, an Integrative Child Therapist, who shared her expertise on Autism and related conditions. Key topics included:
Processing Differences: Understanding neurodivergent processing and its implications for support.
Correlation Between Autism/ADHD and CSB/HSB: Exploring literature on autism and sexual offending.
Adapting Support: Strategies for sensory needs, predictability, acceptance, and communication.
Sexuality and Relationships: Tailored approaches for autistic clients.

For more information visit: https://zurl.co/d8Evo

This training is a reflection of Safe Network's commitment to continuous learning and development, ensuring our team is equipped with the latest knowledge and skills.

09/05/2025

The Great Childcare & Education Expo 2025 - The Trusts Arena, Auckland

Come down to the Great Childcare and Education Expo and meet the Safe Network team.

We are there on Friday from 3pm to 8pm and Saturday from 9am to 4pm.

We look forward to seeing you there!

05/05/2025

Meet Matthew, one of our Clinicians working with our Youth and Adult clients in Auckland. Matthew was recently accepted into the Conversational Model of Psychotherapy course run by the Australia and New Zealand Association of Psychotherapy. This course is a great opportunity for Matthew to continue developing his psychotherapy skills, and he was fortunate to attend a 3-day workshop to kick-start this training. Here's what Matthew has to say about his development journey so far...

"I recently had the chance to attend an ANZAP Intensive Weekend in Australia, focused on the Conversational Model of Psychotherapy. It was a really rewarding experience to be accepted into such a prestigious course, and it was great to finally meet the colleagues, faculty, and teaching staff who have been part of the training journey. It also felt really special to connect with both the Australian and New Zealand sides of the programme and feel part of a wider community.

Over the 'intensive weekend', we explored some of the clinical and theoretical foundations of the model, especially how it applies to working with borderline disorders and general client work. The teaching was clear, practical, and directly relevant to what we do every day. There are also significant New Zealand psychotherapeutic researcher/practitioners who have contributed to the model and will feature on the course as we go. I also had the opportunity to meet my new supervisor, who has experience in HSB and Corrections work, and is very passionate about supporting the work I’m doing. I’m excited to continue learning and to bring these new ideas and approaches into my practice."

21/04/2025

The Great Childcare & Education Expo 2025

We are excited to be exhibiting at The Great Childcare & Education Expo and we'd love for you to come and see us!

This is the largest education sector expo in New Zealand and is a great chance for you to see a broad range of products and services specifically catering to the early childhood and primary industries. The Safe Network team will be discussing concerning and problematic sexual behaviour in children and how to get help when supporting a child exhibiting this behaviour.

📅 Friday 9th May, 3pm - 8pm
📅 Saturday 10th May, 9am - 4pm
📍 The Trusts Arena, Auckland

To learn more about the Expo, go to https://zurl.co/95Qgu

06/04/2025

Research Project

Brendan is a key member of our Bay of Plenty team, primarily supporting our Adult clients. He is currently enrolled in a Masters of Science majoring in Psychology, under the supervision of Armon Tamatea.

As part of this programme, Brendan will be conducting research into trends in data that have led to the early exit of individuals from the adult service. After this, he plans to conduct interviews with individuals to gather qualitative data to shed light on their personal experiences including what may have influenced their reasons to exit.

There is limited research on this area, particularly in New Zealand context, so he hopes the findings will be able to improve service delivery if necessary.

Brendan also received the University of Waikato Masters Scholarship valued at $15,000 to cover course costs and fees for the duration of his thesis. His previous academic achievements, and prior publications co-writing two chapters on the psychometric properties of the DASS and the GQ6 both published in the Handbook of Assessment in Mindfulness Research Handbook of Assessment in Mindfulness Research | SpringerLink, contributed to his successful scholarship application. He looks forward to sharing his finding once the research is complete.

Congratulations on achieving this scholarship, Brendan! We wish you all the best in your studies!