An advocate for Kiwi children
A former lawyer and child abuse detective wants the public to know protecting vulnerable children is not a lost cause.
Jane Searle has been appointed Child Matters’ new chief executive, in a role that ensures training and advice is given to people working with children.
After working as a barrister and solicitor, practicing criminal and family law, Searle joined the New Zealand Police where she worked on the child abuse team as a detective.
‘‘All of our staff are ex-social workers or ex-police officers and the work that we deliver, we’re delivering to people who are working with children or vulnerable families, so having done that pervious work with the police was a great platform to come into this organisation,’’ she said.
Despite what people may think, Searle said her work was rewarding and is confident New Zealand is a good country to raise a family in.
‘‘I’m often in awe of some of the amazing people I’ve met who have had significant trauma in their own childhood, and what they’ve achieved.
‘‘We’re trying to bring the focus on something that is an incredibly important issue in this country, so every step we make to improve is something positive and worthwhile.’’
Searle was appointed to the role in March after spending two years as general manager.
She took over fom Anthea Simcock, who established Child Matters in 1994.
Searle said Simcock did a tremendous job fighting for the rights of vulnerable children, but there was still plenty to be done.
‘‘As an organisation, we want to see greater awareness of the issues surrounding child protection. We would love to see a continued increase in the knowledge for people to know what to do and what to look out for. That is our underlying goal so everything we do is aimed toward that.’’
Searle said New Zealanders are more aware of the issue than they were 10 years ago; however, people are concerned their hunch about abuse may be wrong.
‘‘It is a big hurdle to overcome... we don’t like to interfere in other people’s lives. But as adults, we have a responsibility to protect the children in our society. In the Waikato, it’s as big of a problem as it is anywhere else.
‘‘At the end of the day, one vulnerable child being abused is one too many,’’ Searle said.
SPENDING QUESTIONED
Waikato District Health Board chief executive Nigel Murray is under scrutiny over alleged unauthorised spending. It’s understood board members were advised of the spending irregularities at a special meeting. DHB chairman Bob Simcock declined to detail what was discussed at the meeting and would only say the meeting related to a ‘‘confidential human resource issue’’.
BOY RACER CURFEW
Bylaws to curb boy racer meets were suggested at a meeting held to quell escalating tensions between residents and boy racers in Hamilton. But both parties say there will be no easy fix to the problem long plaguing the city’s rural outskirts.