About SAFE

Overview

SAFE operates the largest community-based professional treatment programme in Aotearoa / New Zealand for both adult and adolescent sex offenders.  SAFE Treatment Programmes are based in Auckland, Hamilton and Whangarei.

Established in the early 1990s, SAFE is a not-for-profit agency that is funded primarily by Government Departments such as Child Youth & Family Services, the Ministry of Health, the Department of Corrections and the Crime Prevention Unit.  We also rely on support from businesses, church groups and the community.

Why SAFE?

SAFE is our name for good reason. Sadly, New Zealand has one of the highest levels of child abuse in the world.  In 2004, Child Youth & Family Services received over 40,000 notifications of possible abuse or neglect, a 23% increase over the previous year. And as the internet becomes increasingly accessible, children have a greater risk from people who abuse in cyberspace.

Research has proven that 93% of abusers who complete one of our treatment programmes are successfully rehabilitated.  Many of these are people with serious psychological dysfunction, intellectual disability or family trauma, requiring an intense level of intervention, so these results are very encouraging.  

Our Goal

Our goal is to have a safe community for our children that’s free of sexual abuse; to not only stop abusers re-offending, but ultimately to break the cycle of abuse and keep future generations safe too. Experience has proven that SAFE’s programmes are an effective way to truly rehabilitate offenders.  Harsh prison sentences don’t solve the problem, nor do they break the cycle of abuse.

Our Team

Our team comprises around 30 clinical psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists and family therapists with many years’ experience in treating sexual abusers.  At any time we are working with around 200 clients, with the average treatment programme taking 12 to 18 months.

Click here for details of our management staff and contact details.  

Our Mission

Our mission is to work with those who have offended in order to prevent further abuse.  Members of the clinical team have presented at national and international conferences, have conducted research on sex offenders and have published articles in professional journals.  

Click here for further information about the Publications authored by members of the SAFE team.

Our Commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi

SAFE acknowledges the Treaty of Waitangi as an agreement which establishes a partnership relationship between Maori and Tau iwi in New Zealand.  The policies and practices of the SAFE Programme will seek to reflect this.  

At SAFE, this will mean that:

• Maori clients and staff will be treated in ways which are culturally safe and respectful
• SAFE will, wherever possible, have Maori clients and families seen by Maori staff
• SAFE will work towards encouraging the development of appropriate treatment services for Maori, both within and outside SAFE
• Maori staff will be encouraged and assisted by training and supervision to develop models of practice which reflect tikanga Maori
• SAFE’s relationships with Maori and/or with Maori organisations will seek to preserve their self-determination and autonomy.

Copyright © 2008, SAFE Network Incorporated (an Incorporated Society)
PO Box 8726, Symonds Street, Auckland, New Zealand
Phone 09 377 9898 • Fax 09 377 9229 • email  info@safenetwork.org.nz