14 Jun 2009

Expert calls for attitudinal change to family violence

9:58 am on 14 June 2009

An expert in trying to reduce family violence says there has to be a major attitudinal change to the issue.

Helen Hickling from the Child Protection Studies Trust in Hamilton told a community forum on domestic violence in Hastings, that in 2004 New Zealand rated the third worst among OECD countries.

She says despite some improvements the incidence of child abuse is still the fourth worst in the OECD.

Ms Hickling says it's good news that the police, the Ministry of Education and the early childhood education sector have worked jointly to put together a resource for pre-schoolers.

She says the next step is for all health and education professionals to be properly trained in recognising and responding to child abuse.