The Christchurch Civic Creche Case
	News Reports Index
	1993 Jan-May
	Television New Zealand February 11 1993 Creche Control Holmes Reporter Tsehai Tiffin Precis Five creche workers from Civic Child Care Centre facing sex charges have been sent for trial in the High Court in Christchurch. Many creches in Christchurch have formulated new sexual abuse guidelines and designing programmes to try and protect both the children and the childcare workers. Shotlist 00:00 GVs pre-school children doing the "bird dance" at the Independent Fisheries Creche in Christchurch V/O REPORTER re five creche workers from Civic Child Care Centre facing sex charges have been sent for trial in the High Court in Christchurch, many crèches in Christchurch have formulated new sexual abuse guidelines and designing programmes to try and protect both the children and the childcare workers . 0:30 I/V Frances Williamson, Independent Fisheries Child Care Centre re we want to keep the children safe and we want to keep the staff safe, parents ask about who is looking after their children . 0:42 I/V Steve Jones, Parent/Management Committee re we had some help from the Early Childhood Development Unit who suggested we develop an early childhood abuse policy . 0:54 GVs children having hands washed . 1:03 WS toileting area with doors taken off . 1:11 WS nappy changing area where a window will be installed for better supervision . 1:19 I/V Miriam MacPherson, Combined Early Childhood Union re no one has looked at what specific changes creches should make . 1:32 REPORTER Tsehai Tiffin to CAMERA re big demand in Christchurch for information on child abuse . 1:56 EXCERPT "Feeling Safe Video" put out by the Early Childhood Development Unit and the police male actor to CAMERA "some people, some big people, when they are around they give you that not safe feeling" . 2:08 I/V Lynda Hebden, parent re I wanted to keep my children safe, it made me think about what creche I put my child in . 2:19 MS Cleo Hebden, daughter at modern Child Care Centre "Te Ao Tamariki Child Care Centre" . 2:30 GVs visitors at this creche have to sign in book and wear a badge . 2:47 GVs mirrors in toileting and sleeping areas for extra security. I/V Christine Chatfield, Te Ao Tamariki Child Care Centre re we tightened things up, we were already doing it, we just took it another step further . 3:03 GVs children screaming playfully at creche . 3:06 I/V Beth Wood, assistant to Doctor Ian Hassall, Child Commissioner, Commission For Children V/O REPORTER re Ministry of Education are preparing guidelines to help creches formulate an abuse policy re I don't think that you should be blaming anyone because they didn't exist before, it takes some crisis, some disaster to draw attention to the fact it is needed . 3:23 MS Christine Chatfield playing with children . 3:37 I/V Beth Wood re my impression was there was some sloppy employment in some sections of early childhood, improving on checking their background, talking to previous employers, making personal contact with referees . 4:04 I/V Frances Williamson, Independent Fisheries Child Care Centre re we ask them on their job application form if they have any previous criminal record . 4:09 GVs staff and children at Independent Fisheries Creche . 4:20 I/V Frances Williamson re it has certainly made us think about it like where we are putting our hands . 4:25 I/V Christine Chatfield re we are hopefully making the children that they are aware of themselves and nobody including staff can to anything that they don't want them to do . 4:39 I/V Frances Williamson re we give them the correct names for their body . 4:49 I/V Christine Chatfield re we have not become distant cold people . 4:59 GVs children at the Independent Fisheries Creche singing a song . 5:19 END.