HISTORY, HERSTORY, THEIRSTORY
RAPE PREVENTION EDUCATION
RPE formed in the 1970s as Rape Crisis Auckland (RCA) offering free support and counselling to survivors of sexual violence. At the time it was one of the few agencies in Auckland working in the field of sexual violence. From 1980-2000 RCA was a member of the National Collective of Rape Crisis and Related Groups.
During the late 1970s and 1980s several other agencies emerged in Auckland to offer support and counselling to survivors. In the mid-1990s, the Board and Members decided to focus energy on the prevention of sexual violence and no longer provided face-to-face counselling to survivors of sexual violence.
In 2000 Rape Crisis Auckland became disaffiliated from the National Collective of Rape Crisis Groups (which are based on a collective structure). In 2006 RCA formally changed its name to Rape Prevention Education Whakatu Mauri (RPE) and continues to foster a cooperative working relationship with the National Collective of Rape Crisis and Te Ohaaki o Hine-National Network to End Sexual Violence Together ( TOAH-NNEST) in advocating for the elimination of sexual violence.
Since then we have continued to grow and develop our programmes, foremost the BodySafe programme and Dealing with Disclosure trainings for professionals. We have and continue to work with diverse populations across schools, alternative education centres, teen parent units and youth justice facilities.
BODYSAFE
Bodysafe was developed over 10-15 years and is one of the leading prevention programmes in Aotearoa NZ. In 2010 Bodysafe programme was examined by Massey University, having outstanding evaluations, was effective, valued by students, and of high quality.
Now, Bodysafe is in over 23 mainstream schools in Auckland and working with multiple alternative education centres, teen parenting units and youth justice facilities. Bodysafe continues to grow thanks to the huge ongoing support from the schools and centres we work in.
Read more... Or visit the Bodysafe Website.
We are proud to have been a key member of the advisory group that helped form Project Restore. Bodysafe have also contributed to the groundbreaking recommendations and narrative in the book “From ‘Real Rape’ to Real Justice’ supported by the Law Commission.
RPE CHAMPIONS
There has been some people who have been fundamental to the development of RPE and continue to do incredible work in the sexual violence sector we want to acknowledge them here.
Thank you so much for all you have given and all you continue to give for those who have been harmed and are seeking healing.
DR KIM MCGREGOR
Dr Kim McGregor was the Executive Director of Rape Prevention Education Whakatu Mauri (RPE)from Feb 2005 to May 2015 . She contributed to RPE sexual violence prevention programmes including:
- School based programmes BodySafe, Sex ‘n’ Respect Parties and Sex ‘n’ Respect.
- Alternative Education; youth booklet 'Sex ‘n’ Respect Working with Young People to Promote Respectful Relating and Prevent Sexual Violence'.
- Youth website www.SexnRespect.co.nz; whanau and rangatahi programmes (developed by Maori clinical specialists) Tiaki Tinana and Rangatahi & Sexual Health.
- Professional education workshops Dealing with Disclosures and hospitality training 'Safer Communities All Night'
- Worked to raise awareness about sexual violence issues with the National Sexual Violence Survivor Advocate Louise Nicholas.
LOUISE NICHOLAS
Louise Nicholas is the National Survivor Advocate and provides support to ___of survivors across Aotearoa New Zealand. She worked as a Survivor Advocate for RPE from ____ to ____ and did fabulous work with the NZ Police. Her story was also portrayed in the film ‘CONSENT: THE LOUISE NICHOLAS STORY’
The film is superbly shot, with honesty and great sensitivity to the traumatic events that occurred.
We were touched and impressed with the integrity of the film and are proud to stand beside Louise and honour her as a source of inspiration and support for the work that we do. To find out more about Louise, and the survivor advocacy work she does contact:
Because the film includes experiences of sexual violence, many people may feel the need to reach out for support, see our list of services here.
LOUISE NICHOLAS DAY
The date of the Louise Nicholas Day to Review Responses to Sexual Violence, on 31st March each year marks the anniversary of the day in 2006 when three existing and former members of the NZ Police were acquitted on all 20 counts of the sexual violation of Louise.
The annual Louise Nicholas Day to Review Responses to Sexual Violence came about after Women’s Health Action, in 2013, invited the specialist sexual violence sector in Auckland to focus, at their annual Cartwright panel, on the 1 in 100 cases of sexual violence that is likely to result in a conviction. After the panel some of us decided we needed our Own ‘Day’ – an annual event focused on sexual violence. Louise with the courage and tenacity that she represents was the obvious patron.
When we asked Louise in 2013 she was happy to give her name to an annual day that reviewed any progress in dealing with sexual violence. We envisaged that this day could be taken up anywhere in the country. This Day is an opportunity to for any community to review progress in their own area. RPE launched the Inaugural Louise Nicholas Day in 2014. In 2015, the Second Louise Nicolas Day reviewed the 2014 goals and new goals for 2015 were established.