Vine Quick Reads: 22 August 2025

Vine Quick Reads: 22 August 2025

Welcome to our Quick Reads format. Each week we share selected news bites relevant to family violence and sexual violence in Aotearoa.

Consultation open on the draft New Zealand Disability Strategy 2026-2030

Whaikaha | Ministry of Disabled People is seeking feedback on the draft New Zealand Disability Strategy 2026-2030. Feedback will inform the shape of the final strategy, which will then go to Cabinet for approval. You can read the draft strategy in plain text, NZSL, audio format, braille, easy read, and large print. There are also several options for providing feedback, including via online form, online and in-person meetings, and by video submission. The closing date for submissions is Sunday 28 September 2025.

First round of Social Investment Fund opening

The first round of the Social Investment Fund will open for new investment applications on 25 August 2025 with a focus on children of families with complex needs. Applicants will need to demonstrate that their proposals will focus on one or more of the following priority groups:

• children whose parent(s) are currently or have recently been in prison
• children of parent(s) who experienced the care system
• children that were stood down or suspended from school when they were 12 or younger.

The priority outcomes are improved health, greater safety, ensuring stable and secure housing, improving knowledge and skills, growing income and wealth, and supporting people into work. More information on the application process is available online. For further questions, contact the Fund at info@sia.govt.nz. Applications close Tuesday 23 September 2025.

Change in ACC eligibility for survivors of sexual abuse

ACC have amended the date from which a victim-survivor of sexual abuse is eligible for financial support in response to a Court of Appeal ruling. Previously, to receive weekly loss of potential earnings (LOPE) payments under ACC, survivors had to seek treatment for mental injury arising from childhood sexual abuse before they turned 18. Eligibility is now based on the date of mental injury suffered (i.e. often the date the abuse or assault occurred) rather than the date treatment was first sought. Victim-survivors of childhood sexual abuse who were previously ineligible may now be eligible to receive LOPE. If you think you might be eligible for LOPE, contact ACC: sensitiveclaims@acc.co.nz and 0800 735 566.

New report on family violence policing in Victoria, Australia

A new research report has been published by Flat Out: Harm in the Name of Safety: Victorian family violence workers’ experiences of family violence policing (2025). The report raises concerns about widespread police responses that undermine victim-survivor safety. The report argues for alternative community-based response pathways for victim-survivors.

Short film released about engaging with tāngata whai ora from the rainbow community

Te Pou, in collaboration with InsideOUT, has developed the short film, Be a Star. This film is intended to help people provide safe, affirming support to tāngata whai ora from the rainbow community. In the film, members of the rainbow community share the positive impacts of affirming interactions with kaimahi when seeking mental health and/ or addiction support. The webpage also links to resources for those wanting to learn more.

New report from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner on digital child exploitation

The eSafety Commissioner, Australia's independent regulator for online safety, has released a new report: A Baseline for online safety transparency: the first regular report on child sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual extortion (2025). The report details the significant gaps in the efforts of large tech companies to combat the sexual exploitation of children on their platforms. For an overview of the report’s findings, see media release, Tech giants are still making minimal efforts to tackle the growing scourge of online child sexual abuse.