The Ministry of Social Development's (MSD) latest update on "sexual harm" service development provides brief updates on the Kaupapa Māori Harmful Sexual Behaviour Service Pilot tender recipient and progress on the national helpline, as well as other service development.

Kaupapa Māori Harmful Sexual Behaviour Service Pilot tender awarded

Korowai Tūmanako has been awarded the contract for a Kaupapa Māori Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) Service Pilot. The pilot will focus on delivering harmful sexual behaviour services for non-mandated adults within a kaupapa Māori framework. It will be conducted in Te Atatū, Auckland from November 2017 to June 2019. Sapere Research Group will evaluate the pilot, partnering with an independent kaupapa Māori researcher and evaluator.

National helpline to launch in December, Homecare Medical invites provider visits

Homecare Medical, who will run the National Sexual Harm Helpline, have invited providers to visit their Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch centres to learn more about the organisation and their work. See the MSD update for details on arranging a visit. Work continues to develop the 'Safe to Talk' national helpline. It is expected to go live in December 2017 with the launch of the website and support available by phone, email and text. Online chat and social media are expected to launch in March 2018. Find more information about the helpline including the roadshow presentations and answers to questions asked at the sessions on the MSD website.

Other updates include:

• Three-year contracts have been finalised with the existing 33 sexual violence service providers to deliver sexual harm crisis support services.
• Discussions and contract negotiations are underway for some areas where the Ministry has identified gaps in crisis support services. The Ministry will work to engage with organisations in areas where service gaps still remain.
• In partnership with the Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust, the South-South Institute (SSI) on Sexual Violence against Men and Boys is holding their third conference in Christchurch between 5 - 10 November 2017.
• The new Minister of Social Development is Carmel Sepuloni. For other new Ministerial positions related to family violence see our previous news story.

Read the 2 November 2017 full update on the MSD website. You can also read all past updates and sign-up to receive future updates.