PAFT in New Zealand
History
The PAFT programme started in New Zealand in 1991.
In 1993, Early Childhood Development (ECD)1 was contracted by the Ministry of Education to establish the New Zealand PAFT National Centre. The goal was for the centre to manage, coordinate and monitor PAFT programmes in New Zealand.
ECD negotiated with the Missouri PAT National Centre to:
- gain official recognition as the New Zealand PAFT National Centre, enabling it to manage the future training of PAFT parent educators
- make adaptations ECD believed were necessary to modify the Missouri programme for use with New Zealand families, including Māori and Pasifika families.
PAFT in New Zealand today
Curriculum
New Zealand now has its own PAFT curriculum, Āhuru Mōwai and Born to Learn.
- Ahuru Mōwai is the Māori dimension and is researched from traditional child bearing and rearing beliefs and practices.
- Born to Learn contains up-to-date neuroscience, child development and parenting information derived from western pedagogy.
The curriculum has undergone several reviews to ensure that the information on aspects such as child development, health checks and immunisations, and safety regulations and recommendations, is consistent with New Zealand requirements (eg, for car seat restraints and immunisation schedules).
Training/professional development
New Zealand trainers train new parent educators.
- Initial training on delivering the PAFT programme is provided to each new parent educator.
- Ongoing professional development is provided annually for all parent educators.
Resources
Key PAFT information handouts are available in English, Māori and seven Pasifika languages.
Contracts
The PAFT National Centre manages and monitors 25 contracts with various organisations that deliver the PAFT programme in 36 locations throughout the country.
Measuring success
As at mid-2007, more than 51,000 families had been involved in PAFT.
Monitoring the delivery of the PAFT programme
Each programme has in place sound administrative and support processes and procedures. These include the regular reporting process, annual reviews, monitoring visits and parent surveys.
These processes and procedures enable data to be collected and monitored, and the quality of the programme being provided to families to be monitored.
As of 1 July 2008, the PAFT National Centre became part of the Ministry of Social Development. It was transferred from the Ministry of Education to Family and Community Services, the part of the Ministry that focuses on early intervention and prevention services, to better align early intervention and positive parenting services for families.
