At Kooyoora, we know that how we communicate, internally and externally, matters. It shapes our relationships, our culture, and our ability to support safer, fairer organisations. In April, our team took part in a full-day communication workshop with Leah Mether, focused on building habits that strengthen trust, clarity, and connection. From that session, we committed to three core behaviours that now guide how we work together across Australia and New Zealand.

Since 2017, Kooyoora has grown from a diocesan initiative into a trusted, independent safeguarding organisation supporting 23 clients across Australia and New Zealand. Built on principles of transparency, fairness, and survivor-focused practice, Kooyoora is now entering a new chapter, defining its own voice and identity as a leader in safeguarding, with a focus on clear communication, adaptability, and ongoing impact.

How can we rebuild trust in our organisations when people feel let down, unheard, or uncertain about their place and value—and what role does an ethics of care play in restoring that connection? When people no longer feel seen, safe, or fairly treated, formal policies and procedural fairness alone may not be enough to repair the damage. This article explores how an ethics of care, a perspective that centres relationships, context, and emotional attentiveness, can offer a deeper, more human approach to rebuilding trust and fairness.

Psychological safety is a core component of Kooyoora’s Abuse Prevention Framework. Drawing on insights from Amy Edmondson and Michaela Kerrissey’s work, this article explores common misconceptions about psychological safety and why getting clear on what it is — and what it isn’t — matters for those working to prevent harm and foster trust.

As part of the launch of Kooyoora’s Abuse Prevention Through Culture Change Framework, we’re pleased to announce that the full suite of framework documents and implementation tools is now available for download. The framework was developed to support organisations in actively building safer cultures—ones that prevent abuse and promote transparency, accountability, and wellbeing. The framework recognises that long-term change happens when prevention is embedded into everyday structures, behaviours, and beliefs.

At Kooyoora, we are committed to delivering professional, compassionate, and high-quality services. Your feedback plays a vital role in helping us understand what we’re doing well and where we can improve. To make the process simpler and more accessible, we’ve created a dedicated Feedback Form. Whether you’ve recently engaged with Kooyoora or simply wish to share your thoughts, this form offers an avenue to provide feedback.

Facilitating meaningful conversations about safeguarding and workplace culture can be challenging. This creative team development exercise engages the whole organisation in thoughtful reflection on the values, norms, beliefs, and behaviours that may contribute to harm in professional settings. By using film as a tool for discussion, teams can explore complex dynamics in a structured and approachable way.

Supporting people through the redress process is a key part of Kooyoora’s work. Redress is the process through which survivors of abuse seek acknowledgement, support, and justice—often involving financial compensation, counselling, and a personal response from the institution involved. We provide independent, trauma-informed assistance to survivors across a range of redress pathways, always with a focus on fairness, transparency, and care. 

Kooyoora Team Spotlight – Get to know the people behind our work as they share insights into their roles, interests, and some fun facts. Meet Raelene.

Left Write Hook is a powerful new Australian documentary following eight female and gender-diverse survivors of childhood sexual abuse as they embark on a two-year recovery program combining boxing and creative writing.

Conflict, whether rooted in past harm or immediate tensions, can be challenging to navigate. While good intentions alone aren’t always enough to mend relationships, there are proven approaches that can help. This Zoom workshop explores mindsets and evidence-based processes drawn from indigenous traditions, Christian theology, and contemporary Restorative Practices to repair harm and foster reconciliation.

Kooyoora Team Spotlight – Get to know the people behind our work as they share insights into their roles, interests, and some fun facts. Meet Julie.

Kooyoora launches the Abuse Prevention through Culture Change Framework, a new initiative helping organisations prevent abuse by fostering safer cultures. Led by CEO Fiona Boyle and developed with experts in safeguarding and child abuse prevention, this framework provides practical tools to assess risks, implement lasting change, and prioritise transparency, accountability, and education.

Pre-employment screening is the first line of defence in creating a safe and trustworthy workplace. Kooyoora’s OSCA (Online Screening Application) streamlines this process, helping organisations verify backgrounds, identify risks, and ensure compliance. Effective screening prevents unsuitable hires and promotes a culture of safety and professionalism. Learn how Kooyoora’s services support risk prevention and workplace integrity.

In this article we have chosen to highlight a film called The Assistant (2019) as an example of the systemic issues that allow abuse to persist within organisations. The film provides a powerful lens through which we can examine how workplace culture, power dynamics, and silence contribute to harm.

As 2024 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to extend our heartfelt thanks for your continued support and collaboration throughout the year. When working in the areas of darkness, we are always amazed at the lightness we find in actions of courage, honesty, selflessness, tenacity and compassion. All part of the jigsaw in creating a safe organisation. Looking back, it has been a year of significant achievements and important milestones for Kooyoora. We’ve made progress in our initiatives and deepened our partnerships. Here are some of our key highlights from 2024.

Kooyoora is proud to present Safeguarding Matters: Live, a new educational forum featuring invited leading experts to encourage deeper engagement with critical safeguarding topics. The inaugural session, held on 27th November 2024, featured Professor Daryl Higgins, Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies at the Australian Catholic University.

As the festive season approaches, organisations are often caught up in planning end-of-year functions, finalising projects, and setting the stage for the new year. While these events offer a chance to celebrate achievements and foster connection, they also present unique challenges, particularly around safeguarding, workplace conduct, and support for individuals affected by trauma. The holiday period can be a time of heightened stress and reflection, and it’s essential for organisations to take proactive steps to create a safe, respectful, and supportive environment.

The Kooyoora Abuse Prevention through Culture Change Framework is an organisational culture change and development program designed to safeguard against harmful behaviours such as sexual abuse, harassment, and misconduct. Its purpose is to guide organisations through a process of meaningful self reflection and continuous improvement to better cultivate a positive and safe culture that is proactive in preventing harm.

The area of professional standards and safeguarding is, without doubt, complex. It is essential that ongoing learning, collaboration, and support are prioritised when working in these areas. At Kooyoora, we’ve had the privilege of connecting with professionals in both New Zealand and England, sharing our experiences and learning from theirs. These exchanges—whether through in-person visits or by hosting delegations from New Zealand—have provided valuable insights into what’s working, what isn’t, and the broader challenges faced in each country.