Resources & Services
CPVA
VisAble’s Child to Parent Violence and Abuse (CPVA) resources
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Safety in the Summer Season resource guide
VA PH 0001
This resource guide provides some practical ideas and strategies to help professionals when supporting people during the summer season, along with some tools that may mitigate the risk of harm.
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Child to Parent Violence and Abuse: New Zealand’s invisible family violence Report, 2024
VA CPVA 0001
This is a comprehensive report on Child to Parent Violence and Abuse (CPVA) in New Zealand (2024).
Lee Tempest
June 2024 -
The Impacts of Child to Parent Violence and Abuse in Aotearoa New Zealand
VA CPVA 0002
A summary of VisAble’s 2025 survey: The parent/caregiver voice – the first CPVA data collection in Aotearoa New Zealand, highlighting the impacts of CPVA on our families and whānau.Lee Tempest & Olivia Bloom
June 2025 -
CPVA - at a glance
VA CPVA 0003
This factsheet provides a concise overview of Child to Parent Violence and Abuse (CPVA), helping families, professionals, and community services understand the behaviours, impacts, and support options available.
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A resource for parents and caregivers
VA CPVA 0004
This booklet offers parents and caregivers living with Child to Parent Violence and Abuse (CPVA) a compassionate, supportive guide to help them feel understood, less alone, and empowered to advocate for their family and whānau.
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A resource for professionals
VA CPVA 0005
This booklet provides professionals with a clear overview of Child to Parent Violence and Abuse (CPVA), highlighting effective approaches and strategies you can use to support whānau and prioritise their safety.
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CPVA guidance for professionals
VA CPVA 0006
This factsheet helps parents and caregivers explain Child to Parent Violence and Abuse (CPVA) to the professionals they’re working with, so the support can be realistic, practical, and sensitive to the trauma their family has experienced.
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CPVA peer support group
VA CPVA 0007
This factsheet gives information on our peer support group, which provides a safe, non-judgemental space where parents and caregivers are understood, can be heard, and find support while navigating Child to Parent Violence and Abuse (CPVA).
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Christmas and CPVA
VA CPVA 0008
This factsheet offers practical advice and techniques to help parents and caregivers manage the Christmas period and holidays, when tensions may rise and the risk of violence can increase due to changes in routine.
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CPVA Training Module 1: Introduction to Child to Parent Violence and Abuse (CPVA)
VA CPVA 0009
This is a 2-hour training session presented online or face-to-face for professionals who may encounter CPVA in their work.
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CPVA Training Module 2: CPVA risk assessments and safety planning
VA CPVA 0010
This is a comprehensive, full-day training session, available face-to-face or online, for professionals who provide risk assessments and safety planning with families and whānau experiencing Child to Parent Violence and Abuse (CPVA).
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CPVA Training Module 3: Providing support for neurodivergent families or whānau experiencing CPVA
VA CPVA 0011
This 2.5-hour ‘advanced’ training session provides a trauma-informed lens to help professionals effectively support neurodivergent families / whānau experiencing Child to Parent Violence and Abuse (CPVA), and is available online or face-to-face.
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Report child to parent violence
External resources
CVPA Resources and services
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All family members will have highly aroused central nervous systems if they live in a violent home. It is exhausting being hypervigilant all the time, trying to avoid potential triggers and de-escalating situations.
When our nervous systems are in balance we can efficiently respond to stress and recover quickly. Chronic stress/trauma leads to an over exposure to cortisol and other stress hormones which can disrupt our body’s processes leading to physical and emotional exhaustion. There are techniques we can use to support and calm our nervous system which increases our capacity to respond to stress better.
Some of these include mindfulness, trauma informed yoga, vagus nerve massage/movement, breathing techniques and exercise.
SomaPsych can work one to one with individuals or in groups to teach short, quick and highly effective techniques for overall nervous system support, vagal toning for down-regulation, and physiological recalibration for increased emotional regulation.
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Parent/caregivers can refer yourself to a local Family Violence organisation where free support and counselling may be available. They may also be able to refer you to other agencies for further support. Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga/National Network of Family Violences Services provides information on what family violence services are
available in your area. They can be contacted online at Our Member Agencies – Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga, the National Network of Family Violence Services (nnfvs.org.nz) or by ringing (03) 391 0040.
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Refer to Strengthening Families to access targeted support from more than one agency. The aim is to agree on a plan that is tailored to meet the family/ whānau need and to ensure plans are followed. More information can be found at Strengthening Families
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Some marae offer health, education, justice and social services. As these services are available to meet the needs of the local community they serve, they may offer more flexible approaches to support than some organisations.
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Explore Wellbeing - Explore offers a nationwide range of services for the disability community, their family and supporters.
These include drug and alcohol support, psychology and wellbeing, community mental health, autism support and specialist behaviour support.
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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - Care Action Network - There is a high prevalence of CPVA in the FASD community in New Zealand with 57% of parents disclosing violence (Gibbs, 2024).
FASD-CAN offer support to both parents and professionals through peer support groups and access to education and resources.
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Altogether Autism - Trusted Autism Information and Advice - Providing education resources for the individual, their families, and professionals. They host a wide range of workshops which can be tailored to meet specific needs.
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Autism NZ - Offers information on autism educational resources, diagnosis, transition services, and online peer support groups. It is available to autistic people, family and their support networks including professionals.
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ADHD NZ - Provides information and education on ADHD including a directory of ADHD experienced professionals.
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Brain Injury New Zealand - Offers support and resources to individuals and their families.
Peer-to-peer support groups are available.
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NATINA is a registered charitable trust established in 2023. Their purpose is to promote, support, educate and advocate for neuroscience and trauma informed approaches to create safe, inclusive, holistic, thriving learning spaces & communities.
They endeavour to support the adults (whānau & professionals) who care for and educate children so they can be more inclusive, trauma informed and prevent harm.
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Not Fit for Purpose: Disability Rights Abuse of Children Living with FASD in New Zealand by Ruby King (2023) which can be ordered through the library or by emailing ruby.king@myyahoo.com Quotes from Ruby’s book have been used on this website.
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Decoding Aggression, Complex Behaviours and Brain-Based Disabilities by Maude Champagne (2025)
Recommended international websites
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PEGS UK is a social enterprise committed to supporting parents, carers and guardians impacted by Child to Parent Abuse.
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AFCCA has been established as a response to aggression by children and adolescence towards family and caregivers. Canadian website.
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America based CPVA website.
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Holes in the Wall UK is a one stop shop for everything relating to CPVA including latest research.
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Newbold Hope UK supports parents and professionals to reduce violent and difficult in children and young people with a disability and/or an additional need.
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UK based. PATCH (Passionate Adopters Targeting Change with Hope) challenges systemic failures in adoption by empowering adoptive families, advocating for meaningful reform, and pushing for the delivery of the support every child and family needs to thrive.