Jude Simpson MNZM was nine when her stepmother began beating her.
By the time she turned 14 she had been stripped of her self-worth. Jude was demeaned, despised and abused for so many years, she couldn¡¯t see a way out.
But an intervention changed her life.
After being arrested on charges in relation to a robbery, which nearly saw her imprisoned, Jude was sent on a course by the Ministry of Social Development.
She was introduced to the facilitator of the programme ¨C and it was a major turning point.
¡°Something in my life needed to change, but I just didn't know what and I didn't know how,¡± she says.
¡°I went to that course and met a fabulous woman, Debs Chase-Patterson, who changed my life. That was nearly 20 years ago. I feel incredibly lucky she came into my life and gave me an opportunity.¡±
Jude, 58, a mother and grandmother from Papamoa, is now lead Family Harm Facilitator for Police at the Royal 51½ÖÉä College (RNZPC).
In her work, she has been able to draw on her personal experience as a victim of abuse to help educate recruits before they are dispersed to districts.
Jude Simpson in the RNZPC crime house, leading recruit training.
She was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the prevention of domestic violence in June 2018.
She has also been a family violence prevention advocate for the Ministry of Social Development¡¯s ¡®It¡¯s not OK¡¯ campaign and she was the lead facilitator and educator of the ¡®How to Help¡¯ workshops.
She has also written a book - Lost and Found: A Woman's Living Proof - which talks about how she has got to where she is today.
Jude has spent years providing expert advice to senior Police management. Since 2014, she has worked full-time for Police as the lead family harm facilitator at the RNZPC, having held the role part-time for about eight years.
In this role, she has been responsible for the design and delivery of family harm and prevention training to Police recruits.
¡°Jude¡¯s work with our recruits during initial training has a profound impact on them,¡± says Inspector Dean Clifford, General Manager Training.
¡°Her story, her commentary and her role-play evokes a call to action for students when dealing with wh¨¡nau experiencing harm and anchors their learnings across a range of subjects.¡±
Jude says her message for the recruits is to have them understand what happens around family violence.
¡°It's about taking them through a story of family violence to help educate, raise awareness and develop empathy,¡± she says.
"I just want our recruits to keep their hearts soft and understand why some people are how they are because of their life.¡±
Canterbury District Commander Superintendent John Price helped recruit Jude into her role in his previous position as National Manager of Training and Development at the RNZPC.
¡°After conducting a training needs analysis it was clear the curriculum and delivery model for recruit training needed to reflect operational policing,¡± he says. ¡°Therefore, the programme needed a strong focus on family violence and it needed a champion.
¡°Jude was our champion."
Jude talks about her story in this video...
HOW TO GET HELP
Red flags / high risk factors to be aware of, include:
- Stalking
- Strangulation
- Coercive and controlling behaviour
- Suicide/homicide threats
- Intimidation
- Child abuse
- Sexual assault
- Worsening violence ¨C more severe, more frequent
- Intense jealousy or possessiveness
- Use of weapons
- Animal/pet abuse
- Alcohol/drug/mental health issues
- Community issues/isolation
- Pregnancy/new birth
- Victim voicing fear of harm
- Separation
If you suspect someone close to you is a victim of family violence or feel something is not right, it¡¯s okay to act on it ¨C you could save a life. Call 111 or visit