Tuesday, 17 March 2026
Learning Objectives:
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Understand how parental separation can affect a child or young person’s emotional wellbeing, relationships, behaviour and learning, and recognise signs that may emerge in the school environment
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Apply practical strategies to support students experiencing parental separation while understanding relevant parenting responsibilities, parenting orders, guardianship and day-to-day care arrangements
Chair
Peter Kaiser, Principal at Tirimoana School
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD hour
Supporting Children Through Change: Parental Separation
When caregivers separate this can be a significant time of change in a child and young person's life. Understanding the impact of this on their emotional wellbeing, peer relations and learning can be very useful for other key adults in their world.
- Understanding what educators might see in a school environment and how we can support young people, can make a difference on how children navigate and cope through this challenging time.
- Also understanding parents responsibilities, parenting orders and what guardianship and day to day care involves, can be very useful in an educational setting.
Presented by Michelle Melville-Smith, Psychologist/Clinic Coordinator/ Deputy Head of Training NZ, Triple P New Zealand
Presenters
Peter Kaiser, Principal, Tirimoana SchoolMr Kaiser began his teaching career in 1975 training at Auckland Secondary Teachers College and the University of Auckland. He graduated with a BA in History, and post graduate studies in Education, Psychology and Anthropology. He has taught in a number of schools in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, at Secondary, Intermediate and Primary levels. As well, Mr Kaiser taught in Special Education for 5 years and completed a Diploma in Special Education. Mr Kaiser completed his Master of Education in Professional Studies with 1st class Honours at Auckland University. He has been Principal at Tirimoana School for over 25 years. He established and led the Te Atatu Community of Learning with 8 other West Auckland Schools.
Michelle Melville-Smith, Psychologist/Clinic Coordinator/ Deputy Head of Training NZ, Triple P New Zealand
Michelle is a registered psychologist and a member of the New Zealand Psychological Society, an accredited Triple P practitioner and Triple P trainer (International Trainer of the Year, 2007). Michelle currently works for Triple P NZ delivering both clinical work and training practitioners in New Zealand and Internationally. Michelle is highly skilled in consulting on child behavioural, social and emotional issues and working effectively with parents on strategies to cope with these issues. She has worked with whanau referred from Oranga Tamariki, the Family court and Intensive wrap around service in MOE. Michelle has had over 18 year’s experience in working with separated parents via the family court and privately to assist them to develop communication tools with each other and help them to understand the needs of their children. Other areas Michelle works in are couples counselling and working directly with children providing counselling on issues including anger management, social skills, coping with anxiety, and dealing with divorce and separation.
