.avif)
About Us
New Zealand facilitators – Leigh, Jaron and Jo
Be There Aotearoa brings a proven international approach to building respectful, safe cultures — grounded in the realities and values of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Be There was originally developed in Australia by Be There Group, where it has been successfully delivered across hundreds of workplaces, schools, communities, and government settings. The programme is recognised for translating evidence into practical, real-world action — helping everyday people step in early, safely, and effectively.
In 2024, RISE Living Safe became the exclusive partner and licensed provider of Be There in Aotearoa New Zealand.
RISE brought Be There to Aotearoa because it aligns strongly with RISE’s long-standing commitment to early intervention, prevention, and mana-enhancing practice. With more than 38 years’ experience in family and sexual violence prevention, RISE ensures the programme is not simply imported — but thoughtfully adapted, culturally grounded, and accountable to local communities.
Together, this partnership combines international evidence with local integrity — supporting workplaces, schools, and communities to build cultures where respect is modelled, harm is addressed early, and people know how to be there for one another.
Our Shared Belief
Everyone has a role to play in shaping the culture around them.
When people know how to notice harm, respond safely, and support one another, everyday environments become safer and more respectful.
Be There Aotearoa brings:
-
International evidence and success
-
Local values and cultural adaptation
-
Practical tools and training grounded in real-world settings
All with a single goal:
to move from silence to support, and from intention to action
The RISE team behind the Be There programme in New Zealand.
Our New Zealand Team
Leigh Manson is the Lead for Be There NZ and an experienced facilitator specialising in behaviour change, prevention, and culture leadership. With over 20 years’ experience across the health and social sectors, she has designed and delivered large-scale training and systems initiatives. Leigh works with senior leaders, boards and frontline teams to translate values into everyday practice. Her facilitation style is clear, practical and engaging — creating spaces where people can build confidence, accountability and shared responsibility. She is committed to embedding bystander capability as a foundation for safer, more respectful cultures.
Jaron Steffens is a senior facilitator for Be There NZ with a background in psychology, education and behaviour change. He has facilitated healthy relationships programmes nationally and brings experience in multi-agency family harm response, mental health coaching and performance mentoring. Jaron combines evidence-informed insight with an engaging, practical style that resonates across workplaces, schools and community settings. He supports leaders, teams and young people to understand how group dynamics shape behaviour — and how bystander action can shift culture. His work is focused on building confidence, accountability and positive change within organisations and communities.
Jo Whitfield is a senior facilitator for Be There NZ with more than 15 years’ experience in violence prevention, behaviour change and group facilitation. Since joining RISE in 2007, she has delivered non-violence and safety programmes across community and professional settings. Her background spans advocacy, therapeutic group work, adventure-based learning and leadership in youth and community services. Joelene brings calm authority, practical insight and deep relational skill to her facilitation, helping organisations translate values into everyday action. She is passionate about equipping people with the confidence and shared language needed to build safer, more respectful communities.
Our Australian Partners
Be There was founded in Australia by educators and social-change experts who believed that preventing violence and discrimination begins with everyday leadership. Developed and evaluated by Griffith University, the BeThere framework equips people to “call in, check in, switch and champion” — turning awareness into daily action.
In Australia, BeThere Group is a recognised leader in the prevention of harassment, discrimination, and violence across workplaces, schools, communities, and institutions. As a proven, market-tested provider of violence prevention, gender equality, and respectful culture training, they empower organisations to embed lasting cultural change through the lens of the active bystander.
The team at Be There Group (Australia)
Be There Group is a recognised leader in the prevention of harassment, discrimination, and violence across workplaces, schools, communities, and institutions. As a proven, market-tested provider of violence prevention, gender equality, and respectful culture training, we empower organisations to embed lasting cultural change through the lens of the active bystander.
With a team of over 20 expert facilitators across Australia and New Zealand, our approach is evidence-based, trauma-informed, and guided by the voices of lived experience. Grounded in primary prevention, Be There Group training addresses the drivers of harm while equipping individuals with the skills to recognise, challenge, and prevent disrespectful behaviours.
It’s our mission to empower people to recognise harmful behaviours, respond safely, and lead cultures grounded in our three values:
Manaakitanga
Care
Whanaungatanga
Connection
Kotahitanga
Unity
How our programmes work
Kaupapa-led
Guided by Te Ao Māori principles to ensure every workshop strengthens mana and connection.
Co-designed and adaptive
Tailored for different industries, schools, and communities.
Evidence-based
Drawing on Griffith University evaluation data and WorkSafe NZ psychosocial-risk research.
Person-centred and trauma-informed
Designed with safety, dignity, and wellbeing at the core.
Powered by RISE.
Internationally proven. Grounded in Aotearoa
Be There was developed in Australia and has been successfully delivered across hundreds of workplaces, communities, schools, and government settings — supporting culture change and safer environments at scale.
In 2024, RISE became the exclusive partner and licensed provider of Be There programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand.
With more than 38 years’ experience preventing family and sexual violence, RISE brings deep local knowledge, kaupapa Māori approaches, and strong relationships across communities, workplaces, and government. Their leadership ensures Be There is not simply imported — but carefully adapted, culturally grounded, and accountable to the realities of Aotearoa.
This partnership combines international evidence with local integrity — strengthening the programme’s mana, safety, and impact.
Get in touch to see
how we can help your team.