KRISTI MCVEE

CHILD SAFETY EXPERT

I spent 10 years in the police force as a Specialist Child Interviewer and a Detective Senior Constable.

When I retired from the force, I knew there had to be a better way to support children and families. I wanted to take a proactive approach, rather than the reactive method of 'locking up' the bad guy after the damage was done. By focusing on prevention, I could help stop child abuse before it starts and break the cycle of trauma that victims are so often subjected to.

In addition to my time in the force, I’ve appeared on TV as a Child Safety Expert and have worked as an Online Safety Specialist. In that role, I presented to students from years 3-12 about online safety and also delivered talks to parents and teachers.

I’m not just a presenter; I’m a facilitator – passionate about driving this message and bringing experts together to keep kids safe. I don’t shy away from the real talk with adults either (brace yourselves – I’m known for a bit of swearing!).

At home, I have an incredible family, including my teen daughter, my very supportive husband, and my emotional support dachshund, Duke. I’m deeply passionate about youth mental health and have even mentored on youth camps.

My decade of working directly with kids, listening to their stories of trauma as a specialist child interviewer and investigator, took a toll. Eventually, I had to step away from the front-line duties. But what I couldn’t walk away from was the knowledge of the suffering so many kids endure, and my commitment to doing everything in my power to prevent it.

That’s why I founded CAPE-AU – to provide parents, caregivers, and guardians with the education, tools, and strategies they need to protect children from sexual abuse and work towards a safer future for all kids.

KRISTI'S VALUES

Integrity is at the heart of my work as a Child Safety Expert. I believe in doing what is right, even when no one is watching, and this unwavering commitment guides every decision and action I take. Integrity ensures that I approach sensitive topics with honesty, fairness, and respect, building trust with the families, educators, and communities I support.

Authenticity is essential in my mission to educate and protect children. I bring my true self to every conversation, openly sharing my experiences and insights from over 14 years of frontline work as a child abuse detective. My genuine approach helps break down barriers, creating a space where families feel comfortable, connected, and empowered to engage in meaningful discussions about child safety.

Communication is the foundation of my work. I believe that knowledge is power, and that power is amplified when information is shared clearly and compassionately. I specialise in making complex safety topics accessible and easily actionable for parents, caregivers, and educators. By fostering open communication, I empower families with the tools they need to protect their children, creating a safer environment for everyone involved.

Your friendly neighbourhood ex police officer

KRISTI'S WHY

It's hard to describe my 'why' without sharing the motivation for my mission.

During my time in the police as a detective and specialist child interviewer, interviewing and talking to children and victim survivors, hearing their stories of abuse and trauma, I saw and felt the true impact of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

The pure devastation, the feelings of helplessness, the torture of not knowing earlier, not stopping the abuser sooner, not having someone safe to talk to, tore most of their lives apart.

Children are so resilient but child sexual abuse leaves a devastating and lifelong impact on it's victim's.

When I retired from the police, I couldn't walk away. I couldn't forget what I had witnessed and heard and I couldn't stand by and do nothing, especially when I know that we CAN do something about child sexual abuse.

So I started writing a book...

Well actually it started as ideas and some random word documents, but over time turned into a book for parents.

Operation KidSafe - a detective's guide to child abuse prevention was born from my need to share everything I knew with parents.

It's truly a labour of love and shared with the utmost respect to all of the families and victim's I had the privilege of serving, whilst I was in the police.

I soon realised once the book was complete, that the book on it's own was not enough and so my journey of advocacy and prevention education began and for now, the rest of the story is still being written.

I continue to share my experiences, my thoughts and my knowledge with parents, caregivers, professionals and anyone who will listen through my social media, keynote presentations, events, webinars and podcast.

My 'why' is more simple than I realised... I want to help you prevent your CHILD (or a child close to you) from ever having to sit across a table from a detective like me, telling them the worst things that ever happened to them.

I want to help YOU prevent them from being abused.

KRISTI IN THE MEDIA

CONNECT WITH KRISTI

Stay up to date by following Kristi on social media, where she shares valuable tips, resources, and insights on child safety. Click on the links below to follow Kristi and join the fight against child sexual abuse.

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