PreventEd has a long history of working to prevent sexual violence and create safer environments for children and young people.

RPE formed in the 1970s as Rape Crisis Auckland (RCA) offering free support and counselling to survivors of sexual violence. At the time it was one of the few agencies in Auckland working in the field of sexual violence. From 1980-2000 RCA was a member of the National Collective of Rape Crisis and Related Groups.

During the late 1970s and 1980s several other agencies emerged in Auckland to offer support and counselling to survivors. In the mid-1990s, the Board and Members decided to focus energy on the prevention of sexual violence and no longer provided face-to-face counselling to survivors of sexual violence.

In 2000 Rape Crisis Auckland became disaffiliated from the National Collective of Rape Crisis Groups (which are based on a collective structure). In 2006 RCA formally changed its name to Rape Prevention Education Whakatu Mauri (RPE) and continues to foster a cooperative working relationship with the National Collective of Rape Crisis and Te Ohaaki o Hine-National Network to End Sexual Violence Together ( TOAH-NNEST) in advocating for the elimination of sexual violence.

Today, Rape Prevention Education Whakatu Mauri is becoming PreventEd.

Our new name reflects the evolution of our work and our strong focus on prevention through education. PreventEd brings together the two things at the heart of what we do: preventing harm and building knowledge, skills and confidence through education.

While our name is changing, our commitment remains the same. We continue to work alongside schools, organisations, whānau and communities to support safer environments for children and young people and contribute to the prevention of sexual violence.

Same commitment. New name. A clearer focus on prevention through education.