The mother of murdered Otago University student Sophie Elliott has teamed up with police for an anti-dating violence programme police hope will enter the secondary school curriculum.
The programme was created by Wellington police after Detective Inspector Mike Arnerich attended a family violence conference in Australia and viewed a government-funded anti-dating violence DVD, which he believed could apply to teenagers and dating violence in New Zealand, the New Zealand Police Association newsletter said.
Mr Arnerich brought the DVD back and a programme was created by police and launched in early May at Wellington's Onslow College, with Lesley Elliott as a guest speaker on the impact of dating violence.
Mrs Elliott's daughter Sophie died after being stabbed 216 times by her ex-boyfriend, Clayton Weatherston, in January 2008.
The programme educated students on the signs of abusive relationships and advice on what to do.
Mr Arnerich hoped to see the programme rolled out in other schools but it was difficult to get schools and the Ministry of Education to devote time to such projects.
NZPA