About Us
Sensei Shane & wife Tessa
At Empowering Kids Australia, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to grow into a confident, respectful, resilient, and compassionate young person.
For more than 20 years, Sensei Shane has dedicated his life to empowering children and strengthening communities through martial arts, education, and practical life skills in New Zealand. As a father of five and a grandfather, he understands the important role parents, caregivers, and educators play in helping children navigate life's challenges.
Shane's passion for this work comes from personal experience. As a child, he was bullied. He lacked confidence, didn't know where to turn for help, and wasn't equipped with the skills to respond. Those experiences inspired a lifelong commitment to ensuring today's children have the knowledge, confidence, and support to stand up to bullying, manage challenges, and believe in themselves.
Together, Shane and his wife, Tessa, have spent years developing practical resources that help children thrive both at school and at home. Their work includes primary school programs, parent courses, educational resources, and the much-loved 'Sensei Shane Says' children's book series.
While Shane is the face of the programs, Tessa works behind the scenes, bringing creativity, educational resources, and practical parenting insights that resonate with parents, caregivers, and educators alike. As a Chartered Accountant, she also oversees the business operations, allowing Shane to focus on what he does best: empowering children and supporting schools.
Together, they've helped hundreds of schools and families build children's confidence, resilience, emotional wellbeing, leadership, and respect for others. Their shared vision is simple, to give every child the life skills they need to thrive, both now and into the future.
Testimonials from some New Zealand schools!
"The Empowering Tamariki Programme with Sensei Shane has been running at St Joseph’s School Waitara for over a year now, and we’ve seen a clear, positive impact on student behaviour and wellbeing. Since introducing the programme, incidents of bullying have reduced, and our wellbeing data shows significant improvements in how our tamariki manage themselves and relate to others. We’ve found it to be a highly effective, values-based programme, and we fully recommend it to other primary schools looking to strengthen positive behaviour and support student wellbeing."
-Â Rachel Gibbons | Principal
St Joseph School Waitara
"Puketapu School has had the privilege of having the Empowering Tamariki Programme in our school over the last year and the results are amazing!
-Â Katherine Pascoe | Principal
Puketapu School, Bell Block
"The Empowering Tamariki Programme has been an invaluable asset to our school for the past two years. Initially introduced to address and reduce playground behaviour incidents across the school, it has far exceeded our expectations. The programme has successfully provided our staff, teachers, students, and wider community with a common language, fostering a more cohesive and understanding environment.  We've seen a profoundly positive impact on our students, who are now equipped with diverse strategies for being a good friend and navigating tricky situations where unkindness arises. The inherent physicality and fun embedded in each lesson truly uplift our students; their excitement to participate is always palpable. As Hauora is a huge focus across our school, the Empowering Tamariki Programme aligns perfectly with our holistic approach to well-being. We are committed to continuing this programme for as long as our community and students benefit from its empowering lessons."
- Natalie Looney | Tumuaki (Principal)
BEd (Teaching), Post Grad. Diploma (Physical Education), Master of Contemporary Education.
Hurangi School, New Plymouth
HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT OUR COURSES?
Let's Talk
If you are interested in any of our courses and want to know more, touch base here!
The best decision you will ever make!