November 2003

Safety first at juvenile justice centres

Young people and staff in juvenile justice centres and units took part in a range of activities and programs during Community Safety Month.

The activities—funded by Department of Human Services’ Community Care Division through its Juvenile Justice program—focused on a take the steps to safety theme.

During Injury Prevention Week, one of the four weeks—Crime Prevention, Emergency Services and WorkSafe are the others—which make up Community Safety Month, Loddon Mallee JJU launched a project to develop a first aid training package for marginalised young people who lead at-risk life styles.

The project—undertaken with local agencies—will ensure young people have appropriate skills and knowledge to respond to injury or illness with first aid or access appropriate medical services.

First aid training aimed at Aboriginal young people will also be developed.

Young people at Malmsbury JJC took part in a program to help them understand and manage violence and look at alternatives.

Malmsbury also ran a poster competition for a design to promote alternatives to violence and be adopted as the anti-violence motto for the centre.

Northern JJU/Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Limited (VACSAL) received funding for a driver education program for Aboriginal young people.

Aimed at young people with driving offences, the program focused on driver safety and responsibilities on the road and provided learners permits, lessons and licence fees for 10 young people.

Funding in Southern Region will be used to develop a risk assessment framework for transporting young people to appointments.

Parkville Youth Residential Centre staff completed Bronze Medallion and water recreation training to safely supervise young people participating in water sports.

Community Safety Month was initiated in 1996 by the Victorian Safe Communities Network (VSCN) to reduce the risk of crime, violence, emergencies and injuries within the community and increase community confidence about safety through the promotion of safe practices.