Grants boost Community Safety Week activities

Department of Human Services’ Community Care Division provided grants to a range of funded agencies and juvenile justice centres for Community Safety Week activities.

The activities varied from workplace safety audits to safety workshops for women, young mothers and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Juvenile justice centres conducted an alternatives to violence program, First Aid and Bronze Medallion courses, fire awareness sessions and an ‘open house.’

YMCA and the Whitelion mentoring programs focused on sports safety.

Now in its fifth year, Community Safety Week gives local communities the chance to take simple and effective steps towards making Victoria a safer place.

This year, more than 650 events throughout Victoria promoted messages highlighting crime prevention and safety in the home themes.

The Public Health Division’s Injury Prevention Program funded a community grants scheme for local governments—in partnership with local services, retailers and community organisations—to hold events to raise awareness of unintentional injury prevention issues.

The Department’s Fleet Management and Work Health units organised a driver safety seminar for Department of Human Services staff.

The Office of Housing provided small grants to more than 25 neighbourhood houses, residents’ associations and other housing groups to organise a range of safety activities and forums for Office of Housing residents.

Premier Steve Bracks launched a fire awareness session in the Office of Housing’s Nelson Place High-rise in Williamstown, Rural Ambulance Victoria launched a sticker to inform the public of what to do when calling an ambulance and the Metropolitan Ambulance Service presented a series of free emergency medical planning workshops for small business and industry.

Bronwyn Pike, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health, presented the Metropolitan Ambulance Service Community Hero Awards and in Northern Metropolitan Region Minister for Community Services Christine Campbell launched Women’s Help Cards in eight community languages to help women victims of family and domestic violence access appropriate services.

The Department’s DisAbility Services Division re-printed the publication Fire Safety in the Home–For Families of Carers of People with Disabilities.

Community Safety Week is coordinated by Crime Prevention Victoria in the Department of Justice.

It was launched by Minister for Police and Emergency Services Andre Haermeyer and Health Minister John Thwaites.