Victorian Safe Communities Network
Inc
- Invitation
- Program
Injury (intentional and unintentional)
in our homes, at work and school, during
sport and leisure activities, on the
road and in public places is a significant
cause of death, illness and disability
in our community. The harm from injury
particulary affects children and young
adults.
In 2001, there were 1,638 injury
deaths, 93,208 injury hospital admissions
(excluding re-admissions) and 189,735
Emergency Department (ED) injury presentations.
The direct treatment cost to Victoria
of these deaths and hospital-treated
injury cases was at least $952 million.
The total lifetime cost (direct and
indirect) was at least $3.1 billion.
Most of these deaths and injuries are
preventable. The Victorian Safe Communities
Network (VSCN) is dedicated to making
Victoria a safer place in which to live,
work and play.
VSCN is a forum for practitioners,
researchers, government and state-wide
agencies working in areas such as community
based injury prevention and community
safety promotion. Issues covered by
VSCN member organisations include farm,
home, road, workplace and sports injury
prevention and child and seniors safety.
Crime and violence issues include crime
prevention through environmental design
(CPTED), safety in public spaces and
venues, domestic and public violence
and drug and alcohol harm minimisation.
The general members of the Network meet
quarterly and an executive committee
meets bi-monthly.

The main functions of the VSCN are:
- Mutual support and communication
- Exchange of information on effective
interventions and useful resources
- Diffusion of best practice in community
safety
- Advocacy on injury prevention and
community safety issues to the government
and the community.
The Safe Communities concept began
its formal existence at the First World
Conference on Accident and Injury Prevention
held in Stockholm, Sweden in September
1989. The Manifesto for Safe Communities,
the resolution of the conference, states
that "All human beings have an equal
right to health and safety." The WHO
safe communities movement is worldwide.
The VSCN will assist member communities
to become part of this movement.
THE AIC/VSCN CONFERENCE FINAL PROGRAM. YOUNG PEOPLE, CRIME AND COMMUNITY SAFETY: engagement and early intervention 25-26th Feb 2008 (118kb)