Community Safety Month
Community Safety Month
was initiated in 1996 by the Victorian Safe Communities Network (VSCN) and is currently managed by Safer Communities Unit, Victoria Police.
Local communities, groups, schools, regional services, businesses, state and local government departments and agencies, are encouraged to build community safety partnerships by organising safety activities with other organisations and groups. For those with established partnerships, Community Safety Month provides an ideal opportunity to showcase existing safety programs or develop new ones.
Participation in Community Safety Month will demonstrate your commitment to maintaining Victoria as the safest state in Australia. By promoting safety and safe practices within your community, you will be contributing to increasing the confidence of Victorians about safety.
Community Safety Month practises a partnership-based approach, with over 80% of activities organised in partnership between two or more different organisations, groups or government agencies.
In 2005, nearly 600 organisations were involved in organising over 1,000 safety related activities across Victoria.
Some examples of activities you can organise are:
- Promote Community Safety Month in your organisation’s newsletters and on your website
- Organise a community forum or seminar on a community safety topic of your choice
- Run competitions with a safety theme in your local newspaper or organisation’s newsletter
- Distribute information (flyers/leaflets) to promote your organisation and their safety message
- Undertake safety audits of local areas - home, business, and shopping centre
- Prepare a safety display for your local shopping centre
- Launch safety projects and campaigns in your area
- Run practical workshops on safety, e.g. a self-defence seminar
- Work with other local organisations to jointly promote community safety
- Involve local celebrities or well-known social figures to endorse your event and/or messages
- Create an “open day” style event, enticing the public to get an “inside look” at the safety measures you have in place
Check the Community safety month website www.communitysafetymonth.com.au for more activity suggestions and don’t forget to register your activity.
Community Safety Month 2009
Working together for a safer community 
International Safe Communities Day 1 October 2009
Safe Communities Day was celebrated on 1 October 2009 as an international event to recognise the importance of promoting safety and preventing injuries in local communities.
Safe Communities Day marked the commencement of the 13th Community Safety Month (CSM) in Australia during October 2009. CSM is a time when local communities can showcase their work to develop and implement local solutions for specific local community safety issues. It also provides an opportunity for coalitions at all levels to reflect on their achievements and work on new approaches to achieving a safer, injury free future.
Community Safety Month is a community-based program initiated by the Victorian Safe Communities Network and coordinated by Victoria Police in partnership with the Network. The VSCN and the Safer Communities Unit of Victoria Police coordinated the launch of Community Safety Month 2009 which was conducted by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, the Hon Bob Cameron, together with the Child Safety Commissioner, Bernie Geary, the Chief Fire Officer Tony Murphy, Bryce Moore of Delfin Lend Lease (major CSM sponsor), and VSCN Co-Chairs, Nello Marino and Chief Inspector Alan Kennedy. The Victorian launch was held at Federation Square, Melbourne, on Thursday, 1 October 2009.
 |
| Stakeholder organisations including the Royal Children’s Hospital Safety Centre, Of fice of the Child Safety Commissioner, St John’s Ambulance, Playgroup Victoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria, KidSafe Victoria, and Neighbourhood Watch showcased their events and resources, and CSM banners were presented to participating organisations. Participants were invited to meet the Minister and the Child Safety Commissioner at morning tea after the official launch. |
The aim of the launch was:
1. To give Community Safety Month 2009 a high profile at Federation Square and promote CSM events including Bushfire Action Week, the Weapons Amnesty and Community Safety Family Day at Docklands (Sunday 25 October)
2. To promote safe practices at home, work and play.
3. To enhance confidence in public safety
4. To facilitate partnerships between all levels of Government,
community and the private sector.
5. To provide resources and educational materials on safety initiatives
to the community.
CSM contributes to each of the three primary safety promotion and injury prevention goals to
- adopt risk management behaviours
- create safe environments
- Implement a positive safety culture.
 |
| Adelle Thompson Royal Children’s Hospital Safety Centre, Chief Fire Officer Tony Murphy, Thingle Toodle, Road Safety Mascot, Hon. Bob Cameron MP Minister for Police & Emergency Services, Barbara Minuzzo, The Royal Children’s Hospital Safety Centre, Christine Withers Office Of the Child Safety Commissioner |
The biggest event during Community Safety Month 2009 in Victoria was the Docklands Family Safety Day which attracted over 50,000 visitors. This year, safety professionals from throughout Victoria attended to showcase their services and resources including Consumer Affairs Victoria, the Office of the Child Safety Commissioner, The Royal Children’s Hospital,Safety Centre, the Melbourne, Metropolitan Fire Brigade and Victoria Police.
 |
| Docklands Event picture (R): Christie Ledwith, Consumer Affairs Victoria, Christine Withers, Office of the Child Safety Commissioner, Roz Howe, Consumer Affairs Victoria, Barbara Minuzzo, Royal Children’s Hospital Safety Centre, Bernie Geary, Child Safety Commissioner, A/Snr Sergeant Ben Tayler, Docklands Event Manager |
Community Safety Month is a call to action to work together for a safer community
For more information, visit www.communitysafetymonth.com.au or contact the Safer Communities Unit at Victoria Police on (03)9247 5308 or the Victorian Safe Communities Network Inc. vscn.vscn@rch.org.au or (03) 9345 5193.
Community Safety Month Strategic Plan 2009-2011
The Community Safety Month Strategic Plan 2009-2011 was developed collaboratively by over 40 community safety professionals who participated in a workshop at The Royal Children’s Hospital in January 2009. This plan will provide a framework for conducting CSM over the next 3 years.
For the period 2009-2011, major themes, issues and events have been selected as a guide, while recognising that different communities will give expression to their community safety concerns according to local needs. The major theme is Active safety. The priority issues are Violence prevention, Sports and recreation, Emergency preparedness. The priority event is Community safety expo.
Community Safety Month 2008
Working together for a safer community
 |
| Inspector Myles King of Victoria Police is pictured above demonstrating safe car travel to a young ‘driver’ on the day. |
| International Safe Communities Day - 1 October 2008 |
Safe Communities Day on 1 October 2008 was an international event to recognise the importance of promoting safety and preventing injuries in local communities. Safe Communities Day marked the commencement of the 12th Community Safety Month (CSM) in Australia in October 2008. CSM is a time when local safe community programs can showcase their work to develop and implement local solutions for their specific local community safety issues. It is also an opportunity for coalitions at all levels to reflect on their achievements and to work on new approaches to achieving our preferred injury free future. One of the many highlights in Victoria was the Docklands Family Safety Day which attracted over 50,000 visitors. The various safety promotion stakeholders from throughout Victoria attended and had displays and resources. |
A state level highlight for Community Safety Month 2008 was the 2008 Safe Roads Conference, held in Melbourne. This conference brought together road safety practitioners, researchers and community representatives.
 |
| It was also the occasion for the first viewing of CSM’s new livery with (L-R) conference delegates Jan Shield, Lynne Galanti and Barbara Minuzzo in attendance. |
The international highlight for Community Safety Month 2008 was the gathering of over 500 delegates from around the globe in Christchurch New Zealand for the 17th International Safe Communities Conference, 20-23 October, where they were able to share their experiences and learn more about safe community programs. Check out the website (http://www.conference.co.nz )
Lucy Midolo, City of Wyndham (L) and Barbara Minuzzo (R) caught up with Prof. Andrea Costanzo from Rome’s Societa’ Italiana di Traumatologia della Strada Presidente Docente di Ortopedia e Traumatologia Universita’ “La Sapienza” at the conference.