Victorian 'Safe Communities' Information Kit
Section 6 - Victorian Safe Communities Network
The Victorian Safe Communities Network [VSCN] was established following the Fifth International Conference on Safe Communities held in Melbourne during February 1996 and hosted by the City of Hume and La Trobe Shire. These municipalities, at that time, were accredited and became designated members of the World Health Organisation’s ‘Safe Communities Network’.
Hume and La Trobe municipalities promote programs in community safety and injury prevention and as foundation members of the Victorian Safe Communities Network have supported the development of comprehensive community safety planning and programs to ensure the safety of the population in local government in Victoria.
VSCN has a charter to encourage local communities, and in particular local government councils, to become members of the Network and designated members of the World Health Organisation’s international network of ‘Safe Communities’.
One of VSCN’s aims is to encourage local communities to work jointly and collaboratively on public safety, crime and violence prevention and injury prevention issues. There are opportunities, strategic and social benefits (not to mention cost savings) in addressing both intentional and unintentional injury within the single framework of healthy public policy and community participation. For example some programs have found cost savings and other health benefits where strategies to improve the safety and security of older people in their homes have been delivered with interventions to prevent home falls, burns and scalds and other home injuries.
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.
Contact details
Barbara Minuzzo
Safety Centre, The Royal Children’s Hospital,
Flemington Road, Parkville Vic 3052
Phone 9345 5193 Fax 9345 5086
Email: vscn.vscn@rch.org.au
For further information about Community Safety Month, check our website
For further information about injury prevention or the World Health Organisation Safe Communities accreditation:
Monash University Accident Research Centre
Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit (VISU)
Tel: (03) 9905 1805
Email: visar.enquire@general.monash.edu.au
www.general.monash.edu.au/muarcOr
The Royal Children’s Hospital Safety Centre
Tel: (03) 9345 5085
Email: safety.centre@rch.org.au
www.rch.org.au/safetycentre