Victorian Safe Communities Network Inc
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.
Injuries are the largest single cause of death in the persons aged 1-44 years in Victoria and a major cause of morbidity (illness) and disability. Social factors such as socioeconomics statue (SES) are increasingly being viewed as fundamental causes of premature death and illness and there is a growing body of evidence linking residential location with health outcomes.
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.
VISION
The VSCN is recognised as the leading community safety organisation in Victoria.
MISSION
The VSCN will support members to implement effective interventions which promote community safety.
DEFINITION AND SCOPE
Community safety is characterised by commuity-wide participation in developing and devlivering initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of populations at the local level in order to reduce theimpact of unintentional injury, crime, violence and emergency situations on communities.
Promoting the intergration of community safety principles and practice into existing plans, policies, programs and strategies of governement and non goverment organisations and agencies is fundamental to the work of VSCN.
VSCN PRIORITIES 2011-2013
Four strategic priorities were identified for focus over the three years of the plan, along with the objectives to implement these priorities.
1.Disseminating and sharing best practice in community safety
- Conducting regular seminars and conferences which provide opportunities to present best practice in implementing community safety initiatives
- Disseminating currrent information regularly
- Encouranging members to share information and activities
- Develpoing a communications strategy
2. Providing advice and support to communities seeking formal accreditation as safe communities
- Developing cooperative relationships with international, regional and national certifying bodies
- providing information and independent advice to support prospective and accredited safe communities
- Fostering stronger relationships with community safety agencies
- Endorsing evidence-based initiatives of community safety partners
3. Encouraging partnerships to maximise the community safety impact of specific projects
- Providing opportunities for collaborative work on policy and advocacy efforts
- Supporting the ongoing participation in, and activities of, national and international community safety stakeholders
- Promoting the VSCN in various media
4.Promoting the critical role of community safety expertise in optimising health and safety outcomes for communities
- Promoting Community Safety Moth through government, business and community organisations
- Supporting special interest groups (SIGs) inkey areas, eg. Community Safety Month, safe communities accreditation
- Identifying special issues for Executive Committee attention, eg. supporting the development of key injury and safety promotion priorities for inclusion instatewide strategic approaches
INTRODUCTION
The Victorian Safe Communities Network (VSCN) is an independent membership-based incorporated association of practitioners, reasearchers, and policymakers from diverse sectors working in community safety.
The VSCN was etablished to give community safety professionals a forum for support and learning when Victoria's first two municipalities were designated as World Health Organization Safe Communities in 1996.
The VSCN's role is to support government, business and comunity to promoted safety strategies which aim to minimise theimpact of unintentional injury, crime, violence and emergency situations.
The network approaches community safety within the guiding principles of healthy public policy, community participation and intersectoral collaboration.
This, the VSCN's third strategic plan, expresses the network's priorities for 2011-2013 and builds upon the foundation of the achievements of the past.
The plan was developed by the collaborative effort of 27 VSCN members at a facilitated workshop on 19 November 2010, edited and endorsed by the VSCN Executive Committee.
Commander Frank Stockton and Lucy Midolo, Co-Chairs, December 2011
ABOUT THE VSCN
The Victorian Safe Communities Network (VSCN) was established to give community safety professionals a forum for support and learning when Vcitoria's first two municipalities were designated as World Health Organization Safe Communities in 1996.
The VSCN's role is to support government, business and community to promote safety strategies which aim to minimise the impacet of unintentional injury, crime, violence and emergency situations for all Victorians.
The network approaches community safety within the guiding principles of healthy public policy, community praticipation and intersectoral collaboration.
An eight member elected Executive Communittee supported by a Secretariat manages the VSCN
Principle achievements 1996-2006
The achievements of the first decade are summarised in the words of one member – the Network has become a mature, confident, competent, passionate, strong and unique organisation.
- Sustaining the Network for over 10 years.
- Securing a sound financial base for its operations.
- Sharing information and ideas between members.
- Providing communications channels between government and community.
- Supporting Community Safety Month for 10 years.
- Modelling a collaborative culture in its interactions with members.
- Providing professional development, education and support to members and new community safety professionals.
- Harnessing the diverse skills of its members.
- Retaining its independent voice.
- Upgrading its communications via email and the website.
- Establishing linkages with national and international colleagues and networks.
Challenges
The Network commits its members to respoind to the challenges that will present themselves over the coming years. We predict these to include:
- Maintaining financial and human resourcing.
- Sustaining and developing Community Safety Month
- Retaining the independence of the Network.
- Continuing to meet our members changing needs and priorities.
- Developing a strong advocacy role, particularly with governments.
- Continuing to consult on key government policies and plans.
- Building the profile of network.
- Achieving an integrated and coordinated approach with different sectors.
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.
Constitution 1999- (PDF 3,119KB)