2009 Community Safety Month
During the month, events and safety activities are hosted by local community groups, schools, councils, businesses, government agencies and departments to encourage everyone to take steps towards enhancing their safety and the safety of their community.
‘Community safety’ is bigger than just crime prevention; it encompasses all intentional and unintentional injuries, for example, from road safety to community violence, self-harm, coastal safety and emergency management.
Every single person has a right to feel safe, the same way every single person has a role to play in preventing injury, reducing crime and promoting safe behaviour practices. Regardless of our age, gender, cultural heritage, sexuality, religion, or our geographical location -community safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Who was involved?
In 2009 ICCWA was the coordinating organisation for CSM and established a new reference group to support and provide input for initiatives, resources and events planned for the year.
The reference group met approximately every six weeks and consisted of both government and non-government organisations and included representatives from a cross section of safety sectors.
Some of the agencies actively involved included: Department for Communities, Public Transport Authority, Office of Aboriginal Health, Office of Road Safety, Kidsafe (WA), Farmsafe WA Alliance, Royal Lifesaving Society of Australia (WA), WA, Surf Lifesaving Saving WA, Fire Emergency Services Authority (WA) and Roadwise (WA Local Government Association). ICCWA look forward tothis reference group expanding across more safety sectors and will continue to meet throughout 2009 and 2010. Victoria and Western Australia developed a new partnership throughtout CSM 2009, sharing logos, ideas and resources. All Australian states and territories will soon be invited to participate in a formal Memorandum of Understanding to celebrate CSM nationally.
ICCWA wish to thank the VSCN and Victoria Police for their support throughout the lead up to CSM 2009 and look forward to CSM partnerships spreading further across Australia in future campaigns. Through the provision of community friendly resources, tools and promotional materials and the power of networks, over 100 community groups and agencies were involved in 2009. Many agencies hosted events, attended other CSM functions and participated in safety promotion activities.
What was on?
Over 100 community safety events and activities took place throughout October 2009 and almost every date of the month had events registered. Events registered on the online calendar from community groups included safety displays at various events including Perth Royal Show, Seniors Week, Mental Health Week, and Children’s Week; community forums; safety awards functions; open days at swimming schools; safety checks for homes, equipment and child car restraints; conferences such as the National Farmsafe Alliance Conference; and launches of new websites, reports and statistics. 1 October also saw the launch of summer beach patrols across metropolitan beaches. October 15-24 also held a play titled ‘Three On, One Off’ written by Lucy Eyre to raise awareness of some of the health and safety risks associated with fly-in-fly out work lifestyles. ICCWA hosted the launch for CSM –A Breakfast of Champions; the October Lunchtime Forum – a presentation by the Madjitil Moorna, Singers of Aboriginal Songs; community presentations for SOYWA ® and the Taking Action on Alcohol Gosnells Community Forum; and the 2009 ICCWA Injury Prevention Awards. Special thanks to the Office of Road Safety for supporting Community Safety Month.