Moonee Valley – a safe community Application for Pacific/Australian Safe Community Accreditation Contents
Summary 3 Case studies Community profile 4 Case Study 1: 22 Projects underpinned by evidence and evaluation – The municipality of Moonee Valley 4 Rothwell Park and Acacia Lane Where is Moonee Valley? 5 Case Study 2: 23 2014 Moonee Valley demographic profile 6 Action planning for a collaborative Community Safety Program Moonee Valley – a safe community 8 Case Study 3: 25 Policy and strategic context 8 Moonee Valley Household Safety Plan City of Moonee Valley – Community Safety Profile 9 Case Study 4: 26 The Community Safety Program - Overview 12 United – Preventing Violence Together The Community Safety Program - Principles 13 Case Study 5: 27 Community Safety Walk Around and Meeting at The Community Safety Program - Delivery 14 Flemington Housing Estate Networks and forums 14 Case Study 6: 28 Staffing and organisational development 15 'Count Me In' – Bullying project Program partners 15 Case Study 7: 29 Seniors safety sessions Safety delivered in partnership 16 Appendix 1 - Selection criteria 30 Safety promotion and communications 18 Surveillance of safety 18 Evaluation and data gathering 18 Moonee Valley Community Safety 19 Program in operation
Contact information Council's Community Safety Officer [email protected] 9243 8888 Moonee Valley City Council PO Box 126 9 Kellaway Avenue, Moonee Ponds Victoria, Australia, 3039
2 Summary
Moonee Valley is an inner urban These plans are guided by the • regular evaluation, evidence municipality in metropolitan principles and objectives of the and information gathering Melbourne; a well-established area, program, informed by data and and programmed workshop most of which has been settled for partner inputs, and delivered activity to inform the strategic well over a century. It is a safe area in collaborative and partnered action and initiatives of the in which rates of crime and injury projects. safety program are measurably lower than the • publication of information The outcomes of each annual action metropolitan average. and resources both broadly plan are evaluated and reported. and in targeted forms, through Moonee Valley residents place high The momentum within the program a broad range of media including value on personal safety and living has complemented the safety social media within a safe environment, and commitments and culture that are • programmed activity and regularly rate these aspirations as embedded in Council’s strategic capacity building at community priorities in community visioning policy and work practise, to create level and surveys. Moonee Valley City a safety focused organisation Council recognises and commits • innovative, targeted and and a safe, liveable and resilient to the role that Local Government partnered approaches to community. In operation the can play in delivering safety and confront safety issues program generates a broad agenda has specified that commitment • active networking within and of activity. It has resulted in: and its consequent activities in the beyond the municipality to Community Safety Program. • strong partnerships plus contribute to better outcomes collaborative programs and in safety Commenced in 2011, the Moonee activities within the municipality Valley Community Safety Program Launched initially by Council, and the region has been progressively implemented the Moonee Valley Community • participative governance based and activated to the point that Safety Program now engages upon shared decision making it is now wholly operational. and involves agencies, businesses and collective ownership of the The program has established and and community from across the program embedded its governing structures, municipality as a jointly delivered and generated and delivered a series program to make Moonee Valley a of annual action plans. safe place to live, work and play.
3 Community profile
Name of community: City of Moonee Valley Country: Australia State: Victoria Status: The City of Moonee Valley is a Local Government area located within the metropolitan area of Melbourne.
The municipality of Moonee Valley has five libraries, The City of Moonee Valley two leisure centres, two principal is comprised of 15 suburbs: Moonee Valley activity areas and four major • Aberfeldie Moonee Valley comprises the north- retail areas. The municipality has • Airport West western suburbs between 4 and approximately 220,500 hectares • Ascot Vale 13 kilometres from the Melbourne of open space and is likely to be • Avondale Heights central business district and covers impacted by major residential and 43 square kilometres. It is bordered road developments in the next • Essendon in the east by the Moonee Ponds 10 years. • Essendon Fields Creek and the CityLink, in the west • Essendon North A relatively stable area for some • Essendon West by the Maribyrnong River and in time, new urban development along • Flemington (shared with the northwest by the northern Moonee Valley’s arterial roads is the City of Melbourne) interstate (Sydney) rail line. turning former residential and small • Keilor East (shared with business locations into medium Moonee Valley is predominantly the City of Brimbank) density apartment complexes a residential area with some light • Moonee Ponds industry to the north. Within the and changing the character of • Niddrie municipality there is a racecourse, some areas. New, higher density, • Strathmore an airport, two lakes, a cricket residential development is proposed • Strathmore Heights ground, a golf course and over near the race course and at 200 parks and reserves. Essendon Airport. In an otherwise • Travancore established municipality, this urban redevelopment is the source of population growth and urban transformation in an area that has been relatively stable until recently.
4 Where is Moonee Valley?
Australia:
Metro Melbourne: Victoria
Airport West Essendon Fields Essendon Airport
Strathmore Moonee Valley: Niddrie Keilor East
Essendon
Avondale Aberfeldie Heights Moonee Ponds
Ascot Vale
Flemington
Source: http://profile.id.com.au/moonee-valley
5 2014 Moonee Valley demographic profile
Key statistics
118,000 47,000 4,300 26.71 1,027.1 5,600 135,000 2014 2014 Land area Population Overseas 2031 Population Households density (/ha) SEIFA* arrivals Population (estimated) (estimated) 2006-2011 (estimated)
Traditionally: 40.9% Languages spoken other than English were Greek and Italian families with children 22.9% 25% (couple or single) born in non-English speaking country Recently: 29% Western region Increases in residents whose primary language is Vietnamese, Cantonese, lone person 23.3% Mandarin, Arabic and Somali households
couple households
13.4% 16.5% 49.7% 20.4% Up to 11 Years12-24 Years25-59 Years 60+ Years
Work and education
Higher incidence of education 10.6% 61% Health care and 26.5% 56.3% Full-time social assistance 10.1% of these Professional and scientific 32.3% 15+ year olds 56.3% 15+ year olds Part-time 10% completed bachelor completed year 12 Retail trade degree or higher (or equivalent) 62.5% in the labour force 19% Western region 50.9% Western region
17.5% 4.1% Public Active transport transport 23% to work to work household income * SEIFA stands for the Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas and is a calculation performed by the Australian Bureau of $2,500+ of Statistics (ABS) based on a number of variables; including (but not limited to) income, education, occupation, per week household structure and internet access. The SEIFA scores reported in this document are the Indexes of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD). The higher the score, the more advantaged the area.
6 2014 Moonee Valley demographic profile (continued)
Key statistics Housing
118,000 47,000 4,300 26.71 1,027.1 5,600 135,000 27.9% 2014 2014 Land area Population Overseas 2031 64.9% 23.8% 10.9% Mortgage Population Households density (/ha) SEIFA* arrivals Population (estimated) (estimated) 2006-2011 (estimated) detached medium high 28.6% houses density density Rental 79.5% Western region 16.8% Western region 3.2% Western region 36.436.4% FullyFully Owned Traditionally: 40.9% Languages spoken other than English were Greek and Italian families with children 22.9% 25% (couple or single) born in non-English Internet speaking country Recently: 29% Western region Increases in residents whose primary language is Vietnamese, Cantonese, lone person 23.3% Mandarin, Arabic and Somali households 72% Internet access couple households 97% access to to increases internet 100% for 12-60 year olds 13.4% 16.5% 49.7% 20.4% Up to 11 Years12-24 Years25-59 Years 60+ Years Notable regional variations Work and education
Pascoe Va Airport West – Keilor East le Rd Essendon Fields Higher incidence of education g Rd n Airport West – 10.6% Fewer year 12 completions Essendon Fields Fewer year 12 completions 61% Health care and Fewer households earning Western Ri Fewer households earning 26.5% 56.3% Full-time social assistance $2,500+ per week $2,500+ per week Keilor Rd Bell St of these 10.1% Professional Keilor East and scientific 32.3% 15+ year olds 56.3% 15+ year olds Part-time 10% Buckley completed bachelor completed year 12 Retail trade St degree or higher (or equivalent) 62.5% Avondale Ascot Vale in the labour force Heights 19% Western region 50.9% Western region Avondale Heights Low SEIFA: 990 Maribrynong Rd High density social Fewer year 12 completions housing 17.5% 4.1% Fewer households earning Ascot Vale Public Active $2,500+ per week transport transport High incidence of being born in Flemington to work to work non-English speaking country 23% Flemington household income SEIFA stands for the Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas and is a calculation performed by the Australian Bureau * References: Low SEIFA: 843.4 of $2,500+ of Statistics (ABS) based on a number of variables; including (but not limited to) income, education, occupation, 2011 Census, accessed through http://profile.id.com.au/moonee-valley/home per week household structure and internet access. The SEIFA scores reported in this document are the Indexes of Relative 2014 Population forecasting through http://forecast.id.com.au/moonee-valley High density social housing Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD). The higher the score, the more advantaged the area. 2013 Moonee Valley Annual Community Survey High incidence of being born in Variations due to rounding. Gaps due to 'not stated' and other. non-English speaking country
7 Moonee Valley – A safe community
The aspiration to live in a safe The primary objective of safety Policy and strategic community is reinforced whenever is articulated and underpinned in the Moonee Valley population strategic documents such as the context responds to surveys – our residents Council Plan and the Public Health The Moonee Valley Safety Program place a high value on safety. and Wellbeing Plan. In the work that is informed and directed by a To respond to and address that Council undertakes to deliver these number of key policy documents aspiration, Moonee Valley City plans, consideration of safety for that articulate Council’s objectives Council has set in place a community community and staff is embedded and strategic direction. safety program that embraces the across the spectrum of Council Safe Communities approach. activities. Safe outcomes achieved Collectively these policies create the through safe practices are the strategic context for the operation The creation, maintenance and goals in all of Council’s activities, of the program. Those documents support for Moonee Valley to be from maintenance of the urban are listed below. a safe city are fundamental to the environment to the delivery of work and strategic direction of services to our aged residents and Council. everything in between.
Moonee Valley Next Generation 2035 Community Vision
Council Plan 2013-17
Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2013-17 Moonee Valley Planning Scheme
Community Safety Diversity Access Municipal Emergency Road Safety Plan Program 2011-14 and Equity Policy Management Plan 2010-14
8 City of Moonee Valley – Community Safety Profile
The Moonee Valley Community Perceptions of safety These focus areas are subject to Safety Program is founded upon • Perceptions of safety during the ongoing monitoring through access the Safe Community Framework day and night to a range of information sources, identified by the World Health • Perceptions of safety in parks input from key stakeholder partners Organisation Collaborating Centre • Perceptions of safety in a within the program’s governance on Community Safety Promotion. regional context groups and through Council’s own As such, it places strong emphasis research and annual Community on responding to evidence and Unintentional and intentional Survey. That ongoing monitoring, commits to ongoing research, injuries plus the trends and directions analysis and evaluation. • Deaths within these focus areas, are: The Moonee Valley Community • Hospital admissions a) addressed through strategic Safety Program 2011-2014 identifies • Emergency department action in each annual several focus areas for the program presentations Community Safety Action Plan across its four-year term while • Priority areas for prevention b) reported in summary to track the providing a detailed safety profile • Falls progress of the safety program in for the municipality. • Transport • Suicide and self-harm each annual Community Safety Listed in the following column are • Assault Action Plan Review the specific areas of focus outlined in the Moonee Valley Community Incidence of crime Safety Program 2011-2014.
9 Perceptions of safety – mean /10 Very 10 7.85 7.74 safe 7.25 6.96 6.66
Very unsafe 0 Own street Local shopping Parks and gardens Public transport Onboard public areas stops and stations transport Injuries
2012/13 Moonee Victoria Valley 1 fatality 316 injuries Acute admissions 13/1000 14.5/1000 -4.8% Chronic admissions 18.7/1000 17/1000 2011/12 Unintentional injury 50/1000 61.7/1000
Crime Note: changes could be due to variations in police focus and programs 2013-2014 5.7% increase 2012/13 2013/14 Victoria
Sexual Assault 82/1000 49% 122.5/1000 Lower than 165.9/1000 Aggravated Burglary 74.9/1000 -40% 45.2/1000 Same as 45.7/1000 Deception 496/1000 57% 778.5/1000 Higher than 565.3/1000 Drug offences 314/1000 25% 391/1000 Same as 404.8/1000 Harassment 184/1000 -50% 92.1/1000 Same as 89.9/1000
10 Moonee Valley – a safe community Community Safety Activity Profile in 2014-15 1. Geographic proximity to significant sporting and event As in all locations, community locations which produce safety within Moonee Valley significant crowd management is dynamic in nature. The local and traffic impacts at specific safety profile will shift and vary in times response to social, environmental, demographic and technological 2. Higher than average impacts change. However, a range of from gambling when compared prevailing traits within Moonee to other Local Government areas Valley have implications for the 3. Pockets of new and proposed safety program and thus require higher density residential continuous monitoring, proactive development with consequent policy and partnered action. impacts on neighbourhood character These include: Environmental Population 1. Several large proposed State 1. An identified cohort of ageing Government infrastructure residents whose perceptions of projects which will significantly safety are reactive and for whom impact specific neighbourhoods unintentional injury is an issue 2. Increasing frequency of climate 2. The presence of several public related impacts such as heat housing estates within the wave municipality which are home to newly arrived migrant These and other aspects of local communities representing a character of Moonee Valley, when broad range of language and overlayed with the data drawn from cultural diversity research and statistics, become the 3. Escalating rates of reporting for basis for a proactive and strategic Family Violence community safety approach.
11 The Community Safety Program - Overview
Moonee Valley’s Community Safety The Community Safety Program • To provide opportunities for Program commenced in 2011 and seeks to provide the following the development of innovative is prescribed by the Moonee Valley important benefits to the and localised responses to Community Safety Program Moonee Valley community: community safety issues. 2011-2014. • To strengthen community • To appreciate and celebrate partnerships with and between This program embraces the Safe Moonee Valley as a safe people in Moonee Valley; Communities approach and seeks to community. businesses, residents, students, make Moonee Valley safe through • To offer centralised coordination community groups, police plus integrated and collaborative effort of and direction for community other municipalities, and State implemented in supportive social, safety activities. Government agencies. cultural and political environments. • To support numerous successful community safety activities.
12 The Community Safety Program - Principles
The Moonee Valley Community Key features of the Community • an annual Community Safety Safety Program is underpinned Safety Program include: Forum which assembles key by three principles which guide, partners and stakeholders creates • a Policy Framework developed strengthen and improve outcomes. the opportunity to identify, and actioned with reference These principles are: discuss and plan for collaborative to local, state, national and approaches to address emerging 1. Community engagement international plans, strategies safety issues • Encouraging community and frameworks and to comply • an emphasis on working cohesion with relevant legislative collaboratively and in partnership • Increasing community requirements with Police, key areas of participation • a Governance Structure which government, emergency service includes external partners in a 2. Stakeholder commitment providers, health, education and Community Safety Stakeholder and participation community service providers, Group, and cross-council input • Promoting a shared women’s violence prevention from an internal Community responsibility of safety issues agencies, legal services, local Safety Reference Group • Utilising participatory businesses, community members • an Action Planning mechanism decision-making processes and neighbouring municipalities that produces responsive annual 3. Leadership and advocacy • a commitment to delivering the action plans which are based • Demonstrating community program through activities that on evaluation and data and leadership values are guided by evidence, research proscribe the program’s actions • Improving knowledge and and data representation of safety issues for the year ahead
13 The Community Safety Program - Delivery
Networks and forums Council leads and coordinates: Council is represented in a range of other partnered programs In the execution of its safety • The Stakeholder Committees and including the: program, Moonee Valley City Council Reference Groups that govern participates in and supports a range the Moonee Valley Community • Preventing Violence Together of networks and forums. Safety Program partnership to address violence • The Community Safety Program against women and the The nature and level of this support Steering Group at Flemington partnership’s primary prevention ranges from direct participation, to Community Centre project 'United' funding, facilitation and enabling • Preventing Violence Against and securing commitment. • The annual Moonee Valley Women Network coordinated Participation in these networks Community Safety Forum by the Municipal Association of demonstrates Moonee Valley City • Targeted forums and information Victoria (MAV) Council's intention to deliver its events such as the 2013 Safety programs in a manner founded in Night time Economies Forum • Community Safety Month on shared decision making and and an annual White Ribbon Advisory Committee (as the collaborative effort. breakfast representative of Victorian local governments) Funding and enabling some • Regional Aboriginal Justice partnerships demonstrates a Advisory Committee (RAJAC) commitment to build organisational • Moonee Valley Liquor Accord and community capacity and to proactively address the ongoing maintenance of safety.
14 • steering group of 'Count Me In', This professional development In addition, the following agencies an anti-bullying project led by is both delivered in-house and actively support and participate in cohealth accessed through external activities and components within • Inner North West Primary Care providers, and is a critical element the Community Safety Program: Partnership promoting public in making the program current, • Neighbouring municipalities health informed and relevant. • Council On The Ageing (COTA) • North Western Region Crime • VicRoads Prevention Group Program partners • State Emergency Service • NorthWest 4, a registered In line with principles to work in • Metro Trains community road safety group partnership and share decision • Schools and Universities comprising four councils making, the program has strong • Community Safety Special relationships with a range of • Emergency service and response Interest Group – a group important community safety agencies – Ambulance, SES, MFB facilitated by LGPro for community stakeholder partners. • Victorian Safe Communities safety professionals from Local Network The following agencies are Governments across Victoria • Australian Safer Communities represented within the Moonee Foundation Staffing and Valley Community Safety • Royal Children’s Hospital Safety organisational Stakeholder Group that forms part Centre development of the program’s governance model: • Local business networks and • Victoria Police traders groups The Community Safety Program • Regional Department of Justice • Community groups, service clubs and the safe execution of Council's • Department of Human Services and sports clubs within Moonee activities are supported and Valley enhanced by regular and relevant • Crime Stoppers professional development. • Neighbourhood Watch This ranges from programs that • Moonee Valley Legal Service prepare, equip and support staff to • Public Transport service providers undertake work in a safe manner, to • cohealth targeted professional development • Wingate Avenue Community which builds skill in specified areas Centre such as falls awareness or domestic • Flemington Community Centre violence leadership training. • Women’s Health West • Nominated community representatives
15 Safety delivered in partnership The Moonee Valley Community Safety Program is committed to engaging the participation and commitment of stakeholders from within the municipality and beyond. The following table provides examples of how Council and safety stakeholder partners work together.
Community Safety Stakeholder Matrix Activity Stakeholder/Partner Victoria Police Victoria LGA’s Neighbourng ValleyMoonee Legal West Health Women’s COTA TrainsMetro MFB University Deakin Local Business Justice of Department Schools Local Clubs Sporting Local Centre Safety RCH Roads Vic Crime Stoppers VSCN Neighbourhood Houses Media Local Community & Indigenous Groups cohealth
Planning and leadership Community Safety Governance Flemington Community Safety Group United PVT Project Safety promotion and information Community Safety Month Household Safety Plan White Ribbon Day Internet Safety Safety in Night time Economies Forum Responding to safety issues Community Safety Forum Alcohol and Other Drugs Activity Public Transport Safety Moonee Valley Liquor Accord Northwest 4 - Road Safety Network Safe Around Schools Program 'So You Know' Poster Program 'See Something Say Something' Poster Program
16 Community Safety Stakeholder Matrix- continued Activity Stakeholder/Partner Victoria Police Victoria LGA’s Neighbourng ValleyMoonee Legal West Health Women’s COTA TrainsMetro MFB University Deakin Local Business Justice of Department Schools Local Clubs Sporting Local Centre Safety RCH Roads Vic Crime Stoppers VSCN Neighbourhood Houses Media Local Community & Indigenous Groups cohealth
Safety initiatives for vulnerable groups Preventing Violence to Women Seniors Safety Sessions Children’s Safety Programs Community Safety Walk Around MV Community Safety Register Managing Medications Info Sessions Mobility Scooter Safety 360 TurnAround Anti Bullying programs Safety capacity building Shopping Centre Safety Falls Prevention Workshops '4 Steps for Life' CPR Training
17 Safety promotion and • Household Safety Plan To address this principle of communications • Dealing with heatwaves delivering a program guided by • Child Restraint evidence, research and data, Council One strong argument for Local • Cycle with Confidence makes reference to the following Government to be actively involved • March Away from Gambling information and data sources: in safety is that, compared to all other levels of government, • Street Life program • Census data from the Australian it is Local Government that has • Gaming Policy C140 consultation Bureau of Statistics – Population unparalleled level of community • White Ribbon Data and cross tabulated interface and connection. Council Surveillance of safety demographic information leverages off that community • Hospital emergency data from connection to promote safety and The Moonee Valley Community Australian Bureau of Statistics, to provide safety information. Safety Program is both strategic MUARC, the Royal Children’s and reactive. Embedded principles Hospital and the Metropolitan This approach to safety sees and objectives within the Ambulance Service – Accident particular programs or promotions program identify issues, areas and and Drug Related Injuries and developed as discrete projects population cohorts whose safety causes of Death and each will have its own is continuously addressed by the • VicRoads – Road Injuries and Communications Plan, setting out program. Evaluation of that work, Deaths the range, purpose and timing aided by research and analysis of • Tertiary sector and university of communications that will injury data and trends, enables research papers accompany that safety program. a responsive program approach • Victoria Police (Crime Statistics) These plans then schedule and that can accommodate emerging and Department of Justice generate a range of messages and issues. This approach is enabled (Crime Victimisation Study) media, using Council publications, by the program’s Action Planning • Council surveys and research – websites, Mayor and Councillor approach, in which annual Action Public Perceptions of Safety and messages, plasma displays and Plans take into account evaluation Community Surveys other public media, to inform and recent trends to prescribe the • North Western Region Crime and educate the public with key next year’s tasks and priorities. information related to the project. Prevention Group – data re. In the past 12 months alone, safety Evaluation and data crime rates, rates of recidivism Communications Plans have been gathering and data cross tabulated to demographic information developed for: A goal of the Community Safety • Survey data and targeted Program is to establish robust • Road Start information from Council’s information systems to inform • Graffiti removal kits own research work community safety and planning. • Dealing with door to door • Partner Agencies in areas of A number of data sets are utilised tree loppers (scams) health promotion and violence to monitor community safety issues • Licensed Premises Policy against women in Moonee Valley. These data sets • Gender Equity survey include Victoria Police published • Direct interaction with safety • Community Safety Month crime data, Monash University partners at an annual, facilitated • Rosehill Youth Park launch Accident Research data, road safety Community Safety Forum • Worksafe Week (internal) and traffic data. ABS Census Data • Safety issues registered with • Human Rights Day is used during the preparation Council from community sources • Youth Soccer event at of annual Action Plans but, by such as the RFS (Request For Debney Park contrast to Council’s own research Service) system • Swimming pool safety and surveys, these datasets do not identify difference within the city.
18 Moonee Valley • Children: Children up to the age • High risk groups: Groups of 12 who reside in, school in or vulnerable due to population Community Safety visit Moonee Valley trait (e.g. aged, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) Program in operation • Youth: Young people from ages communities) or to particular Activities within the Moonee Valley 13 to 25 in Moonee Valley risks (e.g. family violence) Communiy Safety Program aim to • Seniors: Residents over 70 years benefit the whole local community • Employees: Building capacity, of age and usually no longer as well as some specifically target ensuring welfare of staff working identified groups within the and demonstrating safety community: • New residents: People newly through the actions of people arrived to the municipality undertaking Council work • All community: All people living, working, conducting business or The following table includes visiting Moonee Valley. examples of this program in operation:
Moonee Valley Community Safety Program in operation Activities Targeted community groups All community All Children Youth Seniors residents New groups risk High Employees
Safety promotion and information delivery Safety promotion and information provided through publications, websites and events Community Safety Month promotion and activities Heatwave Policy and Information Safety Information Resources Cyber Smart and Internet safety Programs Community Safety pages on Council’s website Moonee Valley Household Safety Plan Mobility Scooter Safety Guide Community Mobility for Seniors Fact Sheets and Information Documents Safe Around Schools Program Health Promotion Activities Essendon Traffic School Workplace Safety signage and systems Crime prevention activities Activities responding to crime and promoting crime prevention Graffiti Management Programs Motor Vehicle Licence Plate Security Program Moonee Valley Liquor Accord 'So You Know' RSA promotion 'See Something, Say Something' Crime Stoppers promotion 'Remember to take your Valuables' signs at Maribyrnong River Application of Safer Design Guidelines in urban spaces and development
19 Moonee Valley Community Safety Program in operation - continued Activities Targeted community groups All community All Children Youth Seniors residents New groups risk High Employees
Safety instruction, training and capacity building Activities that build community capacity and resilience Shopping Centre Safety Committees Community Safety Briefings '4 Steps for Life' CPR Training SEED Project Seniors Week Safety Sessions Public Transport Safety Sessions 'Count Me In' Bullying Project Safety Audits at Kindergartens Community Safety Schools Poster Competition First Aid and Emergency Drill Training Provision of protective equipment and clothing Preventing violence against women 'United' Primary Prevention Project 'Safe From Harm' – Violence prevention for CALD communities '360 Turnaround' – Family Violence Prevention Project 'You the Man' bystander Awareness program White Ribbon Day Family Violence Help Cards Domestic Violence Leave Provisions Road safety Programs targeting drivers, cyclists and pedestrians 'Not So Fast Around Local Streets' 'L2P' Program 'Better Moves Around Schools' 'Road Start' Program 'Be Light at Night' – Cycling safety program 'Walk to School' program Walking School Bus Road safety Displays at Community Events Child Restraint fitting sessions Programs targeting recurrent issues – speeding, hoon drivers, drink driving 'Looking After Our Mates' promotion 'Ride to School' Guidelines for Safe Vehicle Use at Work Emergency management and response MERC – Municipal Emergency Recovery Centre MEMP – Municipal Emergency Management Plan
20 Case studies Case Study 1: Projects underpinned by evidence and evaluation – Rothwell Park and Acacia Lane
Programs that respond to evidence Promoting a shared responsibility of safety issues Applying principles to build safer environments
Like other councils, Moonee Valley This process included: This work included: operates a Request for Service (RFS) • A formal request to the rail • improved lighting through system which enables community authority Metro, seeking installation of additional and/or members to report maintenance information about safety more efficient lights issues or hazards for council to incidents in these locations • design responses to promote address. Resident’s calls can direct plus their support for any work activation and passive attention to a broken street light or undertaken surveillance – installation of a graffiti incident, or a broad range • Inquiries to local Police seeking seating and improved waste of other issues. As well as directing geographically targeted data collection facilities plus new play council activity to areas of need, over from crime reports equipment in one location and a time the RFS system can produce pocket park in the other patterns or aggregation of issues • A questionnaire created for that help to identify safety concerns. each location and delivered to • realigned pedestrian pathways approximately 100 homes in providing more direct access to Rothwell Park and Acacia Lane are each area. This survey gathered the stations two locations in the vicinity of local evidence of actual safety issues • extensive revegetation work railway stations where, over time, but also sought to understand that removed concealing and the frequency and type of RFS calls perceptions of safety in each overhanging growth while suggested that safety was both location lifting undergrowth to improve a perceived and actual issue. The • A Crime Prevention Through sight-lines and reducing slip/trip 2013 Public Safety Infrastructure Environmental Design (CPTED) hazards Grants Program, undertaken by the audit undertaken, with Police The work funded by this grant was Department of Justice, presented an involvement, in each location opportunity to address the issues in completed in the first half of 2014 these locations. This process provided a strong and will be followed up with a evidence base for what became second survey in each location to To provide evidence to support a a successful funding application. evaluate the work and identify the grant application, and to inform the The application proposed works to impact on perceptions of safety. appropriate infrastructure response, apply proven design guidelines to This evaluation will also check back Council undertook further evidence address actual and perceived safety with Police and the rail authority to gathering focused on these two concerns at each site. include their data. locations.
22 Case Study 2: Action planning for a collaborative Community Safety Program
Promoting a shared responsibility of safety issues Planning that responds to evidence Using participatory decisions-making processes Increasing participation
Actions of the Community Safety This model, now in its third year 1. Bullying Program are guided by the elements of operation, has generated two 2. Community resilience of its governance structure – an annual safety forums that have 3. Coordination and information Advisory Group of key stakeholders, identified key issues for the sharing a Reference Group from the range municipality as well as identifying 4. Drug use on public housing of Council’s operational divisions, ideas, the stakeholders and estates plus an annual Community Safety resources which can be drawn 5. Education opportunities as a Forum which is a ‘pulse check’ on together to address the issue. setting for change the current state of community The 2013 Moonee Valley Community 6. Family Violence safety. The inputs from this Safety Forum identified the following 7. Perceived danger of roads governance structure inform local issues as significant and they 8. Public lighting and safety the production of each annual were discussed in detail: 9. Reducing the incidence of Community Safety Action Plan. unintentional injury 10. Road safety 11. Youth engagement Reference Group Policy and Community A number of the issues in this list are and Stakeholder Data Scan Safety Forum already priority action areas within Group Inputs Council’s work – e.g. issues relating to road safety and family violence. However, forum discussions have often contributed new ideas for Community Safety undertaking this work plus new Annual Action Plan program, partnering and resource options thus adding to the dimensions of existing work programs.
23 Case Study 2: Action planning for a collaborative Safety Program (continued)
Some of these issues (e.g. In 2014, informed by research community resilience, reducing and governance group input, this injury and working in education process assembled organisational settings) aligned with prescribed staff, stakeholders and community action in the Community Safety representatives for a Community Program or other Council programs Safety Forum to discuss the topic so they added impetus to work of “Alcohol and Other Drugs” and to already in train. The production devise locally applicable strategies of the Moonee Valley Household for this issue. Safety Plan (see Case Study 3) The Moonee Valley Community is one such example – using the Safety Program is formally reviewed forum input to build on existing every four years. However the strategy to boost resilience. annual action planning process, In certain cases the issues including the Community Safety discussed, such as the issue of Forum, supports the longer term bullying, were closely aligned to the focus on identified at risk groups program’s objectives – in this case, (e.g. seniors) and locations (e.g. to address safety issues for young public transport) by providing people and families. However, the current information and guiding discussion identified a specific focus the development of each annual plus a coalition of stakeholders that Community Safety Action Plan. gave rise to new project action – the ‘Count Me In’ bullying project (see Case Study 6).
24 Case Study 3: Moonee Valley Household Safety Plan
Improving knowledge and representation of safety issues Promoting a shared responsibility of safety issues Increasing community participation Supporting high-risk groups – new residents
Moonee Valley is a vibrant and Through research and in In order to spread the benefit and growing municipality. New residents consultation with Police and utilisation of the Household Safety come both from overseas and the Victorian Safe Communities Plan across Moonee Valley, next elsewhere in Australia. Network, Council developed steps will be to produce editions the Moonee Valley Household in languages other than English, When developing its community Safety Plan which has been made and to work with culturally and safety agenda, Council identified available both in printed form and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups new residents as a population as an interactive online PDF. This to facilitate understanding and use cohort whose safety may be plan combines important local of the resource. compromised through lack of local safety and support information knowledge and addressing this was with templates for households to stated as a priority within the safety assemble their own information for program. use in emergency. Through analysis and engagement, The Household Safety Plan has been it was identified that provision promoted at events throughout of information and emergency the municipality, including senior’s preparedness were opportunities sessions during which its use was to improve safety for this explained in detail. It has been population group. Furthermore, the promoted at stakeholder and resources developed to provide this network events, in local media and information benefits other high-risk on Council’s websites. or vulnerable community groups, such as seniors. Copies of the resource are available across Moonee Valley at libraries, Police stations, community centres, health services and other locations.
25 Case Study 4: United – Preventing Violence Together
Promoting a shared responsibility of safety issues Supporting high-risk groups – family violence victims Utilising participatory decision-making processes Demonstrating community leadership values
Preventing Violence Together (PVT) In 2012 the PVT partnership as creating an information resource is a collaborative program – 16 acquired funding and embarked on and leadership support instrument. agencies working in partnership to the delivery of the 'United' project, Emphasising and embedding develop and implement programs a primary prevention project gender equity and with long-term and actions to prevent violence which targets violence to women objectives to ‘reset’ community against women. Comprised of by promoting gender equity and, settings through the mechanics of Local Governments, health services through that approach, addressing local government operation, United and primary care services, the the social settings and causative aspires to address and eliminate PVT partnership has resulted in factors which international studies the factors known to be pre- a program of coordinated action show can lead to violence to determinants of family violence. and promotion across the western women. region of Melbourne. The Moonee Valley Community As a signed-on partner, Moonee Safety Program identifies violence Agencies within the partnership Valley City Council participates in to women as a priority within its commit to shared actions and the project steering group for PVT safety program. Council actively messages and pool resources to and for the United project. Council supports and promotes the White tackle this issue. For example, commits to fulfilling a range of Ribbon campaign and is involved in working together the agencies partnership requirements and a range of other violence prevention have produced Women’s and Men’s enacting a program of training to programs. Our participation in PVT 'Help Cards' for distribution in positively change knowledge and and the United project is further outlets across the western region, capacity within our organisation. evidence of our commitment to this benefitting from reduced per- Participation in this project has priority and exemplifies the way in unit printing costs by acting in included a wide-reaching internal which our safety program works partnership. gender equity audit which both in partnership and beyond the establishes a project baseline as well boundaries of our municipality.
26 Case Study 5: 'Community Safety Walk Around and Meeting' at Flemington Housing Estate
Improving knowledge and representation of safety issues Supporting high-risk groups – culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities Increasing community participation Utilising participatory decision-making processes Promoting a shared responsibility of safety issues
The Flemington Housing Estate The Community Safety Project The walk around format has been is located in the south of the Group has developed a program of useful to develop a sense of shared Moonee Valley municipality. Home strategic actions and projects to commitment and to better relations to a diverse community featuring address safety at Flemington. One between community members and many CALD groups and identified such activity is the 'Community agencies. They have also produced disadvantage, the Flemington area Safety Walk Around and Meeting'. good results in dealing with issues deals with some locally specific that impact resident’s safety. Supported by Police and the safety issues. Department of Human Services, These walk around events have Flemington is also home to robust the 'Community Safety Walk proven so successful that the model and active safety programs and Around and Meeting' is an activity has been implemented in other activities which are guided by an that brings community members housing estate areas both within active Community Safety Project and agencies together to undertake and beyond the boundaries of Group. Agencies active in the group safety-focused inspections of Moonee Valley. include Flemington Community the local area. The objective is to Centre, Wingate Avenue Community identify safety issues and hazards Centre, Moonee Valley City Council, and to work collaboratively on Victoria Police, Moonee Valley developing responses. Legal Service, cohealth, and the Community members point out and Department of Human Services. relate the issues that concern them and the agencies note them and commit to response.
27 Case Study 6: 'Count Me In' – Bullying project
Promoting a shared responsibility of safety issues Supporting high-risk groups – children and youth Utilising participatory decision-making processes Improving knowledge and representation of safety issues
The Moonee Valley Community Forum attendees identified a need The project will bring together Safety Program is guided by a to better understand the impacts of cohealth's specialist knowledge governance framework which bullying in terms of vulnerabilities, and health research expertise, with specifies the staging of an annual causative factors, capacity-building Council’s community connection Community Safety Forum. responses and ways to promote and knowledge, to deliver a project This event is designed to bring resilience. which responds to identified together a forum of safety priorities within both organisations. Following that 2013 Community stakeholder partners, plus officers Council’s safety networks will draw Safety Forum, Council has signed from the range of Council in additional input from local legal an MOU with cohealth to undertake departments, to discuss the current services and Police to inform and a two-year project into bullying in climate of safety in our region. guide the project as needed. Moonee Valley. Focusing on the The strategic intent of the forum Primary School sector and on areas 'Count Me In' illustrates the benefits is to identify emerging safety of vulnerability such as disability from applying the Safety Program’s issues and common concerns and and disadvantage, the project will principles of shared responsibility, to promote opportunities to work seek to understand risk factors that participatory decision making and collaboratively to address these can aid and abet the issue, and collaborative programs. issues. to identify protective factors and At the 2013 Community Safety develop strategies that can build Forum, participants expressed a resilience in Moonee Valley children shared concern about bullying and young people. amongst young people in Moonee Valley, especially in an increasingly technological world.
28 Case Study 7: Seniors safety sessions
Improving knowledge and representation of safety issues Increasing community participation Programs that respond to evidence Promoting a shared responsibility of safety issues Supporting high-risk groups – ageing residents
The demographic profile for things such as their use of public In 2013 there were many such Moonee Valley identifies a number transport, plus online safety and sessions delivered at different of significant population cohorts scams, and issues surrounding times and across the breadth of the which have particular safety needs. independence and mobility. municipality – a concentration of Our ageing population and the sessions occurred during Senior’s Council’s Aged and Disability growing number of senior residents Week. Presenters from COTA, Services department proactively is one such population cohort. Metropolitan Fire Brigade, VicRoads, addresses senior’s safety in a Ambulance Victoria, Neighbourhood Research and data from a range range of ways, targeting not just Watch, Victoria Police, and Metro of sources identifies a number clients but also up-skilling staff trains were used to supply seniors of safety issues for our ageing members who work regularly with with useful, pertinent information population. Evidence from the seniors. Home and Community to inform them about risks and Monash University Accident Care workers are adept in assessing to provide strategies and support Research Centre confirms that falls client’s homes to identify and to enhance their personal safety. and unintentional injury incidents eliminate trip and falls hazards. Specific topics such as falls at home are major risks for seniors. In addition, working strategically prevention, managing medications Council’s own surveys, plus those with community groups and and safe mobility were discussed in of local Police, reveal that this safety partners, the Safety interactive Q&A settings. population cohort has lower Program identified key times perceptions of safety. and opportunities to schedule Subsequent evaluation confirmed seniors safety sessions during that participants had improved In addition to identified concerns of which Moonee Valley seniors were knowledge of and enhanced falls prevention and perceptions of addressed by a range of agencies perceptions of safety after safety our programs seek to address and supplied with information to attending these sessions. the impacts of those perceptions on support their safety. 29 Appendix 1 - Selection criteria Moonee Valley Safety Programs and the Pacific Australia Safe Community principles The criteria for Pacific/Australian Safe Community Designation The Community Safety Program of Moonee Valley City Council addresses the six criteria for Safe Community Designation as follows:
1. Leadership and Our programs also utilise these 2. Reach partnerships and relationships to collaboration The Moonee Valley Community proactively explore safety issues Safety Program specifies objectives The Moonee Valley Community and import research and data and programs that respond to Safety Program 2011-2014 is to inform future actions and community safety issues at a range underpinned by key principles which collaboration. include Leadership and Advocacy of scales and settings, allowing for and Working in Collaboration. This leadership and collaboration localised and targeted measures is evidenced by: applicable to specific locations, As a large and high profile population groups and issues. • a Municipal Health and Wellbeing employer in the municipality, This approach can result in targeted Plan that generates proactive, the work of Moonee Valley City actions delivered to benefit specific strategic action targeting Council intersects with many groups or to address specific local significant and local issues such other agencies and is delivered issues like shopping centre safety. across a wide range of community as domestic violence, road safety interfaces. This creates both and problem gambling Council also participates in many broader partnerships and programs opportunity and responsibility • committed action to participate, targeting regional issues like the for Council to set standards and support and take leading roles in road toll, Violence Against Women, be a leader, demonstrating safety key networks and collaborative plus range of health promotion awareness and modelling safe programs practices. Council also utilises the objectives. Participation in networks opportunities and partnerships • facilitation of networking and and planning forums enables created by these intersections to training opportunities that Council to expand the reach of its promote safety and advocate for include partners and stakeholders activities and to align with, support decisions, programs and outcomes such as the 2012 Falls Awareness and leverage off programs that that address identified safety Workshop for sector workers and reach beyond our municipality, or concerns and promote safety. agency partners which reach into Moonee Valley from beyond. This approach is The Community Safety Program • leading and coordinating evidenced by: prioritises collaborative work as a emergency response and measure to enhance the impacts, recovery through our Municipal • programs that intervene at a effects, and sustainability of the Emergency Management Plan local, municipal and regional program. Safety partners are scale such as • risk management and robust supported to deliver their programs Occupational Health and Safety – programs with a population and messages within Moonee policy which supports safe work level reach - safety information Valley. This method leverages off practice and actively demonstrates promoted through Council's the awareness of broader public safety as municipal work is resident magazine 'Valley View' programs, ensures consistency of undertaken in the public realm which is sent to all households messages, enlists expertise and in the municipality, utilizing raises the profile of lead agencies • facilitation of partner forums waste removal trucks and and their role in community safety. which bring external agencies street advertising to promote and authorities to Moonee Valley key messages, and distributing to inform and prompt discussion general resources such as the that supports the safety program Household Safety Plan
31 – road safety programs that – improvement to sites such as 3. Priority setting engage with individual schools, railway station precincts using The Moonee Valley Community families and children as a Crime Prevention Through Safety Program 2011-2014 commits cohort at municipal level, and Environmental Design (CPTED) to identifying and responding to that unfold in collaboration principles to promote safe priorities in terms of emerging within regional partnerships pedestrian access at night safety issues and vulnerabilities. – health promotion and anti – multiple road safety The program enshrines a violence activities aligned with treatments in local streets methodology that maximises the neighbouring councils and around schools, including opportunity to identify issues and regular audits resulting in establish priorities. • activities which leverage off improvements to crossings broader programs promoted Moonee Valley is a comparatively roundabouts and footpaths nationally of across the state safe community but research such as • programs that prescribe response shows that resident perceptions to significant incidents such as of safety fall short of the reality. – White Ribbon Day activities Council's Heatwave Policy Consequently, the Community which leverage off national Safety Program recognises the need awareness programs • programs and objectives to build community resilience and addressing safety issues – campaigns such as 'March to tackle perceptions of safety as a regionally but also their impacts away from Gambling' that priority. Participation in networks on specific groups (e.g. public concentrate awareness and further enhances the program’s transport safety promoted support positive action capacity to remain current and to collaboratively across the set priorities. • programs that target ‘hotspots’ municipality but also through and vulnerable groups, such as tailored programs that support Evaluation is critical to the program local seniors) and is evidenced by: – working with residents on the Flemington Estate high-rise to • support and submission to • the annual Community Safety identify and respond to safety forums and state programs Forum – bringing together concerns at a local level to inform the development of key partners, stakeholders and policy on issues such as problem emergency responders to ‘pulse – targeting Young Men gambling and CCTV guidelines check’ safety, identify issues through campaigns such as and common priorities, and to • facilitation of programs that ‘So you know’ a campaign develop partnered responses in partnership with Victoria enable peak agencies to deliver Police to raise awareness of safety programs locally (e.g. MFB • monitoring and assessment financial penalties of antisocial home fire safety sessions with of data from external sources behaviour, and programs local seniors) such as ABS, Victoria Police that focus on personal and MUARCH to identify trends
development, education and and outcomes that relate to the employment Community Safety Program’s strategies and objectives
32 • research and evidence gathering • alignment of safety responses in • analysis to identify and work to evaluate current programs Council’s three primary strategic with partners to deliver strong, and to identify new issues which documents - community safety aligned and coordinated inform annual action planning is identified as strategic objective responses rather than working in the Council Plan 2013-17, a key in isolation • identification of vulnerable theme in the Municipal Public groups (e.g. seniors) and problem • creating and maintaining Health and Wellbeing Plan 2013- locations (e.g. station precincts) relationships with Police, local 17 and a new section on safety and developing strategic actions emergency services, and schools has been added to the Moonee to positively influence these to support and align with Valley Planning Scheme (safety through strategic and partnered programs and policies from and CPTED principles are also programs other levels of government included in the structure plans • strategic clarity – facilitating guiding development in activity • support for and involvement in local delivery of programs centres) activities of other agencies, such and information generated by as the local Shopping Centre • alignment of planning through recognised lead agencies (e.g. Safety Committees facilitated by the regional and catchment COTA, MFB and Victoria Police) Victoria Police in various Moonee planning approaches including to keep safety messages clear, Valley shopping areas Integrated Health Promotion consistent and prominent planning with Community and • advocacy submissions to 4. Analysis and alignment Women’s Health agencies and other levels of government Primary Care Partnerships, the and authorities, such as the Council takes a holistic approach Better Health plan for the West, response made to the Victorian to the delivery of the Community and partnerships with the Inner Ombudsman’s Office regarding Safety Program; one that accounts North West Melbourne Medicare CCTV in the public realm for issues at a range of scales Local and accommodates and supports • successful application to grant programs developed by other • research, governance and programs such as the Community agencies. By identifying and partnered approaches producing Crime Prevention Public Safety aligning with strategic partners, programs that support and Infrastructure Grants Program, Council can marry local reach align with those of other key to fund works to improve actual and knowledge with the expertise agencies and key community and perceived safety in several of key partners to enhance the safety priorities, such as falls Moonee Valley station precincts effectiveness of program outcomes. prevention, anti-bullying and This approach is evidenced by: crime prevention actions • alignment with and leverage from dominant issues and prominent programs such as Community Safety Month, White Ribbon Day, Seniors Week and World Internet Safety Day
33 5. Evaluation – outputs and outcomes – are 6. Communication established in the program Evaluation is embedded in the and networking design and monitored in Community Safety Program as a relation to accessibility, reach The methodology of the Community systematic approach to learning and effect. For example Safety Program is based on using about what has or hasn’t worked. tracking the uptake and information promotion, open This focus provides accountability to distribution of the Household communication, and knowledge the community for the investment Safety Plan as an output management. of resources in health and safety, it measure, or surveying residents also offers opportunities to report This methodology is applied on perceptions of safety in and celebrate achievements. The to address community safety particular areas, conducting information gathered supports perceptions, to enhance resilience improvements and then an evidence base to guide further by creating a knowledgeable and surveying again to monitor investment to promote safety. informed community, and to inform outcomes program development. Council’s evaluation framework for – Impact – strategic indicators all health and wellbeing planning This approach is evidenced by: such as perceptions of safety utilises process, output, outcome are tracked over time and • an underpinning governance and impact measures. Incorporated considered in relation to the model that integrates the input into this overarching framework are overall impact of the program and involvement of external strategic indicators that are tracked community safety partners plus, over the life of strategic plans. • working within the Preventing internal representation from Violence Together program to This is demonstrated through: across the breadth of Council’s track changes in relation to operations • Council was one of four finalists gender equity following program nationally in the corporate/ interventions • the incorporation of government category of the communication planning into • participating in research to inaugural Impact Measurement every major program and initiative generate evidence such as Awards by the Social Impact working with Deakin University • consultation with key partners Measurement Network to implement the 'You the such as Police to align our • the evaluation of programs Man' performance program programs and messages when includes and measure effectiveness in appropriate relation to preventing violence an – process - a standard project • use of Council’s networks and Australian context planning framework is programs to communicate and completed prior to proceeding • recognition that programs should promote the information and with any new initiatives and be guided by, respond to and programs of other agencies includes tools to set objectives be evaluated against evidence • developing programs that and review the activities, which is obtained through communicate safety using outputs and impacts. In targeted local research, and technology and social media addition, the overall delivery of by reference to research and the Community Safety Program statistics from agencies such as • commitment to partnership and is monitored and progress Police, government the Monash collaboration embedded into the reported. University Accident Research governance model that guides Centre our program
• maintaining a central ‘knowledge • participation in a broad range bank’ of research, policy of partnerships and networks, developments and program active facilitation of important developments to aid information local networks bringing and to keep programs current, together key local agencies, and responsive to change, and prioritizing partnered action to representative of best practise deliver community safety in the municipality
34 35 Hearing Assistance 133 677
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