Moonee Valley Community Safety Program 2015-20

Contents

ContentsMoonee Valley Community Safety Program 2015-20.................................................1

Mayor’s Message....................................................................................................2

Introduction..............................................................................................................3

Our Model................................................................................................................3

Focus areas.............................................................................................................4

1. Safe people.........................................................................................................5

Objective: support people to be safe and to feel safe in Moonee Valley..............5

Priorities...............................................................................................................5

Core actions.........................................................................................................5

Outcome..............................................................................................................6

Measures.............................................................................................................6

2. Safe places..........................................................................................................7

Objective..............................................................................................................7

Priorities...............................................................................................................7

Core actions.........................................................................................................7

Outcome..............................................................................................................8

Measures.............................................................................................................8

3. Resilient communities..........................................................................................9

Objective: embed frameworks and positively set determinants of safety to establish and promote Moonee Valley as a safe community...............................9

Priorities...............................................................................................................9

Core actions.........................................................................................................9

Outcome..............................................................................................................9

Measures.............................................................................................................9

4. Program development and partnership.............................................................10

Objective: collaborate with stakeholders and work in partnerships to share responsibility for safety......................................................................................10

Priorities.............................................................................................................10

Core actions.......................................................................................................10

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Outcome............................................................................................................10

Measures...........................................................................................................11

Action planning approach......................................................................................12

Background and issues.........................................................................................13

Policy context.....................................................................................................13

Safety in Moonee Valley - snapshot of data and issues........................................15

Population..........................................................................................................15

Technology........................................................................................................16

Activity................................................................................................................16

Environmental....................................................................................................16

Program and partnership development.................................................................16

Evaluation..............................................................................................................17

Evaluation and planning cycle............................................................................17

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Mayor’s Message

Living in a safe and secure community is the aspiration of all. People who feel safe in their homes and neighbourhoods will be mobile and active in community life. Importantly, they will also have the knowledge and capacity to be safe from injury and harm and be able to respond to and will be supported in times of emergency. Safe communities are characterised by connected and vibrant neighbourhoods and lively and busy public places - the sorts of places that we want to see across Moonee Valley. Council believes that everyone has the right to be safe and to enjoy the benefits of living in a safe community. The first Moonee Valley Community Safety Program in 2011, set a vision to build a safety program based upon the World Health Organization Safe Community Framework. That vision was realised in 2014 when Moonee Valley received international accreditation as a Pacific/Australian Safe Community. The safe community framework embeds the structures, information and partnerships to promote and support its aims and acknowledges Council as a leader in community safety.Our Community Safety Program 2015-20 articulates the aspirations and challenges of achieving the vision and objectives committed in our Council Plan and the Moonee Valley Health and Wellbeing Plan. This provides a framework for longer term planning and action that supports our community to live confidently in safety. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the development of the program, particularly the members of the community safety stakeholder advisory group who brought a wide range of expertise in relation to crime prevention, injury prevention and improving perceptions of community safety to the conversation. I endorse our Community Safety Program 2015-20 on behalf of our community.

Cr Narelle SharpeMoonee Valley Mayor

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Introduction

A safe community is a healthy community – an active and vibrant place where people go about their lives with confidence, and where public places fill with activity and community life.

Community safety describes the right of all individuals living working or visiting in Moonee Valley to go about their daily lives without fear or risk of harm or injury.

The key components of safety: crime and injury, are frequently very local in nature and dictate local perceptions of safety, which critically underpin community confidence and levels of community activity. Consequently, Local Government is best placed to respond, advocate and collaborate with stakeholders in strategically planning for a safer community. Safety underpins the delivery and outcomes of all of Council services. A core function of the Community Safety Program is to link those safety outcomes and to make connection with the objectives and programs of other (external) stakeholders in safety, with a focus on coordination and program alignment.

Specifically, the Community Safety Program seeks to provide the following important benefits to the Moonee Valley community:

• To appreciate and celebrate Moonee Valley as a safe community.

• To offer centralised coordination of and direction for community safety activities.

• To support successful community safety activities.

• To develop innovative local responses to community safety issues.

• To strengthen community partnerships with and between people in Moonee Valley; businesses, residents, students, community groups, Police, other municipalities, and State Government agencies.

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Our ModelThe International Safe Community Model, developed by the World Health Organization and mirrored in the Pan Pacific Safe Community process, is held as the gold standard for community safety. Safety programs that are accredited against this framework have been independently assessed as meeting best-practise.

In October 2014, Moonee Valley was designated as a Pacific/Australian Safe Community by the Australian Safe Communities Network. This accreditation recognises that our safety program is in line with the International Safe Community Model. Across the life of the Community Safety Program 2015-2020, Council will report annually using the six key criteria of the International Safe Community model, which will also support maintaining our International accreditation.

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These criteria are:

1. Collaboration and partnership Strategic planning and leadership by a cross-sectoral group focused on promoting and improving community safety

2. Program reach Safety programs covering all ages, environments and situations, which are based both on evidence and the extent to which they use proven or promising intervention strategies

3. Priority setting Programs that target and promote safety for high risk/vulnerable groups and environments

4. Data analysis Programs underpinned by collection and analysis of available safety data (injury, violence, crime and safety perception) for the community and region and which identify and align action with established national/state/regional priorities and action plans

5. Evaluation Programs which specify actions for delivery and the expected project outcomes, and which include mechanisms to measure and analyse these through the delivery of the project

6. Networks Comprehensive engagement and interaction with local, regional and national networks and other International Safe Communities

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Focus areas

The Moonee Valley Community Safety Program 2015-2020 identifies four key areas in which we can impact safety. Closely aligned and at times overlapping, these areas identify critical objectives for community safety as well as being opportunities where Council services can produce meaningful and significant safety outcomes. These key areas have been identified from community consultation, data analysis and stakeholder input, including consideration of the re-occurring issues raised in discussions at the Community Safety Stakeholder Forum, an event that Council facilitates annually.

These are:

1. Safe people Support people to be safe and to feel safe in Moonee Valley

2. Safe places Design, create and maintain places that provide for safe community activity

3. Resilient Communities Embed frameworks and positively set determinants of safety to establish and promote Moonee Valley as a safe community

4. Program development and partnership Collaborate with stakeholders and work in partnerships to share responsibility for safety

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1. Safe peopleObjective: support people to be safe and to feel safe in Moonee ValleyPriorities

• Home-based incidents and injury

• Cyber safety and scams

• Healthy, active and safe sports participation

• Violence, especially family violence and drug fuelled violence

• Mental health promotion and suicide prevention

• Alcohol and other drugs

• Bullying

Core actions1. Maintain the Moonee Valley Household Safety Plan and ensure it is promoted and widely available

2. Promote awareness of services and approaches that support people experiencing mental health issues

3. Reduce the incidence of bullying and violence through the identification and uptake of anti-bullying programs in Moonee Valley

4. Expand knowledge and support to reduce home-based injuries through education and awareness programs to address emerging or key risks – especially falls, burns, overdose, risks associated with technology and injuries arising from do-it-yourself activity

5. Promote awareness of escalating or emerging crime and safety risks including scams, cyber safety and mobile technologies

6. Promote services and support to victims of crime, injury or family violence including:

• Family Violence Help Cards updated annually

• White Ribbon and 16 Days of Activism

7. Embed messages of community safety through targeted safety information and existing programs and events including but not limited to:

• community celebrations (i.e. national awareness weeks / days)

• events (Council’s large scale community events and festivals)

• key projects (i.e. Community Centre programs and program launches)

8. Develop and implement a communications strategy to better promote safety in Moonee Valley with focus on:

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• reach to key audiences such as seniors, CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) communities and young people using a range of media

• partnership – bridging messages from other stakeholders to Moonee Valley audiences and supporting local media agencies

• promoting and activating safety related policy and programs such as Council’s Heat Wave Policy, the Community Safety Register and Emergency Recovery services

OutcomePeople in Moonee Valley are supported to be safe with programs and services that address crime and injury prevention.

Measures• Rates of crime – disaggregated crime data from Victoria Police and Department of Justice

• Rates of injury – analysis of injury data from VISU (Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit), MUARCH (Monash University Accident Research Centre) and VicRoads

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2. Safe places

Objective: design, create and maintain places that provide for safe community activity

Priorities• Safety in new development locations

• Apartment based communities and public housing estates

• Street lighting and safe streets

• Shopping centres and business districts including ATMs

• Night time economies and events precincts

• Impacts arising from major projects

• Perceptions of safety and CCTV

• Drug use and syringe disposal

• Road safety

• Safe public transport

Core actions1. Use safer design guidelines to positively influence safety in new developments

2. Work with key partners to build communication channels, provide targeted safety information and develop strategies that enhance safety in multi-occupancy buildings

3. Work with Victoria Police, businesses and centre management to maintain safe shopping precincts through the Moonee Valley Liquor Accord and local safety groups

4. Implement Council’s Road Safety Strategy, and develop and deliver communication and education strategies to address safety issues and vulnerabilities

5. Ensure that streets and public spaces in Moonee Valley are well lit, well maintained and safe

6. Develop a Council policy position for the use of CCTV in Moonee Valley

7. Support the local implementation of targeted crime prevention activities

8. Monitor community contacts to Council to identify and respond to place-based safety issues, and initiate targeted responses to safety hotpot issues including graffiti or syringe reports

9. Support transport providers to promote safe use of public transport to community with emphasis on ageing residents

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OutcomePositive perceptions of safety to assist people to live confidently in Moonee Valley in ways that enhance community life and business vitality.

Measures• Perceptions of safety in streets, neighbourhoods and public places ascertained through the Moonee Valley Insight Survey

3. Resilient communitiesObjective: embed frameworks and positively set determinants of safety to establish and promote Moonee Valley as a safe community

Priorities• Promote equity and inclusion

• Community approaches to crime prevention

• Emergency recovery

Core actions1. Take a strategic approach to positively set key determinants for family violence and bullying by promoting equity, inclusion and cultural diversity in Moonee Valley

2. Develop and promote a Moonee Valley Family Violence/Gender Equity statement addressing pre-determinants for gendered violence

3. Support broader safety program initiatives to benefit Moonee Valley – in areas such as crime prevention and liquor and gambling regulation

4. Ensure that the community of Moonee Valley will be supported to recover in the event of emergency

5. Ensure that people are informed about localised safety risks including natural disasters

OutcomeMoonee Valley has positive determinants in place for community safety and emergency recovery

Measures• Levels of satisfaction and community connection ascertained through the Moonee Valley Insight Survey

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4. Program development and partnershipObjective: collaborate with stakeholders and work in partnerships to share responsibility for safety

Priorities• Information sharing and collaborative action

• Working with community leaders

• Youth engagement

• Identify opportunities in the existing programs of other safety stakeholders

• Advocate for the community of

Moonee Valley

• Data analysis and evaluation

• Participation in networks

Core actions1. Maintain Moonee Valley’s accreditation as a Pacific/ Australian Safe Community and build upon the opportunities presented from the Pan Pacific Safe Communities Network

2. Employ a program development process that engages key and influential stakeholders, cross-council participation and supports the role of community as a key partner in safety through the Community Safety Stakeholder Advisory Group and the internal Community Safety Reference Group

3. Identify opportunities to engage young people and reflect youth issues in the safety program, including through the annual Community Safety Stakeholder Forum and other Youth related forums

4. Ensure the safety program is informed by current and relevant crime and injury data, and maintain a knowledge bank process that identifies issues and provides information relevant to community safety

5. Employ program logic to measure the safety program’s execution and outcomes

6. Maintain active participation in key safety networks including regional, state and national mechanisms

7. Advocate for the community of Moonee Valley in matters of safety including submissions and funding applications

OutcomeMoonee Valley benefits from the capacity and operation of an accredited Community Safety Program

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Measures• Annual reports to the Australian Safe Communities Foundation (ASCF): maintains ASCF Moonee Valley accreditation as a Pacific/ Australian Safe Community

10The Moonee Valley Community Safety Program 2015-20 identifies key objectives, operational principles, priority areas for attention, and a framework to embed structure and rigour into the work of the program. This program is delivered through annual action plans which identify and resource the specific projects, locations and work areas that will activate the safety program each year.

The program will include:

Annually

• A Community Safety Action Plan generated in each Council business year; and

• A review of each Action Plan, reporting against the criteria of the Pacific Australian Safe Communities Framework to evaluate the work undertaken. This report will also be lodged as the annual report to the Pan Pacific Safe Communities Network

At conclusion

• A final review at the end of the five-year program which will also form Moonee Valley’s application for re-accreditation as a Pacific/ Australian Safe Community

Action planning approachDirection and objectives for safety in Moonee Valley as specified by:

• the Moonee Valley Community Safety Program

• strategic directions from Council Plan and Health Plan

• the International Safe Community Framework

• local, regional and other government priorities

• Input from governance groups and annual Community Safety Forum

• Demographic profile for Moonee Valley drawn from ABS and locally gathered data

• Safety "Report Card" drawn from analysis of Police crime statistics plus health and injury data for Moonee Valley

• Evaluation of previous action plan

• Learning from other agencies and networks

Detail actions for the safety program in a specific year based upon:

• program objectives and principles

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• input from governance groups and Community Safety Forum

• research and analysis of demographics and crime and injury profileYears - Community Safety Program 2015-20

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Background and issues

Policy contextLocalThe Moonee Valley Safety Program is informed and directed by a number of key policy documents that articulate Council’s objectives and strategic direction. Collectively these policies create the strategic context for the operation of the program - see table at right. Local Government has specific responsibility for safety outcomes in areas such as emergency recovery, health regulation, road safety and occupational health and safety. In addition Council policy and planning can significantly influence the determinants of safety in our municipality.

• Council policy plays a pivotal role to shape and influence our society in ways that embed human rights, build tolerance, and promote equality and respect

• Council planning applies safer design guidelines and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) to build attractive safe environments.

The Community Safety Program informs, promotes, supports and coordinates the safety outcomes that arise across the spectrum of Council services.

State• The Community Safety Program will align with and support local delivery of state wide safety regulation and programs including: The Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 identifies Council’s responsibilities in relation health protection and health and wellbeing planning. Under the Act, councils must also give regard to the State Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, which is produced every four years.

• The Department of Justice Community Crime Prevention Program – support for improved community safety through a number of focus areas including preventing violence against women, promoting safe infrastructure and reducing the community impacts of graffiti.3

• Victoria’s Road Safety Strategy 2013-2022 – Victoria’s strategy to reduce death and injury on our roads, particularly in key areas such as speed, drink driving, and drug driving. It also creates an approach to improve safety for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

• Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004 – An act to eliminate risks in workplaces, to secure the health, safety and welfare of employees and other

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persons at work, and to ensure that the health and safety of members of the public is not placed at risk by the activity of work.

• The Victorian Crimes Act 1958 –This act detailing the criminal code in Victoria includes many subsequent amendments such as the anti-bullying amendment (Brodie’s Law) added in 2011.

While not a criminal law enforcement agency, Council has specific obligations to support elements of the Crimes Act and an objective to support its application by agencies such as Police and Courts within Moonee Valley.

• Planning and Environment Legislation which sets out the framework for planning the use, development and protection of land in Victoria that informs Council’s own planning responsibility. Application of Safer Design Guidelines and CPTED principles to new development in Moonee Valley will be important focus areas for Council within the timeframe of this program.

• VicHealth – individual and household safety is closely correlated to good health. The world class programs and promotions of Victoria’s Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) deliver pre-emptive health improvement into day-to-day places with benefit to all. These programs build protective factors for community safety, particularly in the area of injury prevention, and have a positive effect of perceptions of safety.

There is a considerable body of other state government legislation and policy which prescribe the settings for local government activity in areas such as transport, heritage, liquor licensing, and gaming regulation. Specific state government programs can link to and support local safety objectives, such as the implementation of Protective Service Officers to suburban railway stations from 2013-14. Council operations and the safety program will deliver local action to support state government policy in areas such as health and safety for seniors, protection for children and young people, preventing violence against women and supporting equality and human rights.

Victorian Safe Communities Network – is a forum to support government, business and community to promote safety strategies which aim to minimise the impact of unintentional injury, crime, violence and emergency situations for all Victorians. Council will support and participate in the programs led and coordinated by this key safety network.

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NationalThe application of national legislation and policy will impact the operation of this Community Safety program.

The National Crime Prevention Framework developed in 2012 by the Australian and New Zealand Crime Prevention Senior Officers’ Group provides guidance by way of information on best practice to assist with the development of appropriate policies, strategies and programs to address crime problems.

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The Australian Safe Communities Foundation (ASCF) – is the assessing authority for Safe Community Accreditation. Council will report annually to the ASCF, be informed and guided by its feedback, and benefit from foundation membership through access to resources and information sharing. Similarly, research and programs from national government organisations can inform program development while developing resources with which Council can leverage local outcomes. The Commonwealth of Australia enacts laws in many areas, some with overlap to state legislation. Areas of overlap include employment law, transport, and education. While no specific commonwealth legislation directs the safety program, some commonwealth responsibilities will have significant impact within Moonee Valley and shape the environment in which the safety program is delivered – areas such as environment, infrastructure and the roll out of the National Broadband Network.

Still others will create direction and opportunity that can inform, guide and resource the program – drug awareness campaigns, regulation of commerce and trading, fair work laws and the recent national focus on preventing family violence.

InternationalThe initial Moonee Valley City Council Community Safety Program1 was constructed with reference to the International Safe Community Framework established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and recognised as the benchmark for delivery of Community Safety. International accreditation was achieved in 2014 when Moonee Valley was designated a Pacific/ Australian Safe Community.

Accreditation enables Council to participate in regional and global networks and to access information and share ideas with 100 other Pan Pacific Safe Communities with established accredited programs. Accreditation and the consequent network participation within the

Pan Pacific Safe CommunitiesNetwork creates the international context for the Moonee Valley Community Safety Program.1. Moonee Valley Community Safety Program 2011-1415

Safety in Moonee Valley - snapshot of data and issuesAs in all locations, community safety within Moonee Valley is dynamic in nature. The local safety profile will shift and vary in response to social, environmental, demographic and technological change. However, a range of prevailing traits within Moonee Valley have implications for the safety program and thus require continuous monitoring, proactive policy and partnered action.

These include:

Population1. An identified cohort of ageing residents whose perceptions of safety are reactive and for whom unintentional injury is an issue

2. A diverse population representing a broad range of language and cultural origins

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3. A relatively advantaged municipality, however, positive indicators of health and wellbeing at a municipal level mask pockets of disadvantage who experience poorer health outcomes

4. Escalating rates of reporting for Family Violence

Technology1. Promoting technological advances which support and enhance general safety such as improvements in motor vehicle safety

2. Monitoring emerging threats and dangers from technology and alerting community to these risks (Examples: risks such as the distractions created by mobile technologies to drivers and pedestrians and dangers such as the serious choking and poisoning risks presented to children by the increasing prevalence of button batteries in household gadgets and appliances)

Activity1. Geographic proximity to key sporting and event locations which produce significant crowd management and traffic impacts at specific times

2. Higher than average impacts from gambling when compared to other Local Government areas

3. Areas of new and proposed higher density residential development, in addition to transitioning urban housing forms that creates more apartment-based living within

Moonee Valley.

These can lead to change in neighbourhood character that can generate unique safety issues and changes to local perceptions of safety. Application of CPTED principles will be an ongoing responsibility along with tailored delivery of program elements and messaging to suitably reach and address the safety issues pertinent to these residents and locations.

Environmental1. Large proposed infrastructure projects which can impact specific neighbourhoods

2. Increasing frequency of climate related impacts such as heatwave and storm intensity

Program and partnership developmentIn line with the International Safe Community Model, Moonee Valley’s Community Safety Program has established a collaborative program development model. This model is a vital mechanism to gather:

• information about current issues within the field of community safety

• data and information to inform the direction of the program and action plans

• knowledge of the priorities of other agencies, particularly those which can generate collaborative action

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• knowledge of work of other safety stakeholders which Council might promote or support in Moonee Valley

• information about programs and actions at regional, state and national level to which the program can align

• evidence and examples of effective actions which can guide local solutions

• endorsement and commitment to guide work that is aligned, collaborative and mutually beneficial

Our program partnerships include both an external Community Safety Stakeholder Advisory Group and an internal Community Safety Reference Group. With both a governing and executive function, each group provides input and expertise to shape the program’s action as well as identifying and supporting opportunities and avenues to activate the program.

These are supported by annual forums, ongoing research and participation in regional, state, national and international networks.

The Community Safety Program will systematically embed evaluation both to gauge the outcomes of program activity and to guide future action.

While evaluation provides accountability to the community for the investment of resources in health and safety, it also offers opportunities to report and celebrate achievements.

In the life of this program, the annual action plans will be drafted using a Program Logic and thus identify means for evaluating programs at the time they are devised. It is intended that this will map out the structure and process for action plan review in ways that support annual reporting to the Pan Pacific Safe Communities Network.

Further, when combined with information gathered through research, surveys and environmental scans, the data and findings from program evaluation supports an evidence base to guide further investment to promote safety.

Council’s evaluation framework for all health and wellbeing planning utilises process, output, outcome and impact measures. Incorporated into this overarching framework are strategic indicators that are tracked over the life of strategic plans.

EvaluationEvaluation and planning cycleObjective Resources and outputsAction planning (yearly)Analysis of research and data to identify issues and vulnerabilities.

Evidence gathering to inform and focus the program.

Information gathering to ascertain the impact and extent of identified issues in Moonee Valley.

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Resources• VicPol crime data

• ABS population data

• Accident and injury reports

Outputs• Moonee Valley demographic analysis

• Moonee Valley Safety Report Card

• Focused action plans outlining projects complete with identified outcomes and milestones

Program Development and delivery (ongoing)Using Program Logic to identify:

• the inputs, partners, activities and outputs of the program

• the expected short, medium and long term outcome

Program design to track and measure the deliverable elements of the

Community Safety Program.

Resources• Inputs from Safety Governance Groups and program partners

• Targeted research and data analysis

• Community consultation

Outputs• Focused resources or interventions

• Ongoing programs

Program reporting (yearly)Summative evaluation that identifies and measures the impacts of the program and assesses these against the objectives.

Resources• Council research

• Evaluation and activity to follow-up program events

• Program assessment tools and indicators

Outputs• Annual action plan review/PPSCN Report

• Input to next action plan

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19Hearing Assistance 133 677Moonee Valley City Council9 Kellaway Avenue | PO Box 126 Moonee Ponds VIC 3039

Telephone 03 9243 8888 | Facsimile 03 9377 2100

Email council@mvcc.vic.gov.au | Website mvcc.vic.gov.au

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