National anti-crime award winners announced
The Australian Institute of Criminology says youth diversion, domestic violence
and community strengthening projects have led the way at the 2010 Australian
Crime and Violence Prevention Awards.
The annual Awards are run by the Australian Institute of Criminology as an
initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments. The Awards
recognise outstanding community-based projects that prevent or reduce crime
and violence.
“Three of the five national awards this year went to projects based in Victoria
while a further nine state awards were presented to organisations in Victoria,”
AIC Director Adam Tomison said.
“The state is clearly leading the way on crime and violence prevention and
making a real difference in the lives of victims, offenders and the whole Victorian
community.”
“While all projects have made a difference, many of the Victorian prize winners
have achieved outstanding results, significantly reducing the occurrence of crime
and in some cases reducing the re-offending of young offenders by up to 70
percent,” Dr Tomison said.
The Minister for Home Affairs and Justice Brendan O’Connor presented prizes
totalling more than $100,000 at a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra
today.
The national winners from Victoria are:
Operation New Start Victoria: A referral program for Victorian state secondary
colleges providing academic and vocational support to youth at risk of offending.
The Bridge Project: Providing support, training and employment opportunities to
young offenders trapped in a recurring cycle of poverty, crime and imprisonment.
Bsafe Pilot Project: An initiative combining a personal alarm system with risk
management strategies to reduce incidents of domestic violence.
There were also nine state award winners from across Victoria.
“These projects are already helping to prevent crime and violence by working in
partnership with their local communities.
“There is much that other communities in Victoria and across Australia can learn
from the great work that has been done by these award winners,” Dr Tomison
said.
“I hope the successes achieved by these projects can be replicated across the
nation, reducing crime and violence and helping to create a better quality of life
for all Australians.”
NATIONAL WINNERS 2010 - VICTORIA
Operation New Start Victoria, Victoria
A referral program for more than 250 Victorian state secondary colleges
providing academic and vocational support to people aged 14-17 that are at risk
of offending.
Using police officers, teachers and social workers as facilitators, the program
aims to increase resilience, promote personal health and wellbeing, create
scholastic and vocational momentum and improve relationships.
Key outcomes:
* More than 1200 graduates of the program since its inception
* Significantly fewer court appearances recorded by all graduates of the
program.
The Bridge Project, Victoria
Providing support, training and employment opportunities to young offenders
trapped in a recurring cycle of poverty, crime and imprisonment.
This YMCA-run program contacts and provides support to every young person in
custody in Victoria.
Key outcomes:
Has worked with 170 young offenders – 131 completing work readiness
training, 105 starting employment and 84 engaged in full-time work
A re-offending rate of only 3% for those completing the program, compared
with 66% for those who do not.
Bsafe Pilot Project, Victoria
An initiative combining a personal alarm system with risk management strategies
to reduce incidents of domestic violence. The project has achieved notable
success in reducing perpetrator violence and recidivism, particularly the
incidence of physical violence. Key outcomes:
69 women and 136 children have been protected with Bsafe since the project
began in 2007.
Only one client has since been physically assaulted by a former partner.
STATE WINNERS 2010 - VICTORIA
The Peek-a-Boo Club & BuBs On Board - $4,000 and Certificate of Merit
These programs address the consequences of family violence and provide early
intervention to stop intergenerational cycles of violence. An evaluation of the
Peek-a-Boo Club showed an increase positive attachment between mother and
child and a drop in hostility. The coordinators have been invited to present on this
groundbreaking work nationally and overseas.
Raped by a Partner - $3,000 and Certificate of Merit
A research-based educational tool for Australian health and legal professionals
and the community; the report, posters and postcards aim to raise awareness
that one in 10 Australian women suffer rape by their partner and have no one to
tell; a hidden, yet prevalent crime.
Northern Crisis and Advocacy Response Service - $3,000 and Certificate of
Merit
This service was established by a network of service providers to create a 24/7
face-to-face crisis response for women and children in the Northern Metropolitan
sub-region of Melbourne who have experienced family violence.
Who’s in Charge? - $3,000 and Certificate of Merit
This is an eight week structured group (plus a 2 month follow-up) for parents who
have a child who is abusing them or beyond their control. Connections
UnitingCare is currently running three to four groups per year.
Walk the Talk - $1,000 and Certificate of Merit
An intervention program focused on rural adolescent males aged 12–17 years
who use aggression and violence. Participants have exhibited aggressive or
violent behaviour toward family members or peers. The program aims to provide
anger management strategies, positive role modelling and alternative responses
to aggression. Participants are referred from school, police, child protection
services, welfare agencies or family members as a result of violent, overtly
aggressive or antisocial behaviour either at home, school or in the community.
Harmony in Cricket - $1,000 and Certificate of Merit
Governed centrally by Cricket Victoria, Harmony in Cricket enlists state-wide
partners to use cricket as a vehicle to engage culturally and linguistically diverse
(CALD) and Indigenous communities, promoting inclusion, social interaction and
an active lifestyle as the foundation for stronger and safer communities.
Partners in Prevention - $1,000 and Certificate of Merit
The Network aims to create a positive environment for youth-targeted prevention
of violence against women programs across Victoria. Partners in Prevention
achieves this through multiple, overlapping and mutually-reinforcing activities
such as:
information sharing - providing consultation, a website and monthly email
bulletins;
advocacy - fostering relationships with government, involvement in
reference groups and facilitating network members’ involvement in
consultations; and
capacity building - quarterly network meetings, an annual forum and an
evaluation working group.
Mallee Sexual Assault Centre Multi-Disciplinary Centre - $1,000 and
Certificate of Merit
The Centre was established to improve the response and outcomes for victims of
sexual assault. It houses specialist police investigators, sexual assault
counsellors and forensic medical staff at one site to provide a ‘one-stop shop’
support service for victims.
Sexual Assault Prevention Program for Secondary Schools - Certificate of
Merit
The program utilises a whole school approach aimed at developing an
environment where positive and respectful behaviours and relationships are
encouraged and reinforced.
Tangible outcomes include:
increased disclosure of sexual assault;
increased access to support services;
increased capacity of schools to respond to sexual assault;
increased capacity of teachers to deliver sexual assault prevention
education;
young people reporting feeling empowered and more confident; and
young people actively taking on roles of social action against sexual
assault.
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