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2009
Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards
MEDIA RELEASE 29 OCTOBER 2009
2009 NATIONAL ANTI-CRIME AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Eight ground-breaking projects tackling crime and violence have won national recognition at the 2009
Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards (ACVPA).
The ACVPA is a joint initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments which rewards
outstanding community-based projects which reduce or prevent crime and violence.
The awards were presented by Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor at Parliament House in
Canberra today. The winning projects, selected from a field of 60 national nominations, this year
focused on domestic violence, youth, alcohol-related crime and community safety.
Mr O’Connor said each winning project had achieved outstanding results, such as drops in crime rates
or offending of more than 80 percent.
“A common theme among nominees was groups and organisations working together in partnership to
tackle crime and violence. It is inspiring to see communities coming together to achieve sustainable
changes in combating violence and crime,” Mr O’Connor said.
“This year’s winning projects highlight the importance of breaking the cycle of domestic and family
violence, working with vulnerable young people, and the importance of partnerships between
government agencies and community groups.”
The 2009 national winning projects, which each received a certificate and $10,000 or $15,000, are:
The Weld To Life Program (WA): An intervention strategy for young offenders and youth at risk
led by the Rockingham Police & Community Youth Clubs (PCYC) that teaches valuable hands-
on work skills for careers in the metals trades and has achieved an 83 percent reduction in
offending by participants.
It All Starts At Home (Vic): A project led by Melbourne’s Inner South Community Health Service,
which works with abusive adolescents and their parents to break the cycle of inter-familial
violence and increase community awareness of the issue.
Time For Kids Placement Program (SA): Operating since 1960 to assist more than 4500
disadvantaged children and families throughout South Australia by providing respite care for
positive childhood experiences and a break from stressful home life.
Promoting Peace In Families (Vic): A community partnership in Melbourne’s City of Casey
uniting government, public health services and faith leaders from various denominations and
ethnic groups to stop domestic violence.
Under The Limit Drink Driving Education and Rehabilitation Program (Qld): A state-wide drink
driving prevention and rehabilitation program which has delivered a 55 percent reduction in
subsequent drink driving behaviour by serious repeat offenders.
Fitzroy Crossing Liquor Restriction Enforcement – Kartiya Future, Brighter Future (WA): A
project which has empowered a remote community by limiting the sale of full-strength alcohol to
achieve an 11 percent reduction in drink driving and 28 percent reduction in domestic violence.
Strike Force Piccadilly (NSW): A partnership between NSW Police and private sector
stakeholders which successfully halted the spread of automatic teller machine ram raids.
Frankston Police, Mission Australia and Community Youth Assist Program (Vic): A program
which develops action plans for vulnerable youth, their parents and social services which has
diverted a significant number of young people from contact with the criminal justice system.
Media contacts: Scott Kelleher 0418 159525, Caterina Giugovaz 0418 221798.
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2009 AUSTRALIAN CRIME & VIOLENCE PREVENTION AWARDS
NATIONAL WINNERS — PROJECT SUMMARIES
THURSDAY 29 OCTOBER 2009
The Weld To Life Program, Western Australia
This is a highly successful intervention program for young people who have committed an offence or
are at risk of offending. It aims to reduce offending behaviour among youth in the Rockingham/Kwinana
area through an intensive work-ready training program.
Participants are often repeat offenders, referred by their schools, parents, or juvenile justice and child
protection agencies. The nine-month program teaches valuable skills through hands-on activity,
mentoring and structured education to allow young people to experience a career in the metals trades.
Key outcomes:
Five-fold reduction in absenteeism
83% reduction in offences committed by students
80% of graduated participants in further training, employed or back at school
It All Starts At Home, Victoria
This project highlights the importance of preventing adolescent violence in the home (AVITH) through
awareness raising and capacity building with parents, children and service providers.
Existing research indicates that when male adolescents use violence against their parents there is an
increased risk that they will use violence against partners in later life. Research conducted by this
project has informed the recommendations of the National Plan to reduce Violence Against Women and
Their Children.
Key outcomes:
Produced more than 22,000 AVITH parent resource booklets
90% of parents who attended support groups reported positive outcomes
More than 400 community welfare services and individuals provided with information
Time For Kids Placement Program, South Australia
This program provides regular respite care for disadvantaged children in South Australia by placing
them with volunteer carers on a part-time basis.
More than 4500 ‘at risk’ children have been linked with families across the state since the program
began in 1960 to prevent them becoming involved in offending, homelessness or dropping out of the
education system.
Key outcomes:
153 households currently caring for 163 children
Enduring relationships between children and carers that outlast the program
No child involved in the program has even been involved with the juvenile justice system
Promoting Peace In Families, Victoria
This program commenced in January 2007 and is led by the City of Casey in Melbourne’s south-east.
It is an innovative partnership uniting government, the public health sector and faith leaders that
demonstrates a new frontier in family violence prevention.
This project targets faith leaders from various denominations, suburbs and ethnic groups to teach them
about family violence and how to respond by intervening effectively with victims and perpetrators, and
educating congregations and the broader community about unacceptable behaviour and healthy
relationships.
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Key outcomes:
Congregations totalling more than 4000 people reached
128 senior community leaders so far participating in the program
The project has helped to form strong inter-faith, secular and non-secular relationships
Under The Limit Drink Driving Education and Rehabilitation Program, Queensland
This 11-week drink driving prevention and rehabilitation program began as a pilot program in central
Queensland in 1993. It is offered in association with a probation order through the Queensland
Magistrates Courts has been successfully rolled out across the state.
The program has rehabilitated many drink-driving offenders, reduced alcohol-related crashes and
trauma and the crime of drink-driving.
Key outcomes:
8500 offenders so far referred through the program
Used as a model for similar programs in NSW, WA and the ACT
A
55 percent reduction in subsequent drink driving behaviour by serious repeat offenders
Fitzroy Crossing Liquor Restriction Enforcement – Kartiya Future, Brighter Future, WA
Developed and delivered by Marinwarntikura Fitzroy Women’s Resource and Legal Centre and
Western Australia Police, with the support of many prominent Indigenous elders, this project restricts
the sale of alcohol from licensed premises.
Liquor Restriction Enforcement has provided a better way of life in Fitzroy Crossing, whose mostly
Indigenous residents are now developing their community because for the first time, they can visualise
a future for themselves and their children.
Key outcomes:
A 28% reduction in domestic violence reported to local police
Less alcoholism, less violence and improving health in the community
Strike Force Piccadilly, New South Wales
This NSW Police initiative, beginning in August 2005, addresses an upsurge in ram-raids on automatic
teller machines. The project involved a partnership between NSW Police and private sector
stakeholders via consultation, cooperative research, information sharing and a commitment to
preventive measures.
The initiative included a police priority alarm system, the application of proven prevention measures and
the development of a risk assessment tool and intelligence reports on all attempted ram raids.
Key outcomes:
Offences reduced from 69 in the year prior to the initiative to 19 in the final 12 months
The number of successful raids reduced from 30 to 2 in the same period
Frankston Police, Mission Australia and Community Youth Assist Program, Victoria
This program targets vulnerable youth ‘at risk’ as potential victims or offenders, displaying anti-social
behaviour or in situations of social and economic disadvantage in Melbourne’s Frankston area.
It aims to avert their involvement in the criminal justice system, reduce recidivism and provide pathways
to education, health and employment by developing action plans for the youth, their parents and youth
workers to address the underlying behavioural and environmental causes of their problems.
Key outcomes:
The rate of diversions from the criminal justice system increased from 4 to 14.8%
Of 188 program graduates, only six (3%) have re-offended
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Media contacts: Scott Kelleher 0418 159525, Caterina Giugovaz 0418 221798.
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