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Successful Community Safety Fund Recipients Announced

22 January 2020

Over 63 new crime prevention initiatives will be rolled out across Victoria, thanks to a funding boost from the Andrews Labor Government’s Community Safety Fund.

The Labor Government is investing over $700,000 from the fund across 45 not-for-profit groups and 16 local councils, with the Hindmarsh Shire and Brimbank City councils each receiving grants for two projects.

The Community Safety Fund provides grants of up to $25,000 for Victorian councils and community organisations to deliver projects tackling local crime issues and to support initiatives that help to boost understanding of the justice system.

Projects to receive funding under the latest round include a range of security lighting and safety upgrades – such as new lighting for the Watt Street car park in Sunshine to improve community safety and deter anti-social behaviour.

Bollards, barrier gates and fire and vandal proof seats will also be installed at three popular swimming reserves in Wodonga, including the Kiewa River, Murray River and Travellers Creek to encourage more community use and help deter vandalism.

In Melbourne’s north, a new education program will assist newly arrived African communities in Flemington, newly settled Syrian and Assyrian Chaldean communities in Hume, and newly arrived women from Pakistan and Syrian communities living in Fawkner.

The program will identify key safety issues impacting those communities and educate participants about crime prevention strategies for motor vehicle theft, home safety, personal property and how to report crime to police.

Grants are provided across two categories, with one for up to $10,000 for projects preventing crime in and around community facilities and public spaces, and up to $25,000 to support education and awareness projects about home safety, personal property and theft reduction.

Since 2015, the government has provided almost $3.7 million in Community Safety Fund grants to support 523 projects across Victoria.

The grants form part of the government’s $25 million investment in the Community Crime Prevention Program, which aims to reduce crime and its root causes.

Quotes attributable to Acting Minister for Crime Prevention Jill Hennessy

“We’re supporting 63 local organisations to run community safety projects at the grassroots – each of these groups are working hard to develop solutions to combat local crime.

“These grants empower organisations to use their local knowledge and experiences to find solutions to help their communities feel safe.”

Reviewed 30 July 2020

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