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2010 Australian Safer Communities Awards - Victorian component

The Victorian ceremony for the 2010 Australian Safer Communities Awards was held on 21 October, recognising best practice and innovation by individuals and organisations that help build safer and more resilient communities across Victoria. The winners progress to the national awards, to be held in Canberra on 29 November 2010.

Victoria has been a consistent source of quality entries over the years, with many entries being recognised at the national awards. In 2010, Victoria received the highest number of submissions across Australia.

Acting Emergency Services Commissioner Joe Buffone, whose office coordinated the Victorian awards, reflected on the many changes taking place across the emergency management sector and the importance of collaboration in facing new challenges.

“These awards are important because they encourage innovation, collaboration, community involvement and some creativity, often with limited resources,” Mr Buffone said.

“It’s a testament to the work of all the people who submitted entries that they have tackled these challenges”.

The 2010 Victorian Australian Safer Communities Award winners are:

State government category

Country Fire Authority - Victorian Fire Risk Register

The Victorian Fire Risk Register aims to minimise risk of adverse impact of bushfire on assets of value in the human settlement, cultural, economic and environmental contexts by combining cutting edge mapping software (originally developed by NSW Rural Fire Service) with knowledge from local representatives for a holistic approach to bushfire planning at a municipal level.

Local government category

Yarra Ranges Council - Emergency management without borders – the development of a regional model for delivery of emergency relief centres

The model maximises the benefits for consistent, efficient and effective relief and recovery services with potential for transferability across emergency relief centres in other municipalities, demonstrating a commitment to regional collaboration and providing certainty for the community regarding use of emergency relief centre facilities in the event of a large-scale emergency.

Volunteer  and community group category

Strathewen Community Renewal Association Inc - Renewin’ Strathewen – A community led recovery after bushfire

The Strathewen Community Renewal Association comprises people who lived in or owned property in the Strathewen prior to the 7 February bushfires, or have moved to the area since.

Embracing the fundamental importance of a community developing its own priorities and the value of pursing goals which do not fit the template, the association’s elected committee, with the support and engagement of the wider community, has enabled a community led recovery – coordinating and undertaking planning and rebuilding processes that are community inspired and community led, ensuring the recovery of their community members is supportive for all.

Private Sector category

SECUREcorp - 360 Degree CCTV patrol vehicles

Rising street violence, alcohol-related violence issues, assaults and assorted street crime within the City of Melbourne became a source of negative reputation for the city.

This project aims to reduce and reverse street violence trends through mobile 360 degree CCTV patrol vehicles staffed by professional security staff equipped with innovative application of CCTV technology and non-physical intervention strategies.

Education and training Category

Ambulance Victoria - Rural Sponsored Degree Paramedic (RSDP) program

This program supports Ambulance Victoria volunteers from regional and remote communities to undertake higher education paramedic qualifications to provide advanced health care to those communities.

Focusing on training and educating individuals with strong links to the community of placement, the initiative aims to ensure ongoing appropriate emergency health response to the state’s more isolated locations by providing an educational pathway to return to study and complete an advanced paramedic training at degree level, while completing on-the-job training and remaining in their community.

2010 ASCA winners and high commendation recipients with the Minister for Emergency Services Bob Cameron.

To recognise the high quality of entries, High Commendations were also awarded to:

State government category

Country Fire Authority - Programs for diverse communities

Victoria has a diverse and multicultural population. For people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds and people with special or additional needs, preparing and enacting a bushfire survival plan may be more difficult than for the general population.

The program aims to improve accessibility to and inclusiveness of all CFA information, materials and programs to better connect CALD and special needs community members to services that can help their bushfire preparedness. The project is supported by guidelines and processes to better assist CFA Areas with identifying, planning and targeting bushfire programs for these groups.

Volunteer and community group category

Taskforce (lead agency), Odyssey House Vic, Youth Projects, Interact Australia, Judy Lazarus Transition Centre - SUSO (Stepping Up Stepping Out)

The project responds to the needs of prisoners and their families through establishment of a program that provides extensive pre-and post release support back into the community with a focus on social and economic participation; setting a vision of reduction in cost of crime in community and developing new innovative models to address issues leading to offending.

Private sector category

Peanut Puppets - Food allergy awareness program for schools

Currently there is no cure for food allergy, estimated to be the trigger of 86 per cent of anaphylaxis cases. Until there is a cure, everyone has a role to play in making our community aware of food allergy and its risks. Peanut Puppets school program teaches all children about food allergies and dealing with the possibility of anaphylaxis at schools.

Education and training Category

SIDS and Kids Victoria - To promote safe sleeping to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and sleeping accidents: workforce development within the Victorian Maternal Child Health Service.

The goal of this project is to promote safe sleeping to reduce the risk of SIDS and sleeping accidents by focusing on the advantageous position Victorian Maternal Child Health (MCH) nurses hold in the community to educate and promote safe sleeping and their ability to reach new families.

For more information about the awards program or the nominated projects, view the 2010 Australian Safer Communities Awards – Victorian presentation booklet via the 2010 Australian Safer Communities Awards page on the right or contact the Australian Safer Communities Awards - Victorian Coordinator in the Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner on the number below.