They built outstanding programs designed to keep Australians safe - and today they are awarded for their work.
Today, 15 award winners from community-led programs as well as 7 winners for police-led initiatives across the country will receive Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards (ACVPA).
The awards, presented at Parliament House in Canberra, are a joint initiative by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), alongside state policing partners, which celebrate and recognise community-led programs that have helped reduce crime and violence in Australia.
"I'd like to congratulate all of the awards winners today and the contribution all of these programs make to keep Australians safer," said AIC Director Heather Cook.
"Every program that received a nomination should be proud of their achievements and I'd like to thank the ACPVA Board for their continued support of the awards."
This year's impressive list of winners and nominees showcased a vast array of programs across the country, and the Gold Award winners included:
- Big Brother Program: early intervention for high-risk youth aged 16-24.
- Community Connectors Program: supports vulnerable people at Dandenong and Frankston train stations.
- Start Court: offers an alternative to traditional court processes for offenders facing mental health challenges, substance use issues, and unmet psychosocial needs.
- MERIT Program: a voluntary, pre-plea court-based diversion program designed for adult defendants in the Local Court of New South Wales who have issues related to alcohol and other drug use.
- Safer Together Rockhampton: develops evidence-based project activities and resources that address the rising concerns regarding crime in the community.
- Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme: allows those with concerns about their current or former partner to check for any history of violence in past relationships.
