A new grants program will tackle the root causes of crime through innovative, community-based projects, as part of Victoria's social recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Minister for Crime Prevention Natalie Hutchins launched the new $11 million Building Safer Communities Program today at the Brimbank Building Safer Communities Forum - the first in a series of community forums to tackle social challenges and improve community safety.
Partnering with communities to address the root causes of crime is the cornerstone of the Andrews Labor Government's cutting-edge approach to crime prevention.
Under the new grants program, councils, community organisations and other stakeholders will be able to apply for grants of up to $300,000 for innovative proposals designed to improve community safety and prevent crime before it occurs.
The first round of the Building Safer Communities Program will open in early 2021 and include two competitive grant streams:
- Creating Safer Places grants - Grants of between $25,000 and $300,000 for councils to fund urban design and place activation initiatives to improve the safety and use of public places by a diverse range of community members.
- Crime Prevention Innovation Fund - Grants of between $25,000 and $300,000 for councils, not-for-profit community organisations and other specialist organisations for partnership projects that deliver and evaluate innovative community safety and crime prevention initiatives.
The program also includes a third stream called Empowering Communities grants - which will offer identified communities the opportunity to develop proposals for locally-tailored crime prevention projects.
Successful projects will have a strong focus on evidence, community consultation and establishing local partnerships.
The program will be delivered as part of the government's Community Crime Prevention Program, which has invested more than $45 million in almost 800 projects across Victoria since 2015.
More detail about the Building Safer Communities Program can be found at crimeprevention.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Minister for Crime Prevention Natalie Hutchins
"Addressing the root causes of crime and improving community safety and connection will play an important part in Victoria's recovery from the impacts of coronavirus."
"Local communities know what works best for them - which is why our new Building Safer Communities program is putting the power in their hands, to develop innovative grassroots solutions to prevent crime in their area."
