Safer Communities Australia is a community-based organization that has grown from the previous Safety House program.
For more than two decades, the Safety House Association of South Australia conducted and developed a network of community safety locations know as Safety Houses and extended its program by introducing safety educational programs such as the primary school Safety Ambassador scheme.
With the support and encouragement of Government, a generational restructure occurred in 2004 to incorporate developments and to position the organization for changing community needs.
The new organization is Safer Communities Australia.
Vision: Safer Communities Mission: To identify personal safety and community issues and provide services which promote greater safety.
Safer Communities Australia Inc has three programs:
Safety Assist is the former Safety House network, renamed with a new sign and logo. Safety Assist is the premier program of Safer Communities Australia.
Stay Safe is the educational program including Safety Ambassadors, safety information brochures and Children’s Safety Celebration. The program has its own logo.
Safety Associates is a program recognising relationships with other safety agencies and has its own logo.
Safer Communities Australia Inc Board
Safer Communities Australia Inc is governed by a Board comprising Directors elected from membership, representatives from kindred organisations, and those appointed for their specialist expertise.
2012 Board Directors:
Brenton Keen (SCA member) – President
David Gray (SCA member) – Vice President
Sharyn Mitten (representing St John Ambulance Aust – SA) - Treasurer
Michael Dawson (SCA Member)
Chief Supt Dean Miller APM (representing SA Police)
Leanne Williams (representing Dept for Education and Child Development)
Commander Greg Howard AFSM (representing SA Metropolitan Fire Service)
Roles of associated groups
Management Committees
Independent groups of parents and community members form local management committees to manage the Safer Communities program in their area. These local committees are responsible for operating and maintaining the Safety Assist program in their area and work with their local schools.
A committee is comprised of all those interested in providing a service for children and other members of the community, and may include:
Parents, grandparents, teachers and other school representatives
Community groups such as Apex, Rotary, Lions, etc
Youth groups such as scouts and guides
Pre schools, play groups and infant welfare centres
Churches
Local Council representatives
Interested local residents
Schools
Schools play a vital role in the Safer Communities program, particularly the Safety Assist program.
Safety Assist is taught in schools by teachers and by visiting police and Safer Communities members.
Safer Communities equips children with self-protection strategies to help them to recognise danger situations and reinforces the importance of knowing the locations of local Safety Assist premises.
Parents
Parents have an important role in reinforcing the program with their children. Safer Communities encourages parents to teach their children to:
Recognise Safety Assist signs on letterboxes, houses, buses and businesses
Find safe (Safety Assist) routes to school
Recognise warning signs about feeling unsafe
Go to a shop, chemist, milk bar, or call out to a passer-by if there are no Safety Assist premises available when they need help
Understand that Safety Assist locations must be used responsibly and with consideration
Volunteer opportunities
available with Safer Communities Australia
Safer Communities Australia is reliant on community volunteers. There are
many activities for which we seek assistance and a list is provided
below. Some volunteer positions require more skills than others and our
organisation will provide the necessary training for suitable applicants.
