Section Ten: Safe Communities Program

Overview and Aims

The Safe Communities Program recognises that if people are not safe in their homes and communities it is difficult to implement economic development, healthy lifestyles, environmental management and other initiatives. Whilst law and order are the primary functions of law enforcement agencies and the delivery of social service programs resides with other agencies, the TSRA, through the Safe Communities Program, needs to influence policy and monitor service delivery by other agencies. The TSRA will undertake a leading and supporting role through Integrated Service Delivery forums, contributing to the development and monitoring of standards for the provision of social services.

The Safe Communities Program will also contribute directly to some public and community safety and accessibility outcomes through funding and support for targeted initiatives. Some of those initiatives will involve infrastructure or equipment (e.g. transportation related), and others may be focused on awareness raising and capacity building (e.g. in emergency response). The program will also contribute funding to proactive and reactive social service providers implementing critical programs, which will include support for capacity building and training initiatives.

The program aims are to:

• contribute to the development of standards for the provision of all mainstream social services and facilities, including emergency response services, through engagement with responsible agencies
• undertake a policy advocacy, monitoring and supporting role with respect to mainstream services, advocating and acting as a solution broker on behalf of communities and the region, using Integrated Service Delivery forums
• provide direct funding and resource support for some social support services, and infrastructure, facilities and equipment, that contribute to improved safety and accessibility of communities and families (the TSRA will not provide mainstream social or community services).

Regional Goal

• Safe, healthy, respectful and progressive communities, based on Ailan Kastom and Aboriginal traditions (Communities).
• Strong families and safe and healthy communities that are guided by cultural and traditional Lore (Social Services).

Regional Issues

• Lack of appropriate counselling services across a range of social issues.
• High rate of referrals to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS). (In the 12-month period ending 31 March 2013, ATSILS dealt with 2,714 matters in the region.)
• Drug and alcohol issues.
• Loss of traditional ways.
• Insufficient laws, law protection and enforcement.
• Safety issues in respect of some community facilities.
• Need to protect children and other threatened members of the community (ATSILS dealt with 39 violence protection matters in the region in the 12 month period ending 31 March 2013).
• Movement of Papua New Guinea (PNG) nationals.
• Lack of disaster preparedness in communities.
• Lack of affordable transport infrastructure.

Program Outcomes

• [SC-1] Effective community and social services support.
• [SC-2] Families and individuals are safe in home and community.
• [SC-3] Public areas are safe and accessible for community members.
• [SC-4] Communities have access to appropriate transport infrastructure.

Benefits

2014 – 2018

• Increased effectiveness of social services support to communities.
• Improved capacity of social services providers to respond to community identified needs.
• Increased family and individual participation in community events.
• Increased skills development and employment opportunity for community members delivering social support services.

Future Development Plans

• Increased use of proactive and social support services by five per cent.
• Increased participation in social and cultural activities by community by five per cent.
• Improved access to safe transport and emergency services is reported through the Integrated Service Delivery (ISD) evaluations.

Performance Measures

All Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people employed in the TSRA supported social services sector in the region have appropriate accreditation.

• All TSRA funded service delivery organisations in the region provide quality services and operate in accordance with relevant standards.
• Reduction in service referrals, response timeframes and waiting lists for social service providers.
• Increased participation in TSRA supported community events by residents and TSRA funded service organisations

Projects and Initiatives

The Safe Communities Program has a mandate from the TSRA Board to undertake the following projects and initiatives:

• support Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal women, men and children social development and support programs; child and family safety programs
• support safe and accessible community infrastructure; land and sea communications systems; community capacity building
• participate in interagency and Integrated Service Delivery meetings/forums to discuss issues of community and domestic safety and to contribute to shaping planning and service delivery in the region.

Contribution to the Closing the Gap Targets

The Safe Communities Program will contribute to the following Closing the Gap targets:

• Target #1: close the gap in life expectancy within a generation
• Target #2: halve the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five within a decade.

Contribution to COAG National Partnership Agreement Indigenous-specific Outcomes

The Safe Communities Program will contribute towards the achievement of the following National Partnership Agreement Indigenous-specific outcomes:

• Indigenous children and families are safe and protected from violence and neglect in their home and communities.
• Breaking cycles of criminal behaviour and violence normalisation.
• Children benefit from better social inclusion and reduced disadvantage.

Annex H-1 Program Map – Safe Communities

Annex H-2 Safe Communities Program – Overview

Annex H-3 Safe Communities Program – Benefits