Queensland crime prevention projects receive national recognition

Fifteen Queensland projects had been presented with Crime and Violence Prevention Awards this year, Acting Communities Minister Kerry Shine said today.

“The individuals and organisations acknowledged today have become involved in projects and activities that target crime and promote community awareness of crime prevention,” he said.

“These Queensland award winners have shown the ability and willingness of communities to come to grips with local crime and violence issues, and to resolve them. These awards highlight the significant role each and every one of us can play in ensuring the community we live in is both peaceful and safe.”

The Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards were established in 1993 and are a joint initiative of the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments to recognise individuals, community groups and other organisations that play an active role in preventing or reducing instances of crime and violence.

The awards are a national event recognising individuals and organisations in each state and territory that have significantly contributed to reducing crime and raising community awareness of crime and violence prevention.

Mr Shine said the Gold Coast City Council has taken out Queensland’s top cash prize in the 2006 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards.

The Gold Coast City Council’s Active and Healthy Gold Coast program was recognised for its role in reducing crime and violence in parks and community facilities.

“The program addresses crime and violence by reducing opportunities for crime and the fear of crime, through free or low-cost activities in parks around the Gold Coast,” Mr Shine said.

The $7000 prize and certificate of merit were presented to representatives from the Gold Coast City Council at an award ceremony at Brisbane’s Royal on the Park today.

Mr Shine said the Queensland Government was committed to developing innovative and effective responses to crime and violence prevention in Queensland.

“We acknowledge that the government cannot do it alone and the support of people and organisations such as those who won awards today, is invaluable in the push to prevent crime,” he said.

11 December 2006 Media contact:Joe Begley 3235 4280

[Full list of Queensland winners below]

Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards
2006 winners – Queensland

Certificate of Merit and $7000 award:

• Gold Coast City Council – Active and Healthy Gold Coast program (Gold Coast).

Certificate of Merit and $2000 award:

• Joint award winners

-DeceptionBayStateHighSchool – Restoration Not Retribution project

-DeceptionBayStateHigh School, Caboolture Area Youth Services and Department of Communities YJET – A Second Chance program (DeceptionBay).

• Najidah – Najidah Kids Club, SunshineCoast.
• Save the Children Fund – Save the Children Future Parents program, Brisbane.

Certificate of Merit awards:

• Domestic Violence Prevention Centre, Gold Coast – Project SAFER.
• Gold Coast City Council – Graffiti, Lets Get it Together.
• Gold Coast City Council – Safer Amenity by Design.
• Gold Coast City Council and National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council – Operation Bounceback, Gold Coast.
• Metropolitan South Region, Queensland Police Service, BABI Youth and Family Support Service and the Queensland Department of Education and the Arts – UP program, Brisbane.
• Sisters Inside – Outsiders project, Brisbane.
• Department of Communities and Mackay City Council – Mackay Community Crime Prevention Action Team.
• Bur-Del Housing Cooperative Advancement Society – Burdekin Area Youth Watch (BAYWATCH), Ayr.

Police Medal:

• Queensland Police Service – Homelands Partnership, Cairns.

Police Certificate:

• Queensland Police Service – Coordinated Response to Young People at Risk, Brisbane.