Safe Community Adelaide

Name of the Community: ADELAIDE
Country: Australia
Number of inhabitants: 17,800
Program started year: 2002
"WHO designation" year: Under Preparation

"To create a safer future for living, working, learning and enjoying the City of Adelaide"

The program covers the following safety promotion activities:
· Occupational safety
· Personal safety
· Environment and product safety
· Road safety

Occupational Safety:
Small Workplace (Hospitality Industry) Pilot: Food Courts as mini-communities represent an ideal opportunity for Adelaide Safe Community to reach significant numbers of small prepared-food outlets, and a high number of employees, centre management and precinct managers with specific, relevant safety information. A structured and interactive seminar program is being developed to target known and specific hazards, to deliver first aid training, to conduct workplace assessments and to engage both employees and employers in discussion on safety issues.

Personal safety:
Alcohol Risk Management in the City Of Adelaide: As part of the research by Adelaide Safe Community, analysis of health care and ambulance data and interviews of key agencies identified safety issues relating to alcohol consumption:
· Young males 18 to 30 (mainly visitors to the city) and older males 45 to 54 (who are mainly residents of the city) are over represented in ambulance data
· Young males 15 to 44 featured largely in hospital admissions for assault
· Informants and studies of the Adelaide area over the last five years have indicated that people who are moving about the city at night feel intimidated and at risk as a result of abusive behaviour by people who have consumed excessive alcohol
· Alcohol may be a factor in the high rate of pedestrian injuries in the city.

In January 2003, a workshop sought clarification of the issues related to alcohol misuse in the City of Adelaide; identified current responses and possible future directions.

Security Co-ordination: To improve safety in the East End Precinct, co-ordination of security between licensed premises and a residential complex has been implemented. Regular meetings between the stakeholders take place and the system has seen a reduction of serious incidents and injuries.

Licensees Accord: The Accord promotes the responsible serving of alcohol and regular meetings provide a forum for the exchange of information, airing of issues of concern and provision of solutions to the concerns.

Home and Community Care Program: Adelaide City Council supports a Home and Community Care Program to provide practical home maintenance services to eligible frail aged and younger disabled residents so as to maintain their independence and prevent premature or inappropriate institutional care.

Safety measures undertaken include:
· Home safety and security assessment and advice by a trained Officer;
· Installation of security hardware, smoke alarms and slip/grab rails within residents' homes;
· Community education to frail aged and younger disabled residents about personal safety and home security issues; and
· Regular monitoring of residents' requirements

Closed-Circuit Television Camera System: The CCTV system is designed to cover areas in the City recognised by South Australia Police as having high rates of crimes against the person, and areas that demonstrate a high level of crime and criminal activity, and to enhance City safety and crime prevention. The system consists of 34 cameras located in key positions across the City.

During a recent survey, a total of 71% of respondents said that they felt safe or very safe in the Adelaide CBD.

Multicultural Program: Fire Service Community Education Officers provide fire safety information sessions to people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities through established English language programs and community groups. The Community Safety Education Section (CSES) continues to expand on its 'How to make your home fire safe' program into more communities with the translation of fire safety information into eleven languages.

Isolated Elderly Program: The Fire Service promotes fire safety to the isolated 65+ age group using carers from groups such as Domiciliary Care, Options co ordination, Meals on Wheels, Julia Farr Centre as the link between the Fire Service and the aged occupant.

Amigos (Second Story Division of Child & Youth Health):
Amigos (Addressing Mental Illness & Giving Others Support) is a peer education project for young people 16-25yrs who experience mental illness/significant mental health issues. Amigos includes peer education training, a community support group, hospital visiting and community education and awareness projects.

Just Chillin (Second Story Division of Child & Youth Health):
Unites young women (15-25yrs) in a safe and supportive environment to explore, experience and develop skills and tools that will equip them to address issues which impact upon their health and well-being. These issues might include stress, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, relationships and conflict. The aim is that young women incorporate the knowledge and skills into their daily lives to foster a greater sense of personal well-being.

City Spotters: The objective of the program is to encourage the reporting to Council of hazards, assets requiring maintenance and graffiti to make the City a safer place to live, work and visit. Hazards can be reported by telephone, electronically or in person. All reports are recorded and immediately referred to the appropriate department for action or consideration.

Pedestrian Safety: Safety along the heavily used pedestrian routes has been improved following the installation of a number crossing facilities.

Skate Park: To encourage safe practices and reduce injuries amongst young people at the City Skate Park, Council:
· Has installed signage at the front entrance to the skate park to recommend that safety gear (helmet, gloves, elbow and knee pads) be worn";
· Requires that all advertisements promoting skate events at the skate park display the "skate safe, wear protective clothing" slogan;
· Requires that in all Council-produced promotional material about the skate park, photos of skaters wearing helmets are used;
· Conducts Coaching Clinics to educate participants on the importance of helmets and other safety equipment;
· Requires all skaters contracted to perform demonstrations at skate events to wear helmets;
· Has installed security cameras;
· Has installed a public telephone for emergency use by skate park users; and
· Ensures the skate park is lit all night

South-West Corner Management Plan: The South-West corner of the City is home to a number of services for vulnerable people. Council, welfare groups, service providers, Police and the Department of Human Services, residents and businesses work together to improve safety issues and increase social capital in the area. Issues being addressed include:
· anti-social behaviour on streets outside agencies' premises;
· security in the agencies and the increasing fear of some clients' behaviour;
· an increase in pedestrian accidents on West Terrace; and
· vulnerable people camping in the Park Lands and Whitmore Square, with associated drinking and sometimes fighting leading to injuries.

Environment and product safety

Recreation facilities: To improve the safety of Council's playgrounds and offer a safe environment for children to play, Council is converting playground equipment from wood and steel to plastic. The plastic used for the equipment is a lot lighter and less dangerous than wood or steel. Safety Audit inspections are carried out weekly on all playgrounds. This ensures the equipment is in sound condition and the softfall around the equipment complies with Council's strict safety standards.

Pedestrian Lighting
Council has a rolling program to upgrade lighting in the City. Recently, some lighting has been upgraded to improve safety in the streets. Most notable in this area is the upgrade of lighting around some welfare agencies, which have been identified as areas of concern for safety. Another area to be recently upgraded is in the Park Lands to improve safety at night for those that return to their vehicles that have been parked there all day.

Road safety

50km/h Speed Limit: Since 1 March 2003, the speed limit in built-up areas of all South Australian cities and towns is 50 km/h unless there is a sign with a different speed limit. This lower speed limit has been introduced to help reduce crashes and make local streets safer for all road users particularly children, pedestrians and cyclists. The new speed limit is a 'default' speed limit which replaces the previous general urban speed limit of 60 km/h in a built-up area.

Bicycle Lanes:

Identity & Role:
Adelaide Safe Community aims "To promote injury prevention and safety in the City of Adelaide in line with the guidelines and principles of the Safe Communities Foundation of Canada and the WHO Safe Communities criteria as published by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention, Karolinska Institute, Sweden."

E-mail Contact: mbrotherton@workcover.com

International commitments:

Study visits:

Participation in Safe Community conferences:

Staff:
Adelaide Safe Community is supported and actioned through WorkCover Corporation and Adelaide City Council in collaboration with
· Adelaide Central Mission
· AIDS Council of South Australia Inc
· Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
· Department of Human Services
· Heta Incorporated
· Kidsafe
· Metropolitan Fire Service
· Mission Australia
· National Heart Foundation (SA Division)
· St John Ambulance
· Second Story Division of Child and Youth Health
· South Australia Police
· Transport SA
· United Trades & Labour Council
· Women's Information Service

For further information contact:
Meegan Brotherton, Secretary ASC Inc
Project Officer Safe Communities
WorkCover Corporation
100 Waymouth Street
ADELAIDE SA 5000
Australia

Tel: +618 8233 2970
Fax: +618 8233 2044
E-mail: mbrotherton@workcover.com

Nick Nash
Senior Project Officer (City Safety & Crime Prevention)
& Treasurer Adelaide Safe Community
Adelaide City Council
GPO Box 2252
ADELAIDE SA 5001

Tel: +618 8203 7562
Fax: +618 8203 7554
E-Mail: n.nash@adelaidecitycouncil.com
Web: www.adelaidecitycouncil.com