Name of the Community: Toowoomba
Country: Australia

Toowoomba is Australia’s largest regional inland city. Situated 700 metres above sea level on the Great Dividing Range, Toowoomba offers spectacular views east to the coast and west to Australia’s famous outback.

Number of inhabitants: 89,928
(Estimated Resident Population of Toowoomba City at 30 June 2001)
Program started year: 2001
Intended "WHO- designation" year: 2004

Information on Toowoomba City:
www.toowoomba.qld.gov.au

Introduction and Background:
In July 2001, Toowoomba initiated its investigation into the WHO Safe Communities Accrediation Program. In October 2001, Toowoomba City Council resolved to engage its community in a concerted effort to pursue and secure accreditation for Toowoomba as a WHO Safe Community.

Over the last 12 months, Toowoomba has strived to progress and strengthen a ’whole-of-community’ approach to health and safety prevention and promotion. Toowoomba’s Safe Communities Program seeks to enhance this community’s response to addressing local priorities by utilising community engagement and community capacity building strategies.

Key Deliverables Intended Within The Toowoomba Safe Communities Program:

• Establish and facilitate a multi-agency forum comprising representatives from government, non-government and community at the local and regional level who share a collective commitment to reducing the incidence and effect of injury, improving community safety and building capacity to meet current and emerging needs.
• Lead and coordinate a response to seek accreditation as a Safe Community in accordance with the WHO Safe Communities criteria and to work towards achieving an ongoing funding and resource base to achieve the aims of the program.
• Identify issues and trends concerning injury, community safety and well-being: through the collection and analysis of baseline data from public agencies.
• Map and audit injury/illness programs and community safety prevention initiatives at a local level.
• Develop an integrated collaborative aproach involving joint action by Council, other levels of government and community agencies.
  

The Toowoomba Safe Communities Task Force was established in September 2002. The Task Force acts in an advisory role and provides a forum for community and government representatives with specific skills, experience and local knowledge to contribute to the development of Toowoomba as a Safe Community within the WHO’s Safe Communities Accreditation Program.

Membership of the Task Force comprises the following:
Two (2) Councillors - Toowoomba City Council.
Two (2) representatives - Council staff.
One (1) representative - Darling Downs Public Health Unit.
One (1) representative - District Health Council.
One (1) representative - Hospital sector.
One (1) representative - Toowoomba Crime Prevention Partnership Program.
One (1) representative - Youth sector.
One (1) representative - A local/regional community organisation.
Two (2) representatives - Government agencies, inlcuding Emergency Services Sector.
One (1) representative - Queensland Police Service.
One (1) co-opted representative - Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit.
The immediate priorities of the Toowoomba Safe Communities Program to be progressed within the pursuit of the WHO Safe Communities Accrediation Program are:
Data collection and research
1.Profile and audit the comunity and identify issues
2. Build partnerships and increase community awareness

Currently two areas for attention have been identified from an analysis of State/National and Regional data indicators and emerging trends:

• Commercial and Neighbourhood Watch
• Burns and Scalds
• Other Accidents in the Home (DIY, Drowning, Poisioning)
• Substance User Abuse
• Assault, Invasions and Domestic Violence
• Self Harm
  

2. Public Space

• Falls Prevention
• Playgrounds
• Sports/Recreation/Leisure
• Workplace Incidences
• Road Safety
• State of Environment
• Food Hygiene
• Animal Control
• School Safety Issues
  

The Toowoomba Safe Communities Program will encompass all age groups:

• Children 0-14 years
• Youth 15-24 years
• Adults 25-64 years
• Elderly 65+ years
  

and the following environments and programs:

• Accidents (non-intentional injuries)
• Violence prevention (intentional injuries)
• Suicide prevention (self-inflicted injuries)
• Programs aiming at "High risk/vulnerable groups"

As a contribution towards the Toowoomba Safe Communities Program, injury surveillance data is currently being collected at the Emergency Departments of the Toowoomba Base (Public) Hospital and St. Vincent’s Hospital. Negotiations are being conducted with other individual agencies to secure indicators of current trends and emerging priorities.

For further information please contact:
Cr Michele Alroe
Chair, Toowoomba Safe Communities Task Force
Phone: +61 7 4688 6800
m.alroe@toowoomba.qld.gov.au

Dyan Currie
Manager Strategic Planning
Toowoomba City Council
543 Ruthven Street
Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia
PO Box 3021
Post Office Village Fair, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia

Phone: +61 4688 6849
Mobile: 0438 438 525
Fax: +61 07 46886894
d.currie@toowoomba.qld.gov.au