Safe Communities – Opportunities & Challenges: Pacific Region

1. Safe Communities – Opportunities & Challenges: Pacific Region Australian Safe Communities Foundation- Henk Harberts, Chair & Dr Dale Hansen (Presenter) Safe Communities Foundation New Zealand – Dr Carolyn Coggan Director World IP Conference Mexico, March 2008

2. History • Pacific region (Australia & New Zealand) have had long-term involvement in Int. SC network. • Contributions have included: research, resource development, programme development, conferences, training, advocacy, procedural review and support for, and designation of, Safe Communities – nationally & internationally. • First Int SC in Australia was Hume City # 10 & Latrobe #15 in 1996. • First Int. SC in NZ was Waitakere City # 46 in 1999. • Both Hume, Latrobe & Waitakere City remain active & were redesignated in 2006. • Both Australia & NZ have also been active firstly in terms of having Affiliate Support Centres and more recently with both countries having Certifying Centres.

3. Cairns Mt Isa 2 SC’s hoping to achieve designation in 2008 3 SC’s actively working towards designation Adelaide Shepparton Casey Australian Safe Communities Palmerston Townsville / Thuringowa 11 designated International SC’s. Mackay / Whitsunday Ryde SHOROC Northcott Denmark Noarlunga Hume Latrobe Melbourne

4. 6 Designated International SC 6 Aiming for designation 08/09 4 Engaged in process 8 Showing interest Whangarei Far North Rodney North Shore Waitakere Mangere Tauranga Papakura Franklin Rotorua Hamilton Taupo New Plymouth Napier Hastings Wanganui Palmerston North Porirua Hutt City Nelson Wellington City Safe Communities Waimakariri Christchurch NZ Invercargill

5. Safe Communities is not another project or a programme, it’s an integrated way of doing business… Local Council Roads Drowning Falls Fire Crime Workplace

6. www.nzips.govt.nz Government support and New Zealand Injury Prevention Strategy

7. Range of Strategies & approaches • In both Australia and New Zealand, communities (accredited and those working towards the criteria) focus on both safety promotion and injury prevention & adopt a range of models and approaches. • A review of all communities found that in the Pacific region – motor vehicle traffic crashes, drowning, falls prevention (especially for older adults) & child safety are covered by the majority of communities. • Other strategies adopted include Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), Family Violence, Workplace safety, Dog control, and a wide range of initiatives to address alcohol misuse. • Few communities have strategies in place to adequately address suicide prevention.

8. Selected Outcomes: Waitakere, the first NZ designated Safe Community, significantly reduced injury death rates & had lower injury hospitalisation rates than the rest of Auckland; Waimakariri, designated as a Safe Community in 1999, had the lowest injury fatality rate among all 74 TLAs throughout NZ; Wellington City, designated Safe Community in 2006, reported a 30% reduction in traffic crashes, & a 5.7% overall reduction in crime in the last 12 months; and North Shore City, the most recently designated Safe Community, has had significant reductions in reported crimes from 1050 per 10,000 in 1996 to 680 in 2006, making North Shore NZ Safest City. Mackay / Whitsunday: 12% reduction in ED presentations & doubling of Social Capital Effectiveness: Pacific Safe Communities

9. Opportunities & Challenges • Successful Canadian Passport to Safety programme has been adapted by ASCF & SCFNZ. • How best to involve other Pacific nations, such as Cook Islands & Samoa in Int. SC networks. • Geographical size & state system of Australia presents a unique set of challenges for ASCF. • While in NZ, the forthcoming 2008 national elections & potential change of government could see the level of support for Safe Communities in NZ diminish. • The relative isolation of Australia and New Zealand makes regular face-to-face communication and support expensive and time-consuming. Yet despite this challenge, both ASCF & SCFNZ remain very active in Int. Safe Communities.

11. 17th International Safe Communities Conference Diary now! 20-23 October 2008 Christchurch New Zealand www.safecom2008.org.nz

12. Main ThemeWorking together to make a difference • Four Themes: • Working together to reduce risk of injury and crime • Working together for vibrant and safe communities/cities • Working together to reduce the impact and consequences of crime and injuries • Working together to build the networks to think globally, plan nationally, act locally

13. Important Dates • Call for Abstracts now open • Registration brochure available, February 2008 • Call for Abstracts Close, 01 May 2008 • Close Early Registrations, 15 June 2008 • Travelling Seminar, 15-18 October, 2008 • Conference 20-23 October, 2008 For further information: www.safecommunities2008.org.nz

14. Safe Communities – Opportunities & Challenges: Pacific Region Australian Safe Communities Foundation- Henk Harberts, Chair & Dr Dale Hansen (Presenter) Safe Communities Foundation New Zealand – Dr Carolyn Coggan Director World IP Conference Mexico, March 2008