The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), in partnership with the Attorney-General the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP and state and territory police commissioners, has awarded 9 projects with an Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Award (ACVPA).
The ACVPAs recognise best practice in the prevention or reduction of violence and other types of crime in Australia and play a vital role in highlighting effective community-based initiatives to prevent crime and violence before it occurs.
This year is the 31st year of the awards, and in that time the AIC has recognised more than 1,100 projects for excellence in crime and violence prevention and keeping our communities safe.
AIC Deputy Director Dr Rick Brown said the awards play a vital role in fostering the relationships between our governments, law enforcement and community.
“The ACVPAs encourage the implementation and sustainability of innovative and efficient crime prevention programs. I congratulate our 9 winners on this great achievement, and thank you for your valuable service to your communities and the broader Australian public.”
Gold award winners
Maranguka Youth Support Model (Community-led) – partnered with Just Reinvest New South Wales (NSW) and guided by the Bourke Tribal Council, this program is First Nations led self-determination, cultural governance and cross-sector commitment to reducing crime and violence and improving outcomes for the community of Bourke, NSW. It focuses on tackling the underlying causes of crime through community development initiatvies.
Operation Capesso (Police-led) – this program was a proactive initiative focused on reducing crime among the most serious violent offenders in Southern Metro Melbourne. Detectives and Youth Specialist Officers conducted unannounced home visits and spoke with the individuals and their families in an effort to deter them from reoffending thereby reducing violence and victim harm.
Embedded Youth Outreach Program (Police-led) – this is a initiative is focused on reducing youth offending and operates outside of business hours when young people are most likely to be at risk of offending or victimisation. It aims to reduce long-term involvement in the criminal justice system by engaging with the young person and their family, assessing their needs and referring them to youth-specific supports.
Silver award winners
Transitional Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Project (Community-led) – this project is an outreach based AOD counselling service for people with a history of involvement in the criminal justice system across Greater Sydney. By using a culturally competent, trauma-informed and non-judgemental framework, including pre-release and outreach drug and alcohol support, individuals are encouraged to break entrenched cycles of AOD use and incarceration.
Creating Futures Justice Program (Community-led) – this program was established in response to community needs and the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system. As part of the program, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people are equipped with a structured 12-month plan which includes bail, pre and post-release support, plus diversionary options, giving them every chance to create a positive future for themselves.
The Blue Rose Project (Police-led) – this program works to ensure police are innovative in preventing and responding to crime, antisocial behaviour and missing person occurrences among young people in care. An officer interacts with young people and support agencies daily, building stronger relationships, better intelligence, enhanced accountability, improved prevention and more timely intervention strategies.
First Nations ‘In-Community’ Protective Services Officer Program (Police-led) – this project is designed to recruit, train, and employ local First Nations community members, in protective security officer roles within 11 remote communities across Queensland. This provides employment for approximately 120 local community members in which they receive training focused on personal, interpersonal and professional skills as well as health and wellbeing, and financial literacy.
Bronze award winners
The South Australian Home Detention Program (Community-led) – South Australia’s Department for Correctional Services introduced legislative reforms to enable court ordered home detention and expand its existing Home Detention Program. This has shown to contribute to lower breach rates and reduce recidivism by keeping them engaged in their community.
ThinkUKnow Australia (Police-led) – this program engages influencers in a young person’s life, including parents, carers, educators and police to raise awareness and deliver education about preventing online child sexual exploitation. Resources available to these groups include up-to-date research, real case studies and examples from reports made to the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.
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