The ‘My house is safe’ project was designed to improve access to important crime prevention information for Wyndham residents from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

The project was led by Wyndham Community and Education Centre (External link) (WCEC). WCEC have a long history working in the community and providing information and services to those from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Crime statistics for Wyndham showed an average of five burglaries every day for the 2017 calendar year. WCEC consulted with Victoria Police at the beginning of the project who indicated that residential burglary was a key focus in the local area. WCEC then set out to create a resource specifically for CALD communities to assist them with improving safety in their homes. 

A project group was formed between the following groups:

• Wyndham CEC
• WEstJustice
• Victoria Police
• Wyndham City Council
• Wyndham Interfaith Network. 

Working together with a graphic designer and using information from the Help Yourself website, the group developed a colourful fridge magnet. The magnet used pictures to convey five simple steps for preventing residential burglary.

Initially, a total of 5000 magnets were printed with a small amount of text in English. A further 1000 magnets were produced in three languages common to the area:

• Burmese
• Karen
• Haka Chin.

Victoria Police and community agencies helped to distribute the magnets throughout the community. The ‘My house is safe’ fridge magnet was officially launched at a community event at the Wyndham CEC in June 2018.

The 'My house is safe' fridge magnet in English and translated into Burmese:

If you would like a copy of this campaign material, or to be put in touch with the Wyndham Community and Education Centre to help inform your own community safety project, please contact communitycrimeprevention@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)

Achievements

This project created an accessible and appealing crime prevention resource specifically for CALD communities in Wyndham. Carefully considering the audience, WCEC innovatively used illustrations to convey messaging to help reduce residential burglary, and increase feelings of safety among this community. The magnets have been widely distributed and the launch event featured in the Wyndham Star Newspaper. This provided positive coverage and greater awareness of the project.