The Victorian Government would like to acknowledge all those who generously contributed their effort, experience and expertise to the development of the Strategy. The extensive input and feedback from community members and organisations, community safety experts and government agencies has been vital to the development of this Strategy and will be critical to its successful implementation.

Consultations took place at forums, workshops and events in 2019 and 2020, including:

  • The Aboriginal Justice Forum
  • The Justice Partnership Forum
  • Seven regional stakeholder engagement events across Victoria
  • Eleven workshops and focus groups including targeted engagement with young people supported by the Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVIC) and another with organisations representing victims of crime
  • Meetings with the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, the Commissioner for Children and Young People, Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities, the Victorian Multicultural Commissioner and the Victims of Crime Commissioner.

Detailed engagement with multicultural communities was also undertaken, with community workshops in Broadmeadows, Dandenong and Footscray as well as focus groups with the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Youth Activating Youth, the Multifaith Advisory Group, the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Settlement Services International and Bendigo Community Health Services.

Crime Prevention Taskforce

A Crime Prevention Taskforce was established and met six times in 2019 and 2020 to provide invaluable advice and feedback on the Strategy’s development. The Taskforce included representatives from community services, industry and media:

  • Ahmed Hassan – Director, Youth Activating Youth
  • Azmeena Hussain – Board Director, Football Federation Victoria
  • Antoinette Braybrook – CEO, Djirra
  • Christian Bennett – Head of Government Relations and Industry Affairs, Woolworths
  • Corey Hannett – Director-General, Major Transport Infrastructure Authority
  • Craig Laslett – former CEO, Engineering and Services Australia, Lendlease
  • Dave Donaghy – former CEO, Melbourne Storm
  • Emma King – CEO, Victorian Council of Social Service
  • Julie Edwards – CEO, Jesuit Social Services
  • Julie Rynski – National Australia Bank
  • Lewis Martin – Managing Director, Channel Seven
  • Luke Hilakari – Secretary, Victorian Trades Hall
  • Mike Bainbridge – President, Basketball Victoria
  • Rob Auld – Australian Football League (AFL).

The Taskforce also heard from experts and community practitioners including:

  • StrEAT
  • the City of Moonee Valley’s Flemington Works team
  • Berry Street
  • the Coleman Foundation
  • the New York Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, and
  • Jobsbank.