Supporting savvy seniors for safer homes

Published on 07 February 2020

Baw Baw Shire Council is partnering with Victoria Police to develop and deliver a home safety campaign for local seniors called “Savvy Seniors - Safer Homes”.

The campaign aims to equip local seniors with useful crime-prevention tools and tactics that can make their home less attractive to a would-be criminal.  It will proactively encourage seniors to report crime if it happens and support people to seek help if needed.

Campaign resources will feature information on how to make homes less vulnerable to crime and strengthen perceptions of safety in homes and neighbourhoods.

Victoria Police noted that seniors in our community may need some specialised information to support crime prevention knowledge and skills, rather than generic messaging and resources. Over the next few months, Council will work closely with local seniors to include them in the project development and rollout.

Local seniors will be engaged to help better understand current sentiments, behaviours and data that may be impacting people's sense of safety at home. Campaign resources will include the type of content that local seniors want, featuring real local people and places in Baw Baw.

Once the materials have been developed, the project will officially launch during the annual Victorian Seniors Festival in October.

This project is funded by a $12,600 grant from the Victorian Government’s Community Crime Prevention Program.

Council is seeking the help of eligible seniors to participate in the project between March and May 2020. To express your interest or find out more call Council on 1300 229 229 and speak to the Strategic and Community Planning Team.

“We’re proud to partner with Victoria Police to support an initiative that will help empower local seniors to stay savvy, feel safe at home and build confidence to report a crime if it happens.”

“With the urban development happening in our Shire and people living independently in their homes for longer, our older citizens may need new supports, guidance and assistance with preventing crime in their area. Effective home security behaviours are changing, and citizens really need to change their habits and increase their neighbourhood connections. Police and Baw Baw Shire Council look forward to working together to develop strategies to help our citizens stay safe and secure in the Shire.”