The Safety House Program was a national Australian community based and funded program designed for the safety of children while in transit to and from school. Houses and businesses were selected as safe places for children to seek shelter and safety if required. Applicants had to undergo criminal history checks and other checks such as a
home inspection
A home inspection is a limited, non-invasive examination of the condition of a home, often in connection with the sale of that home. Home inspections are usually conducted by a home inspector who has the training and certifications to perform suc ...
, etc.
History
The program was established in
North Dandenong,
Victoria, Australia
Victoria, commonly abbreviated as Vic, is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second-smallest state (after Tasmania), with a land area of ; the second-most-populated state (after New South Wales), with a population of over 7 million; ...
in 1979.
New South Wales took up the program in April, 1984. Safety Houses were denoted by a square yellow plastic sign featuring the Safety House logo.
The Safety House Program was discontinued in Victoria from 31 July 2013. The organisation cited changing community trends in their decision to wind up the program, such as the greater number of children being driven to school, and the lower number of stay-at-home parents.
In
New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
the Safety House Program has been discontinued in favour of a new program designed to provide children with simple strategies to help ensure their own personal safety.
As of 2023, the Safety House program still runs independently in
Western Australia
Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...
.
See also
*
National Safe Place (US)
*
Block Parent Program (Canada)
*
Neighbourhood watch
A neighborhood watch or neighbourhood watch (see American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, spelling differences), also called a crime watch or neighbourhood crime watch, is an organized group of civilians devoted to crime a ...
References
External links
Flat-pack Container HouseSafety House Western Australia
Child safety
1979 establishments in Australia
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