NOVEMBER 22, 2016 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
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Buddies build word bridges The next generation of Sunshine police could be recruited through the old-fashioned art of letter-writing. Meaningful bridges are being built between local law enforcers and the Sunshine Primary School through the Literacy Buddies program, where the ‘Big Buddies’, local police officers, and Brimbank’s ‘Little Buddies’, Sunshine PS students, exchange handwritten letters during the school year. The program aims to improve literacy and engage kids with positive role models. Grade five and six teacher Andrew Kearns said the Ardoch Youth Foundation initiative had been “amazing” for students. “It’s a great way for students to put faces and personalities to the hard-working members of the local Victoria Police force,” he said. “The students get to write good, old-fashioned letters to their buddies, and eagerly await replies. “The program inspires children to write for a meaningful purpose. “Police buddies visit the school and give students a taste of life as a serving police officer. “They then get to visit the local police station and go behind the scenes to explore what a career in the force is like.” Ben Cameron
First Constable Catherine Madden and a ‘little buddy’ student. (Supplied)
After dark, fear strikes By Alexandra Laskie
12331211-RC47-16 10036041-20
A majority of Brimbank residents don’t feel safe in their neighbourhood after dark. Figures from the latest VicHealth Survey show six of every 10 Brimbank residents are scared when walking alone at night. That is significantly higher than the state average. The surveyors collected data last year through telephone interviews with more than 22,800 people. According to the survey, 61.2 per cent of Brimbank residents indicated they felt unsafe when walking alone at night, compared to the state average of 44.9 per cent. Perceptions of safety in Brimbank have remained relatively
unchanged for almost a decade. The survey is conducted every four years and is a major health indicator used by all tiers of government to measure a range of factors that impact on an individual’s and a community’s wellbeing. Victoria Police Inspector for Brimbank and Melton, David Byrt, said the survey’s findings and community perceptions of safety in the area didn’t accurately reflect local crime statistics. “I can categorically state that Brimbank is safer than it was five years ago when you look at crime figures in terms of total crime numbers. Across a five-year trend, crime is on the way down,” he said. “From my perspective, we’re on the right
path.” However, he did acknowledge that there were pockets of the municipality that posed “challenges” for police. “It’s all about perception,” Inspector Byrt said. “It’s a challenge for us to convert those facts [crime statistics] into community perceptions.” The survey also revealed that Brimbank residents reported significantly reduced wellbeing compared with other Victorians. They scored a resilience measure of 5.8 out of 8, compared to the state average of 6.4, while only 64 per cent of Brimbank residents said people in their neighbourhood were willing to help each other out. The state average was 71.9 per cent. Just over half (52 per cent) of Brimbank
residents said they felt they lived in a closeknit community, and a significantly smaller portion of Brimbank residents agreed that people in their neighbourhood could be trusted (54.6 per cent) compared to the portion of Victorians who agreed (71.9 per cent). Brimbank residents also ate fewer servings of fruit and vegetables, but they drank more glasses of water. To improve safety, the council has recently upgraded lighting in Sunshine and St Albans town centres. It encourages residents to get to know each other by offering grants for activities that connect people such as Neighbour Day, while local laws restrict alcohol consumption in public areas.
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