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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 9 Hansard (21 August) . . Page.. 2744 ..

The DJACS managed programs relating to research and bushfire arson contain elements that will provide information on best practice for future programs. The DJACS managed motor vehicle theft project is based on a best practice model informed by a national evaluation of similar programs.

(d) All programs have the potential for engaging community-based organisations. The Indigenous Community Liaison Officers must work closely with and effectively engage the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the delivery of the portfolio's goods and services. In Road Shows, What Can I Do and Answers Where You Live, the ACT Policing portfolio can link with organisations such as Neighbourhood Watch, Safety House, RecLink, the Scouting movement the Chamber of Commerce, multicultural communities and Council On The Aging. The portfolio will measure these interactions during the year.

The ACT pilot motor vehicle theft reduction project involves close and extensive community sector involvement with youth worker services, CIT, the insurance sector, motor trades and training providers.

3 (a) The total cost of the Kenny Koala project including salaries, enabling services/overheads and crime prevention initiatives funding for the past 3 years was $574,719 with the crime prevention initiative allocation being $157,727.

(b) The expected cost for Kenny Koala during 2002-2003 is $243,508, of which $150,000 will be funded via the crime prevention budget.

(c) Crime prevention literature identifies early intervention programs as being critical to the effective delivery of important crime prevention and safety messages to young people. Children in the age group 3-11 are among the most productive target group for prevention programs. The Constable Kenny Koala program provides an effective mechanism for the delivery of important messages in a non-threatening environment and is designed to remove traditional barriers which may prevent children from reporting incidents to police.

Independent research (through National Promotions) was conducted on the campaign, commencing in May 2000. It was aimed at the primary and secondary markets identified by the campaign, namely:

children aged 3-11;

parents and carers;

primary schools (principals and teachers); and

AFP (portfolio, management and Public Relations division staff).

Formal research was conducted in the context of the portfolio's short and long term objectives for the delivery of effective safety messages to young children and work will commence on further evaluation of the effectiveness of the program once it has been fully incorporated within school curricula and has been operating for a sustained period of time.

(d) The primary objective of the Constable Kenny Koala program is to provide an accessible role model for children that can be used in professional cooperation with schools to deliver important crime prevention and safety messages in a safe and familiar environment.

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