Page 1807 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 5 May 2010
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they do have a very good understanding of what are the important issues in their local areas. Accordingly, I think they can offer an input that other groups cannot.
Young people living in Tuggeranong are sometimes isolated, with a higher crime rate in some instances. There is not always the range of facilities and job options that there is in some other areas. I think these are issues we do need to address. It is important that we do try to engage young people. As Mr Rattenbury said, Neighbourhood Watch is often looked at as an organisation which young people do not necessarily get involved with, but I think it is making much more effort to engage younger people through various forums that it undertakes.
Although the foundation of Neighbourhood Watch is in crime prevention, over the years it has become quite a larger organisation that deals with a whole variety of residents’ concerns. I know that in a conversation I had with Neighbourhood Watch recently it is looking to trial a Junior Neighbourhood Watch branch. A young branch could engage people in the school system and get young people engaged in community projects and better strengthen their relationship with the police.
In the Talking Tuggeranong paper recently released by the Tuggeranong Community Council, graffiti and crime have been raised as community concerns. Neighbourhood Watch has been working very hard to recognise possible solutions at a grassroots level. I think it is important to note that, while police intervention is vitally important, preventative crime measures can be found in the community itself and Neighbourhood Watch does this in a very good way.
I have attended a number of local events run by Neighbourhood Watch. They are an excellent way of bringing local communities together and, of course, engaging them to be a part of Neighbourhood Watch itself. There was an event some months ago at Theodore shops which Mr Doszpot, Ms Burch and I attended. I think this was another excellent example of engaging the local community in activity. Neighbourhood Watch was looking to paint a mural on the shop wall there, which I think adds to the attractiveness of the local shops. It was also engaging the schools in the area. Again, this was the sort of grassroots activity that it does so well.
I also attended a community forum at Monash, which was run by Neighbourhood Watch. Nick Tsoulias invited me to that and it was a really good opportunity to meet local people. It drew a large number of people and was looking at establishing a Neighbourhood Watch group in the Monash area. I think it was encouraging to see that so many people attended this. There were people of all age groups as well, which was really good to see.
As I have already said, Neighbourhood Watch brings communities together as well as providing that preventative crime approach. I think that, particularly for older people or people who might be isolated, it offers them safety and reassurance, which is also a key part of the group.
MR HANSON (Molonglo) (5:14): I thank Mr Doszpot for his words and the valuable contributions by a number of members who have spoken today. The motion highlights two very important issues. One is the great work of Neighbourhood Watch within
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