Applications are now open for grants under the Andrews Labor Government’s Building Safer Communities Program.

There are three categories of grants available which cover a wide range of sectors and projects, with each focused on delivering grassroots and community focused projects to prevent crime.

The Creating Safer Places category offers grants of $25,000 to $300,000 for councils to fund urban design projects that apply an inclusive environmental design approach to deter crime, increase safety and activate public places.

The Crime Prevention Innovation Fund awards grants of $25,000 to $300,000 for councils and not-for-profit organisations to deliver and evaluate innovative community safety and crime prevention initiatives.

This can include projects that engage diverse communities or specific groups, or which establish or strengthen partnerships across community, business, sport and other sectors to address causes of crime.

A third grant category, Empowering Communities, will also support community-designed and delivered projects that take an evidence-informed, innovative approach to address issues impacting on crime and perceptions of safety in specific communities.

The Building Safer Communities grants are part of the government’s Community Crime Prevention Program, which has invested more than $45 million in almost 800 projects across Victoria since 2015.

Applications for the Creating Safer Places and Crime Prevention Innovation Fund grants close at 4pm on 15 March 2021.

For more information about the grants visit www.crimeprevention.vic.gov.au/buildingsafercommunities.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Crime Prevention Natalie Hutchins

“These grants give local communities the resources they need to tackle the crime and safety issues that matter most to them.”

“Community organisations and councils are ideally placed to identify what’s needed to make their communities safer.”

“It’s also a great opportunity to kick-start innovative new programs and initiatives that make a difference and address the root causes of crime.”