An innovative partnership in Melbourne to improve safety for women and gender diverse people travelling into the city at night will be supported by the Victorian Government.

Minister for Crime Prevention Natalie Hutchins joined Lord Mayor Sally Capp to announce a $193,000 grant from the Crime Prevention Innovation Fund to support Melbourne City Council’s Night Justice project.

The funding will support a Night Safety Summit, development of a Night Safety Charter, the development of a sexual assault behaviour change campaign, and a Good Night Out Accreditation program.

Similar work around a Night Safety Summit and Charter in London has seen changes to improve women’s safety in its CBD including training for venue staff to understand and respond to sexual harassment, and changes to designs of public and workspaces.

The project brings together a range of partners including Victoria Police, Crime Stoppers Victoria, Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia, the Melbourne Licensees Forum and the University of Melbourne.

The Crime Prevention Innovation Fund is part of the Government’s Building Safer Communities Program, providing grants for projects that deliver innovative community safety and crime prevention initiatives.

More than $540,000 for seven crime prevention projects in the City of Melbourne has been invested since 2015 through the Community Crime Prevention Program.

The Night Justice project is one of 16 projects state-wide sharing $4.4 million as part of the first round of the Building Safer Communities Program.

For more information go to crimeprevention.vic.gov.au/buildingsafercommunities.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Crime Prevention Natalie Hutchins

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

“I look forward to seeing the City of Melbourne and its community deliver the Night Justice project to improve safety in the CBD.”

Quote attributable to Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne Sally Capp

“Melbourne’s vibrant and diverse nightlife is part of our city’s DNA and is what draws people into the city after dark. Creating a safe atmosphere for women and non-binary people is an incredibly important part of a welcoming and thriving nightlife.”