Jenny Hanuska is AlburyCity’s Community Safety Officer. Her role includes liaising with the NSW Police and community to identify and introduce a range of actions around the issue of safety in the community. The Community Safety Project identifies a range of methods to reduce the incidence of crime in the City of Albury.
It also puts into place strategies to improve the community’s perception of safety in the city and encourages community involvement in strategies developed. “Input from the community is a crucial factor in the success of this project,” Jenny Hanuska said.
One of these strategies – STRAW – which stands for ‘Safer Times Round Albury Wodonga for Women’, is a partnership strategy with the New South Wales and Victorian Police Services, NSW Attorney General’s Department, the Albury and Wodonga City Councils, Albury Women’s Refuge and the Albury Wodonga Women’s Centre. The program provides annual awards to entertainment and hospitality venues in Albury and Wodonga for their contribution towards women’s safety.
The decision to develop the program came about because of the harassment of women in licensed venues, the occurrence of aggression toward women while they are in licensed venues, and the high rate of violent incidents against women involving alcohol.
The STRAW’s process entails a safety audit of each participating venue. The audit assesses the physical layout and geographical orientation, lighting, security and attitudinal factors related to the safety of the premises.
“Understanding how crime occurs allows us to identify and address the elements that cause it,” Jenny Hanuska said. “Being safe is about preventing crime, but it is also about making sensible choices and about our perceptions of safety.”
