Following the highly successful relaunch of the Town of Vincent’s Liquor Accord, the initiative has been Highly Commended in the Injury Prevention category of the Injury Control Council of Western Australia (ICCWA) Awards.
The awards recognise the action and excellence of Western Australian individuals and community organisations and their commitment to reduce the frequency and severity of injuries in their local communities.
In announcing the Town of Vincent’s commendation, the ICCWA noted that the Accord has developed a number of best practice initiatives in response to heightened community concern about the impact of alcohol consumption and problematic drinking. It said the initiatives aim to benefit the local community and encourage the adoption of positive and effective community based harm minimisation and prevention strategies.
The Vincent Accord was established in June 2005 and relaunched in February 2009. It draws together licensed premises with the Council, WA Police and the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor, all of which are collectively addressing issues such as responsible service of alcohol, public health, transport, local amenity and safety.
“Most of our residents live within one kilometre of a licensed premises, including the well known and vibrant entertainment precincts of Leederville, Mount Lawley and Mount Hawthorn,” Mayor Nick Catania said. “As such, I am delighted that all 32 of the local licensed premises have signed on to the Vincent Accord and are committed to actively promoting the initiatives.
“Together, residents, businesses, licensed premises and patrons, WA Police and the Town of Vincent will work cooperatively to provide the community with an enjoyable and safer place to live, work and socialise. This is the pledge that has been developed by the Vincent Accord and local community, and our members are committed to honouring this statement.
“The feedback from local licensees has been fantastic and it has really opened up communication channels, which is very important.”
A number of strategies and initiatives have been developed and are currently being implemented, including:
- adoption of the Vincent Accord Strategy
Document 2009–2011 - distribution of a community information
guide by licensed premises to local residents
and businesses - distribution of posters promoting the ‘Socialise
with Safety’ message - provision of subsidised group First Aid training
for stakeholders - regular updates in the Town’s newsletter and in
the Health Services Food Safety Matters
newsletter to assist food businesses who have
a liquor licence or permit BYO to learn more
about the Accord and relevant principles.
In addition, the Drug and Alcohol Office recommended Vincent Accord members to ICCWA as an ideal pilot group for the trial implementation of the Safer Bars WA training program.
Initiated in Canada, the program aims to increase the capacity of bar staff to prevent aggression, violence and injury in and around bars, by providing them with free inhouse training and supporting information. This goes beyond mandatory ‘responsible service of alcohol’ training.
Licensed premises within and feeding into the Leederville Entertainment Precinct were chosen for the pilot program due to the diversity of premises in the one relatively small area.
For further information on the Accord visit www.vincent.wa.gov.au/3/679/1/vincent_accord.pm
