Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes invited councils and not-for-profit organisations across northern Victoria to apply for the one-off grants for projects that are ready to commence.
The new program includes two grant options that can be applied for;
The creating safer places program 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, not-for-profit organisations and other stakeholders for projects that 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.
Ms Symes said the grants give communities the chance to tackle the crime and safety issues that matter most to them.
“Local organisations and councils are ideally placed to identify what’s needed to make their communities feel safe, and their public spaces inviting and more purposeful,” she said.
“It’s also a great opportunity to kick-start innovative new programs and initiatives that make a difference addressing the causes of offending and crime in the community.”
Applications for grants close at 4pm on March 15.
For more information, visit crimeprevention.vic.gov.au/buildingsafercommunities