Bendigo Safe Community Forum

The Bendigo Safe Community Forum is a collaborative partnership between local agencies that play a pivotal role in the safety of our community. The Bendigo Safe Community Forum is comprised of representatives from the following organisations and groups:

• The City of Greater Bendigo
• The Salvation Army
• Youth Substance Abuse Service
• Bendigo Community Health Services
• The National Senior's Association
• The Bendigo Liquor Accord
• Victoria Police
• Neighbourhood Houses
• The Bendigo Trader's Association
• St Luke's
• LaTrobe University
• The Bendigo Taxi Association
• The Department of Human Services
• The Department of Justice
• The Centre Against Sexual Assault
• RoadSafe
• Hoteliers Association
  

The Chair of the Forum is Cr James Reade - City of Greater Bendigo.

Vision and purpose of the forum

"The City of Greater Bendigo is a community where everyone feels safe and included at all times, in all places."

The purpose of the Safe Community Forum is to work together to lead and advocate for community safety.

Objectives of the Forum

• To develop and sustain an infrastructure based on partnerships and collaborations, governed by a cross sectoral group that is responsible for safety and promotion in the City of Greater Bendigo.
• To establish long term sustainable programs targeting genders and all ages, environments and situations.
• To ensure programs target high risk groups and environments, and promote safety for vulnerable groups.
• To collect good data (re: wellbeing, harm and injuries etc).
• To utilise evaluation measures to assess programs and effects for change.
• To participate in local and state-wide networks.

Supervised Taxi Rank

Operates Sunday morning, Bendigo Cup and New Years Eve 2am to 6am

The rank is located in Bridge Street outside La Piazza.

The Supervised Taxi Rank has two crowd controllers who help to provide a safe environment for taxi patrons, decrease the number of anti-social incidents in the CBD and disperse the crowds as quickly and orderly as possible from the nightclubs.

The Rank is proudly sponsored by the City of Greater Bendigo and the Victorian Taxi Directorate.

Bendigo Chill Out Space (BCOS)

Irresponsible consumption and service of alcohol and subsequent anti-social behaviour is an ongoing issue within the entertainment precinct of Bendigo. With the introduction of the 2am lockout there is the additional issue of people being locked out of venues with no safe space to go. 

Consequentially, the Salvation Army under the auspice of the Forum has established a safe space that can be accessed within the Precinct for assistance, advice and information.  The BCOS is currently located at the Bridge St taxi rank and is staffed by volunteers.

Neighbourhood Party Guide

The Neighbourhood Party Guide is provides practical advice and suggestions on things that need to be considered when hosting a Neighbourhood Party.

• Read more information on the Neighbourhood Party Guide 

Further Information

Bendigo Liquor Accord
Information regarding the Bendigo Liquor Accord and project MALT.

Central Victorian Crime Police Protection
Information regarding central Victorian crime police protection initiatives.

Neighbourhood Party Guide
The Neighbourhood Party Guide is provides practical advice and suggestions on things that need to be considered when hosting a Neighbourhood Party.