NCJ Number
233457
Date Published
2010
Length
115 pages
Annotation
This report from the Australian Institute of Criminology presents the findings of a survey to examine service providers' perceptions of community safety in Australian Indigenous communities.
Abstract
Findings for this report were obtained from two surveys administered to service providers who work with Indigenous communities. Results of the surveys include: many respondents cited the honesty, generosity, caring, and resilience of community members as strengths of the community; a majority cited overcrowded homes as a serious or very serious problem; other problems cited included public drunkenness, children not going to school, and violence within families; a majority saw a need for initiatives and services within the community to address the issue of safety for children and young people, and a strong need for men's places, where men could go during periods of conflict; and a need for initiatives and services to deal with alcohol and other drug use. Data for this report came from a survey designed to capture perceptions of community safety in Australian Indigenous communities. The research aimed to explore the safety issues and the positive steps taken by Indigenous communities to bring about solutions for ensuring community safety. Data were obtained from the results of 2 surveys collected from 159 respondents across New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia. One half of respondents identified as non-Indigenous, while one-third identified as Indigenous. The majority of services provided were in the areas of health and victim support. The aim of this research is to use the findings to develop a research tool and methodology for use as practical resources by Indigenous communities to generate evidence about local community safety issues and develop community-driven initiatives and solutions. Tables, references, and appendixes