Cairns Safer Streets

Cairns Safer Streets (CSS) was established by the Queensland Government in 2013 to develop and effect on-the-ground solutions to areas of community concern in Cairns West. 

The CSS Project Team is a full-time, co-located workgroup that uses a place-based approach to develop and implement innovative strategies that address underlying causal factors behind complex social issues in this area. 

The team is led by Queensland Police Service, and has representatives from Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs, Education, Communities, Housing and Digital Economy - Housing and Homelessness and Tourism, Innovation and Sport.

A strong local Executive Committee oversees the Project Team, chaired by the Regional Director of the Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, and Executive representatives from each represented agency, as well as Corrective Services, Queensland Health, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Cairns Regional Council.

This interagency model differs from the traditional way that police and government do business, and the intelligence and knowledge acquired from each agency is used to understand the dynamic and complex characteristics of a community and the interrelation with government provided services.

Cairns Safer Streets programs contribute to the following five measures:

• Cohesive and efficient services are delivered
• Communities are connected
• Social functionality is improved
• Young people are healthy and engaged
• Communities are safer

Cairns Safer Streets works to:

• Identify opportunities to address crime and safety issues in Cairns West
• Conduct and compile research
• Engage agencies, business, funded services, and community members
• Target and implement programs and activities 
• Monitor programs and activities, collect data and measure outcomes
• Evaluate the responses initiated by the project

Some examples of initiatives/approaches that the team are currently working on include:

Cairns West Animal Management Trial

A  3-year trial program auditing and building community education in 171 social housing tenancies in Manoora to inform best practice in animal management in low socio-economic areas, with focus specifically on canine management during trial period

Cairns West Case Coordination Group

To  ensure that relevant and appropriate services are provided to individuals and families in Cairns West whose needs cannot be met by one agency

Community Development Initiatives

Cairns Safer Streets will identify opportunities to develop, support or implement community development initiatives within Cairns West

• Mooroobool Women's Yarning Circle - a grass roots community driven initiative supported by Cairns Safer Streets, ATSIP and Queensland Police Service (Cultural Unit)

Co-Responder Initiative 

To assess tenancies for issues impacting on lifestyles, the tenant’s ability to sustain a tenancy and undertake activity to reduce the impact of anti-social behaviours or lifestyle issues for tenants

SPAYC+PLACE

A three-year program being piloted in Cairns West to encourage young people and their families to take part in activities together, with the aim of creating sustainable physical activity behaviour patterns and connected communities.  This program comprises of six (6) individual projects including: 

• Space and Place Activities for Youth in Cairns (SPAYC)
• Parks to Clubs
• SPAYC Cadets
• SPAYC+ 
• OurSPAYC
• FIT Together

Mooroobool Hub - interim management

 Cairns Safer Streets staff are currently managing maintenance, booking calendar and are working rostered hours at Mooroobool Hub.  The Hub provides the community with a place-based service from the multi-purpose facility that has offered services, space and support to the diverse groups and individuals of Cairns West.

Victim Support Initiative

A trial in the West Cairns area, conducting follow-up visits with identified victims of crime to provide support and advice to build resilience and reduce repeat victimisation

Youth Support Managers Network - YSMN

This forum gives the opportunity for youth service agencies to connect, collaborate to promote a supportive partnership opportunities and efficient service delivery in the youth sector.  

For more information please email Cairns.SaferStreets@police.qld.gov.au