Community Connectors Gold Award at 2025 ACVPA, Frankston

The Community Connectors program, delivered by South East Community Links in partnership with Metro Trains Melbourne, has been awarded a Gold Award in the 2025 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards (ACVPA) at a ceremony today at Parliament House in Canberra. Community Connectors place trained outreach workers at Dandenong station, Frankston station, and Young Street Frankston to support people in crisis and help prevent harm. The program began at Dandenong station in 2023 and has expanded to Frankston sites with Frankston City Council backing and presence in Station Street, Shannon Mall, and Bayside Shopping Centre. CEO Peter McNamara said, "This award recognises an innovative approach to community safety - one that doesn't start with police or security, but with empathy, connection and prevention." Mayor Kris Bolam JP said, "Community Connectors have shown there's a better way to make our streets safer while supporting our most vulnerable." Since launch, Connectors have engaged with more than 7,100 people, prevented harm 280 times, de-escalated 117 tense situations and referred 254 people to essential services.