Goal: 2
People

Warrnambool is a safe and connected community

An inclusive and safe place to live and visit, Warrnambool is a community which makes decisions to maximise opportunities for every resident to be socially connected to others. All residents participate in cultural and recreational activities and events and enjoy socially active lives

2040 Outcome

All residents know their neighbours, feel safe walking on the street at night, volunteer and have attended a community event or activity in the past month. Family violence and all violent crime rates have dropped to be the lowest in Victoria

The changes we want by 2029

  • Warrnambool is rated the highest in Victoria for safety and sense of community 

  • More residents know their neighbours (57%, 2017)

  • Proportion of people who volunteer (24.6%, 2016).

  • The proportion of residents who say their mental health or loneliness is the thing that worries them most has reduced since 2017.

  • W2040 Partners have developed and implemented gender equity, disability access & inclusion and diversity policies.

  • Proportion of children walking and/or riding independently to school has increased. 

  • Family violence incidents reported to police have reduced (20 per 1,000 people, 2016-2017; 23.2 per 1,000 people in the year to March 2025).

  • Rate of crimes against the person have reduced (14.26 per 1000, year ending March 2018).

  • Perceptions of crime and safety to improve on the 2025 level www.crimeprevention.vic.gov.au/a-survey-tool-for-measuring-feelings-of-safety-in-victoria
  • Rates of crime in key categories including family violence and criminal incidents have been reduced from 2025 levels: www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/crime-statistics