A city that’s safe for girls and women, is safe for everyone

Wollongong City Council and Transport for NSW are calling for community feedback on a public safety project called Safer Cities: Her Way. The collaborative partnership aims to improve perceptions of safety for everyone, in particular women, girls and gender diverse people who travel to, through and within public spaces in Wollongong.

It’s a trial project that will test community-driven solutions for making Wollongong’s public spaces feel safer.  Wollongong is one of 10 councils participating in the Safer Cities: Her Way pilot program, including City of Sydney.

Through this project the NSW Government will invest $1 million in funding on trial interventions which will improve safety for women, girls, and gender diverse people in three locations within the City of Wollongong. The three locations identified are: Wollongong CBD, Port Kembla Town Centre, and Dapto Town Centre.

You can get involved in this project by:

• Registering your interest to participate in a co-designing walk and workshop. Participants will join Council Staff and NSW Police on walks to explore the identified public spaces and note the things that make them feel safe and/or unsafe. Register your attendance online via the Our Wollongong website.
• Drop a digital pin on Council’s interactive map to provide feedback on where and why a particular area makes you feel safe or unsafe. Your information will help Council decide where to focus trial interventions.
• Ask a question by using the online Q&A tool
• You can also email Council or call Council’s Customer Service team for more information on (02) 4227 7111.

“No one should live in fear of leaving their home or limiting their opportunities for recreation or entertainment because of perceived or real threats to their safety or well-being. Please assist us in making our public spaces safer for everyone with your thoughts and feedback. We need to hear you - especially from those who feel more vulnerable,’’ Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

“We first made a commitment to improving community safety in the 1990s. Over the years we’ve worked closely with the NSW Government, Transport for NSW, NSW Police, local businesses, and community groups to develop initiatives to improve community safety.

“The Safer Cities: Her Way project, is Council’s next endeavour. It will build on the work we have already been doing through our Community Safety Plan 2021-2025 to improve safety and perceptions of safety in our community,” Cr Bradbery said.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe when travelling around and through their city. Wollongong is no exception. Increasing women, girls, and gender diverse people’s safety is a priority for Council as we want to ensure that everyone feels able and safe to enjoy every aspect of their community.”

Safer Cities: Her Way is proudly funded by the NSW Government through the Safer Cities Program led by Transport for NSW.

A spokesperson from Transport for NSW has said the Safer Cities: Her Way program is an incredible opportunity to partner with councils across NSW and deliver improvements that address local experiences and needs.

“We’re excited to be working closely with Wollongong City Council to listen to the voices of local women, girls and gender diverse people, and trial initiatives that will contribute to how communities can move freely and comfortably through their local public spaces,” they said.

Find out more and register your interest in project by visiting the Our Wollongong website.