Safety Committee
Safety (and Security)
The safety committee/convenor has two main responsibilities:
- to run the School Watch program
- to sit as the P&C representative on the School's OH&S committee
As the latter is self-explanatory, this page explains a bit about School Watch, a program supported by the NSW Department of Education and Training, and the Federation of Parents’ and Citizens’ Associations of NSW.
What is School Watch?[1]
- School Watch is a volunteer program that enlists school staff, students and the local community to assist in preventing crime to school property.
- School Watch was initiated by the Federation of (P & C) Associations of NSW. It is supported by the Department of Education and Training’s Security Unit. The Security Unit provides services and resources to individual schools on request.
How does it work?
- The concept of School Watch is similar to Neighbourhood Watch programs.
- School Watch can operate in a number of ways. For example, local residents who live near schools can be encouraged to become more aware of people in the school grounds on the weekends. Some schools have implemented more structured School Watch programs. In these schools, School Watch committees meet regularly and roster volunteers to carry out visits through the school after hours.
- The reporting system is simple and anonymous. All calls from anywhere in the state are directed to a central number monitored by the Security Unit or its monitoring contractor. From there, local security contractors can be called out to specific locations.
Does it make a difference?
The School Watch program has had demonstrated success. We introduced the programme in 2007, and that year saw a dramatic reduction in vandalism and petty theft.
In locations where School Watch has been implemented, schools have had encouraging results, such as:
- increased awareness of security issues
- reduced risk of devastating fires
- reduced property loss and building damage
- reduced losses to schools, P&Cs, teachers and students
- reduced loss of time & disruption
- increased “school pride” and sense of personal responsibility
[1] Extract from the Department’s School Watch collateral: “Working together to protect schools”.
