Northern Territory
Police

Safety house

The Safety House Program is a community based network of safe places in a local area. Safety Houses can be a house, a shop or a business. They provide help to children should they feel unsafe, threatened or unsure, primarily when travelling to and from school. The program also aims to play a preventative role in community safety, providing safer neighbourhoods for our children.

What is a Safety House?

The Safety House Program is a community based network of safe places in a local area. Safety Houses can be a house, a shop or a business. They provide help to children should they feel unsafe, threatened or unsure, primarily when travelling to and from school. The program also aims to play a preventative role in community safety, providing safer neighbourhoods for our children.

In the Northern Territory the program is managed by a Northern Territory Police Coordinator in Darwin and Alice Springs.

Applicants need to fit certain criteria and be willing to obtain a working with children clearance e.g. 'ochre card'

When can a child use a Safety House?

A Safety House can be used by children when they are feeling frightened, unsafe, threatened or unsure.
They may run to a Safety House for many reasons. This includes:

• being approached by a person who scares or harms them
• being approached by a person who makes them feel unsafe
• being bullied by other children
• being injured or lost
• being frightened by animals

Safety tips for children

Teach your child to:

• recognise warning signs about feeling unsafe
• recognise Safety House signs on letter boxes and business windows
• find a safe (Safety House) route to school
• go to a shop, chemist or call out to a passer-by if no Safety Houses are available
• When a child needs a Safety House:
• knock on the front door or ring the bell
• tell the person what has happened
• they will listen and take care of the child
• They will ring parents, the school or the police.

Criteria for becoming a Safety House

• Be at home at least 80% of the time during the times children are travelling to and from school - (businesses are not expected to remain open outside normal operating hours)
• Your house must be easily accessible to a small child (no high or childproof gates)
• You agree to Safety House regularly monitoring you and your premises
• You must have access to a telephone
• You agree to all residents in the Safety House over the age of 16 years to undergo a suitability check by Police (the check is free of charge for all Safety House applicants)
• You are willing to have a Safety House sign on your mailbox / window if a business
• You will advise Safety House if moving from the premises

For more information about the Safety House program or to apply please contact: