Parents Victoria chief executive Gail McHardy said parents and carers must find a balance between encouraging their children to be independent and keeping them safe.
“We can’t cave to fear but we can all have a more heightened awareness about putting ourselves in vulnerable situations,” McHardy said.
It’s important for parents and students to know that Victoria Police are working hard on the recent incidents that have happened in the Glen Eira community compromising student safety. Parents and carers have the challenge to strike a balance on the level of care and protection they take to keep their children safe while going to and from school. Earlier this week it was reported about the high number of students being driven to school and the impacts on the environment. Now, unfortunately, incidents such as this one reinforce parents’ perception of the need to drive students door to door.
For many years now, schools have advised students not to bring valuable belongings to school, but no-one anticipates you will be mugged to and from school. We can’t cave in to fear, but we can all have a more heightened awareness about putting ourselves in vulnerable situations.
PV would always encourage parents, carers and schools to talk to their children and young people about community safety strategies.
These situations remind us all about the importance of community connectedness and how community safety measures (like Neighbourhood Houses) play a significant role in supporting each other against those who commit crimes, targeted or opportunistic.
Most readers would be aware of the violent street attack on a Glen Eira College student on Monday. The Age reports today on the aftermath of the attack. The student is still in hospital and more students have reported being victims of crime in the area. According to the article, the offenders were apparently trying to steal phones, laptops and wallets.
Parents Victoria CEO Gail McHardy is quoted in the article:
When contacted by the Age, Gail supplied a more comprehensive comment, which we include here:
Read the Age article
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