SafeHome coordinator Mel Thompson said the program delivered not just physical safety improvements, but peace of mind for crime victims and vulnerable Canberrans. Photo: Supplied.
A home security improvement program for recent crime victims and other vulnerable Canberrans has received ACT Government funding for another three years.
The SafeHome program started out as an awareness campaign in 2008 but pivoted to providing tailored home safety assessments and modifications.
Since July 2019, SafeHome has received almost 2000 referrals and carried out almost 1200 home assessments.
In the 2024-25 financial year, it completed 325 referrals and 216 assessments.
SafeHome coordinator Mel Thompson noted thieves were increasingly targeting car keys over other valuables (such as electronics and jewellery) during home break-ins.
“In Canberra, we benefit from relatively low property crime rates compared to other cities,” she said. ”However, this doesn’t mean break-ins don’t occur. Many people say they never thought it would happen to them, until it does.”
Between April and June 2025, there were 164 reported incidents of burglaries at people’s homes across Canberra.
Ms Thompson said break-ins weren’t just about physical damage or missing objects; they could also lead people to worry about what else could have happened.
“Anyone who has had their home broken into will tell you just how violating it is to know that someone has been in your home,” she said.
“Your mind also goes to the what ifs, particularly if you were home at the time. So what if my child had gotten up to get a cup of water? What if I had woken up and confronted the intruder? So it’s important for people to realise that a break-in is so much more than a break-in.
“Our assessments are about more than just addressing weak points in home security. Often what is most needed in the immediate term is emotional support, listening to residents’ concerns and referring them to other services to recover from the trauma of crime.”
One person who can attest to the program’s impact is Acting Victims of Crime Commissioner Margie Rowe.
She has also been a victim of property crime.
In the wake of her incident, Ms Rowe said she wondered what aspects of her home were unsafe or needed to be improved.
“It’s really terrible to be made to feel unsafe in your own home,” she said.
“I think the most startling thing is how much it impacts on you, aside from any damage or anything that’s stolen, the effect of anticipating that this might happen again, that the house is insecure, that you’re unsafe.”
She said SafeHome provided physical safety and emotional support, as well as other safety tips such as placing dowel rods in the tracks of sliding windows so they couldn’t be opened if left unlocked.
A 2021 ANU evaluation found SafeHome clients had a revictimisation rate of just 1.9 per cent, compared with the ACT average of 3.1 per cent.
It also found the main reason participants hadn’t improved their home security features was their financial situation.
“Focusing on modifications carried out by SafeHome, the most common changes involve the installation or repair of security screens, the installation or repair of a deadbolt, deadlatch or patio bolt, and the installation of door viewers,” the evaluation stated.
“Changes and modifications were typically made when there was an absence of the security measure during the initial assessment.”
The evaluation found SafeHome not only strongly improved participants’ sense of safety in their home, but had a “small to medium” effect on improving their overall sense of security when walking in their neighbourhood.
SafeHome is available to eligible Canberrans who meet specific criteria, including older residents, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, and people who have been subjected to property crime or family or domestic violence in the past 12 months.
Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Dr Marisa Paterson said it played a vital role in supporting victims of crime and preventing repeat incidents.
“While Canberra enjoys a well-deserved reputation as Australia’s safest capital city, we aren’t immune to property crime, which can deeply affect victims’ physical and psychological safety,” she said.
“The SafeHome program is about restoring a sense of safety and control for our most vulnerable groups through simple yet effective modifications including locks and signage.
“The program doesn’t just improve home security, it helps people feel safe again in their own homes.”
Referrals are accepted from ACT Policing, community sector agencies or through self-referral.
The SafeHome team can be contacted through SupportLink on 1300 656 200 or by emailing safehome@supportlink.com.au.
