July 14, 2023

Planning for the Gunnedah Crime Prevention and Community Safety Conference on 23-24 November 2023 is well underway, with a line-up of notable and knowledgeable speakers already confirmed.

Speakers will include 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame, and 2020 Young Australian of the Year finalist Hunter Johnson, NSW Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism Yasmin Catley, social researcher and futurist Mark McCrindle, and crime prevention and community safety specialist John Maynard.

The two-day conference is aimed at local government and practitioners in community safety and crime prevention and is being organised by Gunnedah Shire’s Crime Prevention and Community Safety Conference Working Group.

CEO of the Grace Tame Foundation, Ms Tame has turned her traumatic experience into advocacy and is dedicated to eradicating child sexual abuse in Australia, and supporting survivors of child sexual abuse.

Fellow speaker Mark McCrindle is a social researcher, best-selling author, influential thought leader and TEDx speaker. He is a trusted advisor and sits on the board of a number of different organisations, after having developed his reputation as an expert demographer, futurist and social commentator.

Hunter Johnson leads The Man Cave, a preventative mental health and emotional intelligence charity that has impacted the lives of 20,000 young men across Australia. He also works as an advisor to The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust (QCT), a charity supporting young people throughout the Commonwealth alongside Prince Harry, the President of QCT.

Yasmin Catley was sworn in as New South Wales’ first female Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism in April this year.

Crime Prevention and Community Safety Conference Working Group Chairperson Colleen Fuller said members were excited about the high-calibre of the speakers.

We also have speakers from Cyber Security NSW, NSW Alcohol and Drug Foundation, Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Just Reinvest NSW, NSW Police Engagement and Hate Crime Unit, Department of Communities and Justice, Qld Police and City of Logan, with more to be announced soon.

“This exceptional line-up of speakers are leaders in their fields and experts in topics ranging from rural crime to counter-terrorism, youth justice, cyber crime, crime trends, and domestic, family and sexual violence,” she said.

Cr Fuller said the conference was the ideal opportunity for delegates to network, exchange ideas, share experiences, and collaborate on projects and initiatives that contribute to building strong, safe and connected communities. To date, delegates from within NSW, Northern Territory, Queensland and Victoria have already booked for this event.

The working group includes a range of elected representatives, Council staff and representatives from local support services, Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce, business and industry, and interested community members.
“We are also thrilled to announce that Tamworth Family Support were first to come on board as a Silver Sponsor,” Cr Fuller said. “A range of community organisations have added their support as Local Partner sponsors including Gunnedah Family Support, Gunnedah & Districts Liquor Accord, Gunnedah Workshop Enterprises and Gunnedah Miners Support Incorporated.”

The event will be held in the Gunnedah Town Hall and Smithurst Theatre, and tickets are on sale at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/gunnedah-crime-prevention-community-safety-conference-23-24-nov-2023-tickets-630533220837.

For more information on the Crime Prevention and Community Safety Conference, contact Debra Hilton, Council’s Community and Social Planner on (02) 6740 2100.

Caption: Gunnedah Shire’s Crime Prevention and Community Safety Conference Working Group Chairperson Cr Colleen Fuller (left) and Conference Coordinator Debra Hilton.

ENDS

For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.