On 15 October 2007, Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust was awarded the Lord Mayor’s City Safety Award Certificate of Merit.

Program Manager Sara Bice accepts the Certificate of Merit from Lord Mayor of Melbourne, John So. Photo courtesy of City of Melbourne.

The Certificate of Merit, one of only two awarded for 2007, recognises QVWCT’s commitment to enhancing women’s perceptions of safety and knowledge of ‘safe practices’ when accessing the City of Melbourne.

Through the 2007 Women’s Safety Seminar Series, QVWCT reached 115 women from diverse backgrounds to provide them with basic personal safety information, advice on ways to access the city safely and lessons in women’s self defence. The Women’s Safety Seminar Series included:

o Navigating the City Safely – For international students

o Accessing the City Safely – For women with a disability

o Fight Like a Girl – Women’s self defence.

QVWCT is honoured to have received this award and to be placed favourably amongst the many organisations working to improve safety in the City of Melbourne.

The award also recognises the contributions of our project partners:
*Victoria Police Crime Prevention Unit – especially Officer Melanie Apps
*RMIT Student Legal Service
*Australian Federation of International Students
*Fight Like a Girl – especially instructor Adori Bubble
*Victorian Women with a Disability Network – especially Director Tricia Malowney
*Vision Australia
*Travellers’ Aid – especially John McKenna.

The following individuals also contributed greatly to the Seminar Series:
*Sarah Kaushik, formerly of City of Melbourne
*Mona Wong, QVWCT intern.

The Lord Mayor’s City Safety Award, established in 1998, is given annually to recognise and showcase individuals or organisations that have made significant contributions to safety in the City of Melbourne.