Community engagement

NSW government agencies are working together every day to raise awareness and address the concepts surrounding Violent Extremism. The shared goal is community safety 

This is achieved through community engagement events, training, education or promoting awareness of antisocial behaviours, inter-cultural understanding, VE indicators and vulnerabilities and empowering communities to stand united against hate.

Our community engagement work that we do right across New South Wales is about more than just raising awareness for our ESU programs. It's also about educating our communities on exactly what violent extremism is. And this in turn helps to demystify the concepts and stigmas surrounding it. What we are seeing throughout all parts of NSW is vulnerable people, especially youth. There may be a multitude of factors at play that include troubled homes, experienced trauma, bullying and struggles at school and neurodiversity.

We travel all over New South Wales, connecting with local communities and services to bridge the gap and inform parents, support workers, educators and practitioners about indicators and vulnerabilities of violent extremism as well as educating the community on what supports are available in this space.

Community engagement and sharing knowledge and education plays an important role in preventing and countering violent extremism. We work closely with a number of organisations to plan, communicate and deliver robust and meaningful services for the shared goal of community safety. Community resilience-based CVE also includes community preparedness, response and recovery.

  • We are working to raise awareness and address the concepts surrounding Violent Extremism through community engagement. Community safety is our goal.

    Community engagement

    We are working to raise awareness and address the concepts surrounding Violent Extremism through community engagement. Community safety is our goal.

    Transcript

    (Uplifting acoustic music plays. The video opens with a scene of people an RUOK? Day expo with market umbrellas and colourful gazebos)

    Text over moving image: "Community Engagement Helping Counter Violent Extremism"

    NSW CVE engagement and Support Unit bottom right footer.

    Montage of exhibitor and attendee close ups.

    Speaker 1 voice over: We have to work together to provide the option for a better pathway and a future. 

    Speaker 1 piece to camera: Our community engagement work that we do right across New South Wales is about more than just raising awareness for our ESU programs. 

    (Cut to montage footage of Step Together stall with close ups of merchandise and brochures and Step Together staff talking to patrons and open day entertainment with guitar.)

    Speaker 1 voice over: It's also about educating our communities on exactly what violent extremism is. And this in turn helps to demystify the concepts and stigmas surrounding it.

    We're really trying to debunk that head in the sand mentality or mindset where people think we don't have that around here. This isn't happening in our area when we in fact know that it is. And equally in the regional areas, as in the metro areas.

    (Cut to montage footage of Step Together community engagement presentation to stakeholders and university campus staff. Attendees nod in interest and engage with the QR code function on their phones to actively participate.)

    Speaker 1 voice over: What we're seeing is vulnerable people and especially vulnerable youth. They've come from troubled homes, experienced trauma, normalised violence in the home.

    There's a multitude of needs that have to be addressed, and they're really seeking that connection or that sense of belonging. And we have to work together to provide the option for a better pathway and a future working together towards a safer community. 

    (Cut to montage of exhibitor stalls and RUOK? Day bunting, presentation participants looking at our Step Together and ESP brochures, Step Together staff greeting attendees and shaking hands. Cut to other stakeholder stall holders at the event, people walking and interacting with stalls.)

    Speaker 1 voice over: We travel all over New South Wales, connecting with local communities and services to bridge the gap and inform parents, support workers, educators and practitioners about the vulnerabilities of violent extremism.

    We are happy to come and talk to you. We need to start communicating and be more aware. We need to know and understand the signs and to know the supports available in this space. 

    Speaker 1 piece to camera: As a community, collectively, we really need to just start the conversation.

    (Fade to black screen. Government crest logo bottom left of screen.)

    Text on Screen: Contact ESU Community Engagement on 1800 203 966

    steptogether.nsw.gov.au

    steptogether@dcj.nsw.gov.au

    End of transcript.

Shikkiah from the Joint Child Protection Response Program's story

“Passionate speakers from NSW Countering Violent Extremism ESU & NSW Police Hate Crime Unit provided information on how to identify, respond, and access support for vulnerable youth. This presentation was extremely informative and engaging. I would recommend the training for any community workers and Health employees working with vulnerable youth” 

Advice and support

If you would like further advice and support on how best to help someone you care about, contact our Step Together helpline workers.

Last updated:

25 Oct 2023

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