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Community engagement
Government agencies are working together every day by conducting a broad range of programs and activities that address the constantly evolving violent extremist threat landscape.
Building capacity within our communities to guard against the threat of violent extremism is a big priority. Early intervention efforts, education, and support at a local level requires a multi layered approach and collaboration with all states and territories.
This is achieved through community engagement events, training, promoting awareness of antisocial behaviours, inter-cultural understanding, violent extremism indicators and vulnerabilities, and empowering communities to stand united against harmful violent extremist influence.
Community engagement is essential for influencing community attitudes and understanding and encouraging a whole of nation response for early intervention.
This grass roots awareness raising builds trust, fosters resilience, and encourages local voices to identify and address early signs of radicalisation and be confident in knowing where to go for help.
By reaching all cohorts, including regional and remote areas, communities become active partners in promoting inclusion, challenging extremist narratives, and creating supportive environments that reduce vulnerability and risk.
We travel all over Australia, connecting with local communities and services to bridge the gap and inform parents, support workers, educators, stakeholders and practitioners about indicators and vulnerabilities of violent extremism as well as educating the community on what supports are available in this space.
We work closely with a number of organisations to plan, communicate and deliver robust, tailored and meaningful services for the shared goal of community safety.
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We are working to raise awareness and address the concepts surrounding Violent Extremism through community engagement. Community safety is our goal.
Community engagementWe 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"
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 Australia is about more than just raising awareness for our intervention 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 are happy to come and talk to you, bridge the gap and inform parents, support workers connecting with local communities and services, educators and practitioners about the vulnerabilities of violent extremism. 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. Step Together logo bottom in the middle of the screen.)
Text on Screen: Contact Step Together Community Engagement on 1800 875 204.
www.steptogether.gov.au
contact@steptogether.gov.au
Australian Government logo at the bottom of the screen centred.
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.
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