Community Safety

Emergencies

It is essential to call the appropriate service when facing any situation that could potentially lead to harm. Time is often a critical component in any emergency situation and choosing the correct service can save lives and prevent escalation.

Anti-social behaviours, violence and other crimes are matters for police to investigate. It is essential that these matters are reported when they are witnessed by the witness or victim themselves. This will ensure police have all relative information and can respond quickly and improve their chances of making an arrest.

Western Australia has a single number that can manage response to medical, fire and any other life-threatening emergency or situation where harm is imminent.

For emergencies please call 000. This will connect you to a trained operator who can guide you to the right agency and covers:

WA Police
Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES)
Ambulance

For non-urgent police requests please call WA Police on 131 444.

Visit www.police.wa.gov.au for more information including crime prevention tips and to make reports.

You can also contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestopperswa.com.au to report suspicious behaviour or any information that police may be able to use to solve a crime.

Mental Health

For assistance in a mental health crisis there are several phone services that can support yourself and/or the person in crisis. Some of these are:

Rurallink 1800 552 002 - An after-hours telephone service for people in rural and regional Western Australia experiencing a mental health crisis.
Crisis Care 1800 199 008 - 24 hours, seven days. Crisis Care offers a counselling service for family and domestic violence, child protection, suicidal thoughts and homelessness.
Lifeline WA 13 11 44 - Suicide prevention support by phone.
13Yarn 13 92 76 - 24 hours, seven days. Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people run by Aboriginal people.
Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 - Support for anyone feeling anxious or depressed

Domestic and Family Violence

1800RESPECT 1800 737 732 or https://www.1800respect.org.au/ - We know that talking about domestic, family and sexual violence can be hard. When you contact 1800RESPECT, you will talk to a trained counsellor who will listen and support you in what feels right for you and your situation.

1800RESPECT will work with you to help you identify what you can do and to find the right services or support. Everyone's situation is different and no one knows your situation better than you. Confidential information, counselling and support service 1800RESPECT is available for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to support people impacted by domestic, family or other violence.

Violence isn’t always physical, so information about types of violence and abuse is available. Whatever your situation, it is important to know that help and support are available.

AskIzzy https://askizzy.org.au/

Find the help you need, now and nearby. Search more than 450,000 support services. Ask Izzy is a website that connects people in need with housing, a meal, money help, support with violence at home, mental health and much more. Anyone can use Ask Izzy to find help.

Graffiti

You can report graffiti and vandalism to City of Bunbury property by calling 9792 7000.

Another option is to report graffiti online via State Graffiti Taskforce. This is a great place to upload photos and evidence as this database is used by police for prosecuting offenders once they have been identified.

If you witness someone graffitiing or vandalising public property, please contact police on 131 444 immediately. Catching offenders in the act is a great way for police to identify persons responsible and possibly make arrests.

Rough Sleeping

Rough sleepers are people who for many different reasons do not have immediate access to the comforts of a warm bed and shelter. The City of Bunbury works tirelessly with local service providers to assist with connection to services that can provide access to food, clothing, support services and accommodation when available.

The current housing crisis and cost of living does not make this easy so the City is also working hard to identify housing solutions within our area and the Greater Bunbury region that may help in reducing the number of homeless people, as well as providing accommodation to workers and other people looking to transition into a Bunbury lifestyle.

If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness or forced to sleep rough, the following services are available and may be able to assist:

Anglicare – 9720 9200
Anglicare (Housing First Support) – 9720 9210
Accordwest – 9729 9000
Doors Wide Open – 9787 9298
Salvation Army – 9791 5200
Harbour Refuge – 9791 2894
In Town Centre – 9791 4214
Department of Communities – Office of Homelessness - the Office of Homelessness has been established by the Department of Communities with the aim of achieving better outcomes for people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. Phone 1800 176 888 or email enquiries@communities.wa.gov.au
Government of Western Australia Homelessness Services

The City of Bunbury partners with the WA Alliance to End Homelessness and shares their commitment to Reduce, Prevent and Resolve all Homelessness in WA while also increasing awareness and support for those vulnerable people forced to sleep rough. You can find more information here: WAAEH.

Illegal Camping

It is essential to note that homelessness is not illegal camping. Sleeping rough can be the result of numerous factors but it is important to understand the differences and not assume.

The definition of camp under the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Act 1995; Section 5. is: camp means any portable shed or hut, tent, tent fly, awning, blind or other portable thing used as or capable of being used for habitation and includes a vehicle of a prescribed type or in prescribed circumstances.

Please call Rangers on 9792 7106 if you suspect someone is camping illegally and there is no threat or anti-social behaviour.