Safer Businesses.
Safer Hobsons Bay.

Practical Action • Stronger Connections • Safer Business Precincts.

Working together for safer, more supported businesses across Hobsons Bay.

Safer Businesses. Safer Hobsons Bay. is a 12-month program bringing together local businesses, Victoria Police and Hobsons Bay City Council to identify business safety concerns and work towards practical solutions.

We know that crime and safety are important concerns for businesses and the communities they serve. This program has been established to move from discussion to practical action, helping businesses better understand what they can do, where they can go for support and how issues can be addressed.

The program is an initiative of the Hobsons Bay Local Safety Committee, with the support of Victoria Police and Hobsons Bay City Council, and will work closely with trader associations and local businesses across Hobsons Bay.

What is the program about?

The program focuses on three key areas:

Businesses: Prepare, Prevent & Report

We will work with businesses to identify practical ways to improve safety and preparedness, including:

  • practical crime-prevention measures

  • safety and preparedness information

  • appropriate reporting processes

  • education, information and training opportunities

  • support businesses may need following incidents.

The aim is to give business owners and workers greater confidence in knowing what they can do, where they can go for help and how to report safety concerns effectively.

Victoria Police: Respond, Support & Build Trust

The program will strengthen connections between local businesses and Victoria Police by working to:

  • better understand the safety concerns experienced by businesses

  • improve communication and information sharing

  • identify opportunities for greater police visibility and engagement

  • clarify reporting and response pathways

  • identify practical opportunities to improve confidence in the police response.

Importantly, this program does not replace Victoria Police or existing reporting processes.

It’s about connecting businesses with the appropriate people through the appropriate channels, while creating a stronger relationship between businesses and Victoria Police.

Hobsons Bay City Council: Safe Spaces & Amenity

We will also work with Hobsons Bay City Council to identify opportunities to improve the safety, amenity and presentation of business areas.

This may include issues such as:

  • lighting and visibility

  • public spaces and amenities

  • the presentation and maintenance of business areas

  • locations of concern identified by businesses and the community

  • opportunities to improve the overall experience of shopping strips and activity centres.

The aim is to help create business areas that are welcoming, well-managed and safe places to visit.

Working together to make a difference

The strength of the program is the partnership between business, Victoria Police and Hobsons Bay City Council.

Each has a different role, but the objective is shared:

Identify the issues.
Agree on practical actions.
Take responsibility.
Work together to deliver change.

The program will provide a forum to bring the right people together around specific issues and help ensure that agreed priorities continue to progress.

Progress will be reviewed throughout the 12-month program, with a focus on what has changed, what still needs to change and what needs to happen next.

Get involved

Businesses across Hobsons Bay will have opportunities to learn more about the program, raise concerns, share local knowledge and contribute to identifying priorities.

We will be holding sessions in each key commercial area across Hobsons Bay, with events scheduled on different days and at different times to make it as accessible as possible for local businesses.

Upcoming event information will be shared through:

Check these channels regularly for information about upcoming sessions and opportunities to get involved.

Have a question or want to get in touch?

If you have a question about Safer Businesses. Safer Hobsons Bay., would like more information about the program or have a business safety issue you would like to raise, we would like to hear from you.

Get in touch with the program team using the form below.