Immediate past President of ACT Neighbourhood Watch Mrs Ursula Macdermott was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division in the honours list released on Australia Day 2012. 

Mrs Macdermott or ‘Urs’ as she is affectionately known by Neighbourhood Watch Australasia colleagues, has played a significant role in a number of community service programmes over many decades but she was awarded the OAM specifically and I quote; “For service to the community through the ACT Neighbourhood Watch Association” and for this recognition we should all be very proud and extremely excited.

Mrs Macdermott began as area coordinator for her suburb of Lyons ACT nearly 28 years ago and continues in that role which has included the functions of newsletter editor and treasurer.  She was Woden District Delegate for 18 years, a member of the Board of Management for 20 years including 3 years as Deputy President and 6 years as President from 2003 to August 2009. 

Ursula was a part of the hosting team for the first formal meeting of a national expression of NHW in Australia. It was called a Board then, the year was 1996 and the meeting was held in Canberra.  She has represented the ACT as a Delegate at 8 of these meetings and when Neighbourhood Watch Australasia was incorporated in 2006 she offered her services as Treasurer for the first 2 years and since 2008 as Public Officer.

In the year of her handing over the Presidency to Mrs Margaret Pearson, Ursula was asked to be one of the speakers at the 25th Anniversary dinner at which she was awarded a Certificate of Excellence.  A fitting tribute considering that one of her key contributions had been to take personal responsibility for the instigation of an annual and special awards presentation process which she commenced 2005.

Perhaps it would be appropriate for me to conclude this article with the words I wrote on Ursula’s Certificate for the award presented to her in 2009.          

“In recognition of years of dedicated voluntary service to Neighbourhood Watch locally and nationally. A selfless commitment characterized by determination,
hard work and outrageous generosity, all motivated by a desire to create safer communities. The leadership you have offered and the impact you have made is something we will continue to aspire towards. Thank you for paying the price and standing up for Safety, Security and Well Being.”   

So, on behalf of all NHW members and volunteers, congratulations Ursula!

By Graeme Hush

A research project conducted by the Queensland Police Service has identified senior citizens are a high risk group falling victim to online scams.

It’s estimated that participants in the project have lost in excess of one million dollars to online scammers.

The project, a joint initiative between Community Safety and Crime Prevention Branch and the Fraud and Corporate Crime Group, is being conducted by research analyst, Doctor Cassandra Cross, and is based around the issue of seniors and online fraud.

Dr Cross said based on 2004 to 2007 ABS figures*, internet usage by Queenslanders aged between 65 and 74 years had risen by approximately 40 per cent, making seniors increasingly more vulnerable to online scams.

“Due to their relative inexperience with the internet, seniors are particularly vulnerable to online fraudsters. Many seniors also have access to substantial financial assets, such as superannuation which makes them an attractive target.”   

“The aim of the project is to understand why seniors are falling victims to these types of crimes - what makes them respond to scam emails or requests online,” she said.

Dr Cross travelled across the state interviewing 85 people aged from 50 to 85 who have either been approached to take part in a scam or have been a victim of online fraud.

“Scam emails typically enticed victims by outlining a business investment opportunity or a notification about a lottery win or an inheritance. Romance scams were also popular, initiated through several online dating sites,” she said.

One woman lost over $300,000 in a business related scam, but still refused to believe she had been lied to by the people she believed she was doing business with.

This behaviour is not uncommon according to Dr Cross. “After the initial contact via email, the scammer builds a relationship with the victims over the telephone or face-to-face and this contributes to their inability to recognise their experiences as fraudulent.

“The woman spoke on the telephone almost every night over a two-year period with the two individuals who defrauded her. To her, the relationship she had built with the scammers was a deep friendship which made it very difficult to eventually break,” said Dr Cross.

In many cases, the scams were specifically targeted to the potential victim, with the scammer using previous research sourced online or information gained after initial contact to convince the victim the offer was real.

“One victim lost over $50,000 to an inheritance scam with scammers using information on a genealogy site to find the victim’s relatives and create family trees,” she said.

Detective Superintendent Brian Hay of State Crime Operations Command’s Fraud and Corporate Crime Group estimates that thousands of seniors are targeted and become victims of online fraud.

“We encourage everyone, including seniors, to come forward and report these types of offences as this information helps police find effective ways to reduce these types of crime.

“We’d also like to hear from family members of seniors who recognise their loved one is being defrauded. Often, the victim is so caught up in the scam they ignore the pleas of their family and this can be quite frustrating for family members,” Superintendent Hay said.

Findings from the project will be used to develop effective investigative strategies and education programs for the wider community.

*Australian Bureau of Statistics (2008) Internet Access at Home, catalogue number 4102.0, Canberra.

The Safely Home Program is a joint initiative between the NSW Police and Alzheimer’s Australia (NSW). The program was launched in August 2003, and currently has over 600 people registered.

The Program provides rapid and accurate identification of a wandering person to allow them to be returned home. Members of the public can become involved by contacting Alzheimer’s Australia (NSW) on 1800 100 500. They will be sent an information package and registration form. The completed registration is returned to Alzheimer’s Australia (NSW) who sends a copy to the Missing Persons Unit so that the registered person’s details can be entered onto the New South Wales Police Safely Home Database.

The Safely Home Bracelet:

The Safely Home Program involves the use of a personalised stainless steel identification bracelet, designed to be worn by the person with dementia at all times. The bracelet features the NSW Police Missing Persons Unit toll free telephone number and the personal identification number linked to the NSW Police Safely Home database.

The Safely Home Database:

This database is accessible by all police 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via the Missing Persons Site on the NSW Police Intranet. It includes a detailed description of the registered person, contact information for their next of kin or carer, previous residential addresses and locations they may visit. The database also provides critical medical and linguistic information of the registered person. All details on the database are confidential.

How Does it Work?

When someone finds the wandering person, they can simply look at the bracelet, telephone the Police toll free number on 1800 025 091 and quote the personal identification number. Police then make arrangements for the person to be returned safely home.

Safely Home is ideal for carers in home institutions and health professions caring for people in aged care facilities.

Brochures for the Safely Home Program will be distributed throughout the State to all Local Area Commands. Please ensure these brochures are accessible in all Police Stations for the Police and Community. It is suggested these brochures are distributed to all Police, especially Probationary Constables on their inductions days.

If you require any further information on the Safely Home Program, please contact S/Cst Steve McAlister on 27662 / 8835 7662.

The vulnerable members of the community in Victoria will be comforted by and assisted when in need through the Community Register Initiative program with Neighbourhood Watch volunteers having a major role.

The Office of Senior Victorians, Department of Planning and Community Development have supported the development of the Community Register Initiative (the Initiative), with the support and collaboration of Victoria Police and key stakeholders including Neighbourhood Watch.

The purpose of a Community Register is to check on the well-being of people who are older, living alone or with elderly partners, companions or relatives and/or who experience isolation and/or disability. The Register telephones the people who have registered, on an agreed regular basis. If the registrant does not answer the call, additional calls may be made, if there is still no response then further action is taken, such as notifying the next of kin or organising a visit to the home by the Police.

The Initiative has seen the establishment of in excess of twenty-five (25) new Community Registers (Registers) and the extension of up to fifteen (15) existing Registers to include other people in the community who may be isolated due to reduced mobility, frailty, disability, or the location of their home.

Currently, Victoria Police based registers keep a record of contact telephone numbers and addresses of the registrants and those of their next of kin. Other details, such as basic health status, medication, and name of medical practitioner, may also be included. In emergencies, such as heatwaves, bushfires, storms and floods, the registers can be used to check that vulnerable community members are safe and secure.

Registration is voluntary and at no charge to the registrant.

The Registers will be either located within, or closely associated with police stations.

Priority has been given to the establishment of Registers in areas of high bushfire risk.

The Registers will establish a relationship with the relevant emergency services.

The majority of Registers are staffed and run by volunteers under the oversight of a designated responsible Police Officer. This is where Neighbourhood Watch volunteer can play a significant role.

Seniors Registers were established to provide a service whereby older people who are living alone or are socially isolated, can nominate to receive regular contact calls from local volunteers to check that they are safe, and well. Initially, the impetus for the development of Registers in Victoria and New South Wales was related to unfortunate situations where individuals, living alone, died in their homes but were not found until some time after their death. A regular phone call to elderly or isolated individuals ascertains their well-being and, if a call is not answered, next of kin can be notified and/or the appropriate authorities can make a visit to the home.

These Registers, which were mainly established in conjunction with Victoria Police and run in most cases by volunteers, keep a record of contact numbers for older people, including their next of kin. In extreme weather condition emergencies, such as heatwaves, bushfires, storms and floods, they can be used to make contact with vulnerable people to confirm that they are safe and secure.

The benefits of a Community Register Initiative

The Initiative provides support to individuals who wish to remain in their homes yet require occasional contact to verify their well-being.

Additional benefits include:

• Registrant feels secure in their home
• Establishment/maintenance of a trusting relationship with the local Police Service
• Local Police aware of vulnerable local residents
• Tool for information delivery - but only where agreed with the registrant and cost to be borne by the information provider.

Improved Capacity of Victoria Police to undertake Community policing duties

• Greater knowledge of location and well-being of elderly and vulnerable residents
• Contact list of individuals who may need additional support in emergencies
• Capacity to provide registrants with referral and contact information for other support services
• Increased capacity to provide vulnerable residents with home security support and information, such as house inspections and neighbourhood watch information
• Reduced risk of isolated individuals, who are deceased, injured or ill remaining undetected in their homes.

Improved sense of security for older and vulnerable people

• Supportive contact with local police on a regular basis provides increased confidence and trust in the relationship
• Development of an 'every-day' relationship with local police not crime, crisis or trauma related, supporting trust and increasing confidence in the Police Force
• Increased access to Registers by individuals from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds where community language volunteers are involved
• Reduced fear of remaining alone for any length of time if unwell or injured and unable to access the telephone or other means of communication
• Opportunity to volunteer in a secure and safe environment.

The Office of Senior Victorians, Department of Planning and Community Development and Victoria Police look forward to the continued development and success of the Community Register Initiative in the future to enhance the safety and wellbeing of the vulnerable members of our community.

This program encourages very useful community engagement by Neighbourhood Watch volunteers to encouraging potentially vulnerable members of the community to register, to be alert to the potential problems being experienced by our vulnerable neighbours and be part of the community response to those needing help - all part of helping create safer and more engaged communities.

Mark Standish
Acting Inspector
State Manager
Neighbourhood Watch Victoria

Welcome to the Neighbourhood Watch Australasia Blog! We aim to bring you helpful, imformative and useful personal and home security information and advice.