In addition to significant clean-up and removal costs, graffiti vandalism also impacts on communities in other significant ways by damaging civic pride, encouraging further criminal activity, devaluating property, intimidating residents and generating fear and anger.
How are communities responding?
Many local governments and their communities are proactive in addressing graffiti and other offending behaviours, and have their own graffiti management strategies in place to target specific graffiti problems within their jurisdiction. Use the links below to learn about some local graffiti management strategies and initiatives in place within our State. Please note, the graffiti initiatives highlighted do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Crime Prevention or State Government.
City of Bunbury
The City of Bunbury is currently running a program called Outer Spaces. The Outer Spaces project aims to connect with young people at risk of causing graffiti, and engage them in a program of positive skill development, mentoring and the development of a sense of responsibility. The first stage of the project, funded by the Office of Crime Prevention, has been successfully completed with the installation of a large mural in Bunbury. Contact: Adam Johnson on (08) 9792 7134.
City of Gosnells
The City of Gosnells has a zero tolerance to graffiti and has an anti graffiti team that removes graffiti as soon as possible after notification. Racist and offensive graffiti is removed immediately we are allowed access to it, after Police enquiries have been made. The anti graffiti team removes graffiti from City assets, private homes and businesses and works closely with the Police to identify and prosecute graffiti vandals. The SafeCity Education Project for Schools (SEPS) deals with crime prevention on a basic level and helps students understand the importance of reporting graffiti and vandalism, how to encourage parents to join Neighbourhood Watch and how to become more responsible members of the community. The Program is free to all schools in the City and is presented by representatives from the Office of Crime Prevention and SafeCity. Contact: Andy Brighouse and Sue Spiegl on (08) 9391 6020.
The City of Rockingham have a series of graffiti prevention and reduction strategies. The Community Graffiti Paint Out program encourages energetic and enthusiastic members of the community to remove graffiti by providing volunteers with paint, a paint brush, a scraper, a mask and disposable gloves to paint over graffiti markings on bus shelters, bus stops and underpass walls and other approved structures. This project has proven to be highly effective with a marked reduction of graffiti vandalism on maintained structures. The Adopt A Bus Shelter program involves schools and community groups working with a local artist to revitalize and protect bus shelters in ‘hot spot’ areas. Students address the issues surrounding graffiti as well as contributing to choosing effective mediums which are harder to vandalize whilst working on a community theme. Artworks are completed using different processes such as ceramics, metal inserts, textured metal, aerosol art and painting. Recurrence of graffiti vandalism to decorated bus shelters has been greatly reduced. Urban Art Projects also encourage young people to participate in workshops to learn about the widespread effects of graffiti vandalism on the community and the history of hip hop and urban/graffiti art. Courses and employment information are also provided. A renowned urban artist them works with participants on theme, design, skills and technique before artworks are spray painted onto a skate park, change room facilities or the like. The projects so far have been highly successful and have received much community praise and support. Contact: Genevieve Rowles on (08) 9528 0475.
Constable Care Child Safety Foundation (Inc)
Constable Care has in partnership with the OCP developed an ‘early intervention’ graffiti education program titled ’Loser’. The project strategy is an Interactive Drama Play targeting Primary School Children in years 4-7 (9-12yr olds). Contact: Vic Evans on (08) 9272 0000.
Mindfields - Juvenile Justice, Department of Corrective Services
Juvenile Justice is currently delivering a program titled ‘Mindfields’. Mindfields is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy program delivered to juveniles apprehended for graffiti offences. Referrals are received through Juvenile Justice Teams. Contact: Joy Ferguson on (08) 9464 3193.
Neighbourhood Watch (Western Australia)
Neighbourhood Watch is a series of programs aimed at making individuals aware of crime prevention initiatives and activities by encouraging interaction and a sense of responsibility between neighbours and communities. Contact: Brian Scully on (08) 9356 0558.
People Against Vandalism
People Against Vandalism (PAV) purpose is to make communities safer, friendlier places to live by reducing anti-social behaviour, vandalism and graffiti, and including community participation in the solution. This will be achieved by: fostering a strong awareness of the damage that anti-social activity such as graffiti and vandalism does within our community – through our education program; encouraging people – especially young people – to form positive relationships with the police and other authorities – through engaging such authorities in the education program; encouraging more effective and frequent reporting of anti-social behaviour; and directly addressing the damage caused by anti-social behaviour – establishing and managing volunteer Graffiti Busters Brigades. PAV currently has programs in the Cities of Wanneroo and Armadale. Contact: Abi Paterson on 0409 203 223.
Swan TAFE
Unemployed youth between 18 and 25 years of age have been attending a series of workshops to learn more about graffiti as an art form in an exciting new urban art project being run in Armadale. Funded by the Department of Education and Training, the project is being run by Swan TAFE in Armadale and has given young people an opportunity to learn the skills to be able to design and paint murals on commission for local businesses and community organisations. The theme of the project is “Keep it Legal” and has also given participants an opportunity to develop their design skills. Contact: Liz van der Zanden on (08) 9497 0988.
Town of Vincent
Electronic mapping of graffiti and hotspots, linked to Towns ‘Intramap’ system, along with regular reporting to WA Police. Contact: Michael Wood and Tracy Lumbis on (08) 9273 6000.
UWA is currently undertaking a research project examining the risk, and reputational desires of graffitists, with the aim of devising a new model and intervention program for reducing graffiti. Contact: Dr MyraTaylor on (08) 6488 2393.
Do you have a local graffiti management strategy or initiative you want to highlight?
The Goodbye Graffiti website aims to be community orientated by providing relevant information to address graffiti vandalism and facilitating the exchange of such information between communities.
If you have a local graffiti management strategy or initiative that you would like to share with other communities please contact us with the following information:
- name of graffiti strategy / initiative
- website address (if available)
- brief summary of the strategy / initiative (100 word maximum)
- contact person (including a telephone number and/or email address)
This page was last updated October 2009
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