Art and Safe Communities: the role of Big hART in the regeneration of an inner city housing estate
Carolyn Coggan, Christopher Saunders and Dominic Grenot

Abstract

Issue addressed: This paper describes how a notorious central Sydney housing estate nicknamed ‘Suicide Towers’ became the first public housing estate to achieve the World Health Organization criteria for designation as a Safe Community.

Methods: A case study was the method of choice to report on the way Government and non-government agencies worked with tenants in a community development approach.

Results: The Neighbourhood Advisory Board formed at Northcott worked collaboratively with tenants, Big hART, Government and non-government organisations to make Northcott a safer place to live. This resulted in improved social cohesion, improved environments and a decrease in violent crime. Most importantly, tenants reported feeling more valued, much safer and more comfortable since the project started.

Conclusions: Although the arts are not often considered part of the community development process, the use of the art of story telling was the catalyst for the regeneration of this notorious housing estate. In addition, the criteria required for Safe Community accreditation provided an infrastructure within the Northcott Housing Estate for Government and non-government agencies to work with the Northcott community to establish the inter-connectiveness necessary to turn this community into somewhere that the residents felt safe and were proud to be part of.

Key words: Safe Communities; arts; social capital; safety.

So what?

Using a community development model of involving residents in story telling can build social cohesion, resulting in the residents feeling empowered and valued. Additionally, involving other stakeholders (Government and non-government) to support the issues raised by residents can result in all key stakeholders working collaboratively to develop strategies to integrate social, health, safety and environmental policies to achieve Safe Communities status, thus fostering social cohesion and a stronger and safer community.

Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2008;19:4-9