City of Cockburn - Wetlands to Waves

You can also have your valuables marked FREE.  Having your valuables marked  can help your goods being returned to you if they are stolen.  Contact us during office hours for assistance, 9411 3641

Please read some of the safety tips below, which may help you in difficult times.

When you are celebrating a special occasion your party should be fun, safe and trouble free.  Here are some tips to help your party to be enjoyable without being spoiled by uninvited guests and upset neighbours.

• Plan your party, give out invitations to invited guests and clearly state time and location.
• If you are having amplified music, notify your neighbours or if you wish you can invite them.
• At midnight lower the music volume.
• Alcohol should not be served to underage guests.
• Overcrowding can cause discomfort to your guests. So invite the amount of guests to suit the venue.
• Notify your Council to see if there are any restrictions.
• Notify your local police (131 444) and the Community Security Service (1300 653 643) of your party. 

• You have a duty of care towards your guests, you are responsible for their safety and welfare.
• Parking of cars should be checked by the host to ensure all vehicles are legally parked and not obstructing neighbours.
• Abundant food and water should be available to your guests at all times throughout the party.
• Encourage your guests to drink water and eat between alcoholic drinks
• Have mid strength or light beer on hand, use cans instead of bottles and stubbies.
• Help guests arrange lifts or taxis, don't let them drive if they have been drinking.  Have them stay over if they cannot get home safely.

1. Invitations with date, time and contact number.
2. Inform neighbours
3. Ask council (serving food, alcohol, parking, noise, halls etc)
4. Provide plenty of food.
5. Provide plenty of water and non alcoholic drinks
6. Provide light and mid strength beer in cans
7. Liquor licence  if selling alcohol or charging entry fee
8. Adequate Parking or check guests are parking responsibly
9. Enough room for amount of guests or, that you provide extra toilets, space and shelter for guests.
10. Lower noise at midnight
11. If trouble erupts contact security services 1300 653 643 24hrs/7days week or police 131 444 or life threatening 000.
12. ENJOY

• Invitations should clearly state the time of the party
• Parents of the host should be present at the party
• Alcohol should not be served to underage guests
• Weekend parties should finish at midnight, parties during the week are not  considerate of neighbours.
• Taking drugs is illegal and should be avoided.
• Smoking is damaging to health, this should be discussed with parents in the planning of the party.

• It is wise to ring and check the details with the host.
• Arrange transport for your child to and from the party.
• Provide contact details to your child in case of emergency.
• Discuss peer pressure issues.
• Remind your child to be courteous.

Avoid Trouble

• Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you.
• Try and travel with a friend or in a group.
• THINK AHEAD - know how you will get home.
• At night keep to busy well lit streets.
• Dont take shortcuts through deserted areas or places.
• Always walk on the right, you will see cars coming.
• If a passing driver stops to ask for directions, dont get too close to the car, ask the driver to speak up if you cannot hear.
• If you go out with your mates, go home with them, even if there has been some trouble between you.
• Dont wait for buses at deserted stops, have a timetable so you dont have to wait.

• Dont let callers know that you are home alone.
• Never give personal information,  offer to take a number and phone them back, no matter who they say they are. Then give the information to a parent or adult.

If you receive a nuisance or obscene call, dont say anything just HANG UP!  If the calls persist ask your parents to contact the phone service provider.  You may get a phone number if there is caller ID available.

•  Use a well lit shelter near other travellers, if possible.
•  Use a timetable to minimise waiting times.
•  Don't sit alone.
•  Sit where the driver or other passengers can see you.

• Always lock your car when entering or leaving.
• Have your keys ready before you leave a building.
• Check area before going to your car.
• Always check the back seat before getting in.
• Dont pick up hitchikers.

If your car breaks down.

• Open bonnet and put hazard lights on
• When someone stops stay in your locked car and ask them to phone for help.  (Parents, RAC or friend)  If there is no one to ask contact the Police for help.

• When dealing with bullies you need to be BRAVE, no matter how scared you really are. 
• Don't let them see they are upsetting you in any way. 
• Ignore them as much as possible. 
• Stay in areas where you can be easily seen and try to hang out with friends
• Walk in groups if possible, if you dont have anyone to walk with, see who is going the same way and stay close behind them.
• Dont take shortcuts.
• Tell your teachers, or parents, they can help you.

If you are attacked, you have every right to defend yourself.  Except using anything classified as a weapon. These can be  Knives, knuckle dusters, chains or bats and you will be breaking the law if you use them.  If you use anything other than your hands, be prepared for the attacker to take it and use it against you.  Umbrellas, keys, bags and shoes are okay to use if you have them on you at the time of the attack.

Carrying a personal alarm or whistle can be helpful, but these items should not be worn around your neck.

When faced with an aggressive person, try to remain calm and assess him/her. Do they have a weapon?  Are they larger than you?  Can you easily fight them off?  Is there anyone around who could help?

Try to keep the person talking. Talking your way out of a situation may work, otherwise use this talking time to look for an escape. Hopefully someone may come along that you can signal help to.

If you are actually attacked, fight back the best you can.  Call for help at the earliest opportunity.

Police life threatening emergency 000  or 112 from mobiles

Police Non-emergency 131 444

DO:

• Call the police as soon as possible.
• Remember what happened and description of the offender.

DONT:

• Wash, change, shower or clean any evidence.
• Drink alcohol, or take drugs to try and clear your mind.

The police will ask you to give a clear description of the offender and what happened.  You do not have to feel guilty or ashamed, your report to police will help protect another innocent victim.

School parking is a major safety hazard at some schools.  Children and pedestrians are at risk being hurt when there are a lot of vehicles incorrectly parked or speeding through school zones.

Common parking problems:

• Stopping/Parking on a footpath
• Parking on a NO STOPPING area, or stopping on a road during the prohibited times.
• Parking in a NO Parking area
• Double parking
• Parking on a nature strip or verge without the owner's consent
• Parking so that the vehicle causes an obstruction
• Parking facing the wrong way

Golden Rules

1. Be aware
2. Be Courteous
3. Be responsible
4. Be a 'Perfect Parker'
5. Observe Parking signs
6. Use kiss and Drive (if available)

Don't be a nasty parker:

• Block driveways
• Park on footpaths
• Get frustrated
• Obstruct children's crossing

Watch out for:

• Speeding motorists
• Bends in the road
• Lack of available parking bays
• Parking on footpaths
• Parking across driveways

What Parents can do:

• Always be aware of children
• Walk or cycle to and from school
• Try and use nearby parking facilities such as reserves or shopping centres and walk the short distance to school
• Plan your trip so that you arrive eariler and arrive on the school side of the road
• Avoid leaving your vehicle for long periods
• Form a road wise committee (contact your principal or P &C)
• Be a 'Perfect Parker'

What Teachers can do

• Educate students about procedures around the school precinct.
• Encourage children to educate their parents or carers about what they should and shouldnt do around the school.

Warning Signs

Children warning and 40km hour school speed zone signs are the responsibility of Main Roads WA and requests for additional signs or sign damage reports should be directed to them on 9323 4111 or 1800 800 009.

KISS N DRIVE zones typically allow parents to pick up and drop off children adjacent to the main school entrance

PROHIBITION SIGNS - Parking prohibitions are imposed to regulate and modify parking patterns.  Their main function is to ensure that potential vehicle/pedestrian conflicts are eliminated.

Essentially there are two types of prohibitions which have specific meanings under the Road Traffic Code 'No Parking or No Standing'.  Sometimes these signs have times when the order is enforced.  During the times stated there is no parking or standing allowed.

• NO PARKING means that a motorist may stop the vehicle to immediately set down or pick up passengers or goods.  The motorist must remain with the vehicle.
• NO STANDING means that a motorist cannot stop to set down or pick up passengers.  These are put in place to ban vehicles from stopping in potentially hazardous areas.

Did you know?

It is an offence to stop or park a vehicle: 

• Within 3 metres of a double white line
• Within 10 metres of an intersection
• less than 9 metres from a traffic island

HELP IS AVAILABLE

CONTACT:  ROADWISE 9213 2066 OR MAIN ROADS 9323 4111