Women’s Safety Assessment of public events in the ACT

Women and girls are the best sources of information on when and where they feel safe, so it important to obtain information from them about what factors make them feel unsafe at public events in the ACT and to understand what improvements might be needed. 
This Women’s Safety Assessment provides a range of questions for women to consider and use in assessing how safe they feel at public events in the ACT.  

You can use the results of this safety assessment to help make public events in the ACT safer by letting the ACT Office for Women know about public events where you had concerns by sending a notification to women@act.gov.au.

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Name of event and date:    __________________________________

1. ACCESSIBILITY 

Is it easy to move around the event area with a physical limitation or disability? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are there disabled toilets available and are they easy to access? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are the paths well lit and even, and are there curb cuts at intersections and corners? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are there an adequate number of parking spaces for people with a disability? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

2. PUBLIC TRANSPORT / VENUE PARKING 
Is the parking in a safe location? Is there adequate security present? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are the bus stops in a safe location? Is the event easily accessible from parking/public transport? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. LIGHTING 
How well does the lighting illuminate the area including the entrance/exits? After dark? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
How well does the lighting illuminate the footpaths? Is there anywhere where the lighting is obscured? (eg. trees or bushes) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
Are there any specific areas that are not adequately lit? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are the public amenities well lit? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
4. AMENITIES 
Are the women’s toilets in a safe location? Would you feel safe using them? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are the toilets visible to others or isolated from view? Could you see and hear people around you and do you feel you could be seen and heard by others? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Are there enough benches strategically placed for those who might need to sit? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. SIGNS, SIGNALS AND MAPS 
Are there enough signs to help you navigate the event venue? (e.g. street/building names, parking, entrances/exits, toilets)? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are there enough signs, signals and maps and are they easy to read? (ie. well lit, large enough text) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are there visual symbols to represent important information (ie. emergency assistance, telephones, toilets)? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. ISOLATION (feeling alone in the area) 
Were there any specific areas where you felt vulnerable? If yes, where? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Did you felt isolated in a particular area of the event (where you could not see and hear people around you and could not be seen and heard by others if you called out for help)? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
7. POSSIBLE ENTRAPMENT SITES 
Are there areas where you would be hidden from view from others? (ie. between garbage bins, unlocked equipment or utility sheds, laneways, doorways, isolated parking lots or bus stops) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are there areas where your visibility is obstructed or you are hidden by fences, trees or bushes, cars or other vehicles? __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Could you tell what is at the end of a path or walkway? (ie. on the way to the toilets, carpark, bus) If not what would make it easier to see ahead? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you believe that you could easily escape from an unsafe situation at this event? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. SECURITY 
Are there security guards and cameras in areas where they are needed? (both outside and inside the venue event) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Would you feel safe attending this event at night? ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ 

SUMMING UP YOUR FINDINGS OVERALL
What are your overall feelings about the safety of the event venue? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you have any specific recommendations? What improvements would you like to see? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you have any other comments/ particular concerns you would like to share about safety in this public space/event? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

You can help Women’s Health Matters to advocate for improved safety for women at ACT’s public events by sending us the results of your survey by either:

•	Scanning the Assessment results and emailing them to admin@womenshealthmatters.org.au ; or
•	Posting the results to PO Box 385, Mawson, ACT, 2607.