VU teams with Department of Justice to offer new crime prevention postgrad course

Victoria University (VU) will begin offering Australia’s first Graduate Certificate in Crime Prevention later this year to give professionals already working in the field job-ready practical skills and knowledge.

VU designed the six-month full-time (or equivalent part-time) postgraduate course in partnership with the Department of Justice and Community Safety.

Students will gain an understanding of research and evidence-based crime prevention strategies, along with expertise in planning, implementation and evaluation of crime prevention initiatives across the state.

The program will provide flexibility to accommodate students’ employment and other commitments, with part-time and hybrid online and class-based learning options available.

Students who complete the course can also choose to continue their studies to gain a Master of Criminology qualification.

The Victorian Government awarded three scholarships to some of the course’s first participants at a ceremony at VU’s City Campus.

The recipients, Elizabeth Johnson, a road and community safety officer, Imagen Ellis, a community safety officer, and Amanda Thomas, a family services program support manager will use the skills they gain to further develop their careers in public safety.

Ms Ellis, who currently works at the City of Casey, said the course was an amazing opportunity to add a crime prevention qualification and perspective to her 20 years’ experience in youth and community development.

“This will be a challenge to go back to university part-time while I continue working, but it is a good challenge. I am grateful to the Department of Justice for providing me with this scholarship so I can be in the first wave of this exciting new program.”  

Associate Professor Lidia Xynas, Dean in the College of Law and Justice, said VU “was proud to offer the landmark course which makes an important contribution to crime prevention and demonstrates our commitment to improving our communities.”

The Labor Government has invested more than $90 million in crime prevention initiatives since 2015, supporting almost 950 projects that increase community safety and confidence across Victoria.