More Outreach Workers To Keep Victorians Safe

The Community Connectors program will expand to Footscray Station from 27 May while outreach workers will be rolled out at Broadmeadows Station in the coming months.

Both are major interchange stations where thousands of passengers move through every day.

Community Connectors have expertise in mental health, trauma, homelessness, alcohol and drug issues, family violence and crisis support.

They patrol around train stations and help vulnerable people in crisis before situations escalate further.

They connect people with services and work closely with Metro staff, Protective Services Officers (PSOs) and Victoria Police.

The program has operated at Dandenong Station since July 2023 and Frankston Station since late 2024.

Across both sites, Community Connectors have engaged with almost 5,000 people and referred hundreds to support services.

The outreach workers have helped de-escalate or prevent more than 600 incidents.

Since rollout, both stations have seen a drop in disorderly and offensive conduct offences:

• 85 per cent drop at Dandenong Station
• 44 per cent drop at Frankston Station and the Young Street precinct.

The expansion is part of the work to stop crime before it happens including through initiatives like the Violence Reduction Unit.

The VRU backs evidence-based early intervention programs that improve community safety.