Graffiti Prevention Education Program

Teaching and learning activities Objective The learning activities in this unit introduce students to the roles and responsibilities of volunteers from community organisations who help to keep the environment safe and clean. It investigates the benefits to the community and the consequences if communities do not combat offensive public behaviours.

The activities provide students with opportunities to develop their:

• awareness of people in the community who take responsibility for protecting their environment

• understanding of roles and responsibilities of different people and agencies to combat vandalism and graffiti

• actions as good citizens.

Activity description Students research and identify a number of community organisations and the benefits these groups have on the community. Students document the roles and responsibilities undertaken by volunteers in the community and/or school, and interview members about their work.

Guiding questions 1. How will the study allow students to reflect on their own values, beliefs and opinions on the topic?

2. Are there places where connections can be made to larger social or environmental issues?

3. Are there opportunities for students to enact a solution or action plan about the issue?

This teaching strategy has been designed from the 5Es inquiry framework. The following resources have more information about the framework.

• E5 instructional model education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/support/pages/e5.aspx Enhancing education: The 5Es enhancinged.wgbh.org/research/eeeee.html Introduction to inquiry based learning by Neil Stephenson teachinquiry.com/index/Introduction.html

Get involved!: Years 7–8

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti Get involved : Years 7–8: page 1

Graffiti Prevention Education Program

Background information Community organisations exist throughout Australia. A community organisation is an entity that carries on activities for a public purpose or whose primary object is not directed at making a profit. Most community organisations are made up of volunteers who are registered members. These people willingly work for the organisation in accordance with the organisation’s agreed values, goals, procedures and expectations.

Community organisations help to run many facilities and services for the community, including craft groups, support groups, community transport services and football clubs.

Along with the direct services provided by community organisations, they deliver a host of additional benefits to their members and the community, including:

• opportunities to strengthen community bonds and friendships by widening social and professional networks (for example, residents from different ethnic or religious backgrounds meet and interact at the local community garden or at their children’s sporting events)

• developing community members’ skills and providing experience that flows through and benefits the whole community

• improving health and wellbeing of participants by reducing isolation and helping people maintain an active lifestyle

• engaging and motivating people who in turn contribute to discussions about community planning and growth.

The Gold Coast region has approximately 2000 community organisations. The City of Gold Coast values the voluntary contribution these groups provide to the city; therefore it has implemented a range of initiatives to help new organisations and to build the capacity of existing organisations.

Graffiti

What is graffiti?

Graffiti is the unauthorised act of marking other people’s property without their permission. It is illegal, ugly and expensive to remove. Graffiti affects us all. It can lower property values, make people feel unsafe, reduce business patronage and encourage other types of crime.

Graffiti is a crime Graffiti is illegal in Australia. It is a persistent problem that attracts a variety of penalties. In Queensland, graffiti is a crime under the Queensland Criminal Code Act 1899 s. 469 Wilful damage, which states:

Any person who wilfully and unlawfully destroys or damages any property is guilty of an offence…

If the property in question is in a public place, or is visible from a public place, and the destruction or damage is caused by (a) spraying, writing, drawing, marking or otherwise applying paint or another marking substance; or (b) scratching or etching; the offender commits a crime and is liable to imprisonment for 7 years…

In Queensland, graffiti is a crime under the Queensland Criminal Code Act 1899 s. 469 Wilful damage.

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti Get involved : Years 7–8: page 2

Graffiti Prevention Education Program

The court may… order the offender to perform community service… including for example, removing graffiti from property; and … may order the offender to pay compensation to any person.

Consequences Graffiti offences are treated seriously by police, all levels of government and the justice system. Juvenile offenders (aged 12–17 years) may be sentenced to a term in a detention centre, given a graffiti removal order or given a period of probation (Note: a person aged 17 or over is tried as an adult). Regardless of the penalty imposed by a court, a graffiti offender may be ordered to remove the graffiti and/or pay compensation to the owner of the property that was vandalised.

Graffiti removal Graffiti that is left intact attracts more graffiti. The longer it remains, the greater the gratification for perpetrators. It also suggests that the community does not care or is unable to deal with the problem. Keeping neighbourhoods graffiti free reinforces pride in the city and helps to maintain feelings of safety and wellbeing for everyone in the community.

The best way to reduce graffiti is to remove it as quickly as possible. Local governments, businesses, organisations and volunteers commit money and resources to remove graffiti and participate in various graffiti prevention strategies.

City of Gold Coast graffiti prevention program The City of Gold Coast (the City) spends approximately $1.3 million every year on graffiti removal and manages a range of graffiti prevention strategies. Our Graffiti Removal Team responds to an average of 10,000 graffiti removal requests each year, removing graffiti from public assets and some private property. We also provide free graffiti removal kits and support volunteer graffiti removal programs. The City’s graffiti prevention program includes:

• education within schools about graffiti and its consequences

• identifying graffiti hotspots and installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to catch graffiti offenders

• encouraging property owners to design and create spaces that are less attractive to graffiti vandals

• working with retailers of paint products

• facilitating public art graffiti prevention projects

• supporting community service graffiti removal programs

• working with police and other agencies on crime prevention programs.

Graffiti Prevention Mural by Libby Harward

© Copyright, Council of the City of Gold Coast (Council) 2001-2014 Photographer: Sam Lindsay

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti Get involved : Years 7–8: page 3

Graffiti Prevention Education Program

You can report graffiti for removal: A City of Gold Coast mobile app P 07 5581 7998 (Graffiti Hotline) E graffiti@goldcoast.qld.gov.au

Reporting graffiti offenders to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Policelink on 131 444 is also encouraged.

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti Get involved : Years 7–8: page 4

Graffiti Prevention Education Program

Teaching strategy

Engage 1. View video

As a class, view the video Graffiti — Let’s stay on top of it (cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti). Have students complete Student activity worksheet 1: Get involved!, which relates to the information in the video. The video clip can be used to identify issues associated with graffiti, including impacts on community wellbeing.

2. Discuss issues Ask students:

a) What are the points brought up in this video?

b) What are the issues brought up by this video?

3. Web research Ask students to research the following questions, using the internet or the Student information sheet: Get involved! — Community organisations.

a) What is a community organisation? (Answer: A community organisation is an entity that carries on activities for a public purpose or whose primary purpose is not making a profit.)

b) Who carries out the work of a community organisation? (Answer: Volunteer registered members carry out the work of the organisation in accordance with the organisation’s agreed values, goals, procedures and expectations.)

c) Is there funding for community organisations to realise their goals? (Answer: Yes. State and local governments provide funding to organisations that are prepared to assist the government to realise a community project, such as anti-graffiti initiatives.)

d) How do community organisations reflect Australian values and identity? (Answer: Australian’s values and identity are hard to define, however themes include mateship, being part of a community and looking after each other. Being part of a community organisation allows members to make friendships, have ownership of their local community and feel valued in that community.)

e) Are there any community organisations that help to prevent crime? (Answer: Yes. Some examples are, Crimestoppers, Volunteers in Policing and Neighbourhood Watch. These groups volunteer time and resources to various crime prevention strategies, including safety campaigns and crime reporting.)

Explore 4. Group response

Divide the class into small groups. Every group must research at least one organisation that assists with preventing crime. Ask each group to use their research findings to give a group response:

a) Have each group identify and list community organisations that support and/or protect the community using the Student activity worksheet 2: Get involved! Have students consider a

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti Get involved : Years 7–8: page 5

Graffiti Prevention Education Program

broad interpretation of community organisations, including sporting clubs, religious/cultural groups, environmental groups, community care and hobbies/pastimes.

b) Students should categorise their nominated community organisations according to type/service, and identify direct and indirect benefits that the organisation delivers to the community.

5. Community organisation aims and structure Have students select one community organisation from their list. Use the headings in Student activity worksheet 3: Get involved! to explore the organisation’s aims and structure.

Ask each group to report to the class on their chosen organisation.

Explain 6. Ways to prevent crime

As a class, explain and discuss the following ways to prevent crime. Consider each method in relation to their chosen community organisation.

Strategies to prevent crime may be directed towards:

• addressing the environmental conditions that promote and sustain crime

• eliminating risk factors and enhancing protective factors to reduce the likelihood that individuals will engage in crime

• strengthening communities by addressing social exclusion and promoting community cohesiveness

• enhancing the capacity of criminal justice agencies to prevent crime and reoffending. * This list is an extract from the Australian Institute of Criminology’s National Crime Prevention Framework (http://www.aic.gov.au/crime_community/crimeprevention/ncpf.html).

7. View video As a class, view the video clip, ABC Gold Coast: Graffiti attracts graffiti (abc.net.au/local/photos/2011/10/27/3349879.htm) and discuss how the featured organisation assists with graffiti prevention and reporting.

8. Assist police

Have students list a variety of measures that community organisations can use to assist police with the prevention, law enforcement and removal of graffiti in their community. Ask for their ideas first. Here are some examples:

• form a task force to report graffiti to the Graffiti Hotline

• promote the reporting of graffiti to the Graffiti Hotline to local residents

• join or establish a volunteer graffiti removal program

• develop community awareness campaigns using brochures, flyers or letterbox drops

• provide opportunities for local artists to beautify locations in the community

• establish an environmental art exhibition in the community

• engage ‘at-risk’ youth groups to support prevention actions

• produce an education campaign for local television, newspapers or community websites. cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti Get involved : Years 7–8: page 6

Graffiti Prevention Education Program

9. Research in the community Ask students to undertake research, which may include surveying community members and sourcing supporting information on community groups more generally, to complete an inquiry.

Elaborate 10. Create their own organisation

Have the students re-form into small groups and ask each group to create their own volunteer graffiti prevention organisation. Each group should develop the following information for their organisation:

• name

• mission statement

• roles and responsibilities of members

• main work/actions to prevent or deal with graffiti.

11. Presentation or poster The groups should use Glogster (edu.glogster.com/) or Prezi (prezi.com/) to develop an interactive presentation about their graffiti prevention organisation. The presentation should include text, images and video testimonials from members about the key message of the organisation. Each group will give their presentation to the class. Alternatively, students could create a poster for their organisation.

Evaluate 12. Newspaper review

Individual students should select the presentation of another group and write a review of the organisation for the local newspaper. The review should include a personal reflection on the direct and indirect benefits delivered by the community organisation.

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti Get involved : Years 7–8: page 7

Graffiti Prevention Education Program

Australian Curriculum links Learning areas Strand Content descriptions

Civics and citizenship

Citizenship, diversity and identity

Year 7 How values, including freedom, respect, inclusion, civility, responsibility, compassion, equality and a ‘fair go’, can promote cohesion within Australian society (ACHCK052)

Year 8 How national identity can shape a sense of belonging in Australia’s multicultural society (ACHCK067)

Cross-curriculum link: Geography — Knowledge and skills

Cross-curriculum priorities

Sustainability Futures OI.6 The sustainability of ecological, social and economic systems is achieved through informed individual and community action that values local and global equity and fairness across generations into the future.

General Capabilities

Element Sub-element

Literacy Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing

Interpret and analyse learning area texts

Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating

Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

Use language to interact with others

Grammar knowledge Express opinion and point of view

Word knowledge Understand learning area vocabulary

Information Communication Technology (ICT) capability

Investigating with ICTs Define and plan information searches

Locate, generate and access data and information

Select and evaluate data and information

Creating with ICTs Generate ideas, plans and processes

Generate solutions to challenges and learning area tasks

Critical and creative thinking

Inquiring — identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas

Pose questions

Identify and clarify information and ideas

Generate ideas, possibilities and actions Imagine possibilities and connect ideas

Reflecting on thinking and processes Transfer knowledge into new contexts

Ethical understanding

Exploring values, rights and responsibilities Examine values

Explore rights and responsibilities

Consider points of view Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), downloaded from the Australian Curriculum website in March 2014. CC-BY-SA

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti Get involved : Years 7–8: page 8

Graffiti Prevention Education Program

Resources

• Graffiti Prevention Education Program PowerPoint — Secondary • Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA): Graphic organisers

education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/support/pages/graphicorganisers.aspx • Glogster

edu.glogster.com • Prezi

prezi.com • Australian Institute of Criminology: Key issues in graffiti

aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/rip/1-10/06.html

City of Gold Coast graffiti prevention resources • Graffiti prevention information

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti • Video clip Graffiti — Let’s stay on top of it

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti • Graffiti prevention education resources

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/education • Graffiti — Let’s stay on top of it: A factsheet for the Queensland Police Service

goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/graffiti-fact-sheet-reporting.pdf

Community resources • City of Gold Coast: Community safety

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/communitysafety • City of Gold Coast: Community support

http://cityofgoldcoast.com.au/community/community-support-228.html • City of Gold Coast: Community guide

goldcoastcity.com.au/communityguide • Neighbourhood Watch Australasia

nhwa.com.au/ • Volunteering Australia

volunteeringaustralia.org • Graffiti Hurts: Graffiti prevention: Best practices for communities

http://www.graffitihurts.org/community/bestpractices.jsp • Neighbourhood Watch Broadbeach

nhwbroadbeach20.org.au

YouTube video clips • 7News: War on graffiti (5 mins) youtube.com/watch?v=BNdJeYJC13Q • Today Tonight: Brisbane graffiti vandals (10 mins)

youtube.com/watch?v=l6PLvW5o7Xo • ABC News: Graffiti or art? Justin Bieber sprays Gold Coast hotel (2 mins)

youtube.com/watch?v=L2l66QK3_X8

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti Get involved : Years 7–8: page 9

Graffiti Prevention Education Program

What is graffiti? Graffiti is the unauthorised act of marking other people’s property without their permission. It is illegal, ugly and expensive to remove. Graffiti affects us all, it can lower property values, make people feel unsafe, reduce business patronage and encourage other types of crime.

Where does graffiti occur? Most graffiti occurs on exposed walls and fences and is usually in the form of messages in letters or images, written in spray paint, permanent marker or etched into a surface with a sharp instrument. Graffiti vandals have no respect for private or community property and no regard for the negative impacts of their actions. Their aim is usually to impress their peers and strengthen their reputations, by putting their graffiti tags in as many places as possible.

Graffiti is a crime Graffiti is illegal in Australia. It is a persistent problem that attracts a variety of penalties. In Queensland, graffiti is a crime under the Queensland Criminal Code Act 1899 s469 “Wilful Damage” Any person who wilfully and unlawfully destroys or damages any property is guilty of an offence.

(1) If the property in question is in a public place, or is visible from a public place, and the destruction or damage is caused by (a) spraying, writing, drawing, marking or otherwise applying paint or another marking substance; or (b) scratching or etching; the offender commits a crime and is liable to imprisonment for 7 years. (3) The court may order the offender to perform community service, including for example, removing graffiti from property; and/or may order the offender to pay compensation to any person.

Consequences Graffiti offences are treated seriously by Police, all levels of government and the justice system. Juvenile offenders (aged 12-17 years) may be sentenced to a term in a detention centre, given a graffiti removal order or given a period of probation (note: a person aged 17 or over is tried as an adult). Regardless of the penalty imposed by a court, a graffiti offender may be ordered to remove the graffiti and/or pay compensation to the owner of the property that was vandalised.

In Queensland graffiti is a crime under the Queensland Criminal Code Act 1899 s469 “Wilful Damage”

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti Get involved : Years 7–8: page 10

Graffiti Prevention Education Program

Graffiti removal Graffiti that is left intact attracts more graffiti. The longer it remains the greater the gratification for perpetrators. It also suggests that the community does not care or is unable to deal with the problem. Keeping neighbourhoods graffiti free reinforces pride in the city and helps to maintain feelings of safety and well-being for everyone in the community. The best way to reduce graffiti is to remove it as quickly as possible. Local governments, businesses, organisations and volunteers commit money and resources to graffiti removal and participate in various graffiti prevention strategies.

© Copyright, Council of the City of Gold Coast (Council) 2001-2014 Photographer: Sam Lindsay

City of Gold Coast graffiti prevention program The City of Gold Coast (the City) spends approximately $1.3 million every year on graffiti removal and manages a range of graffiti prevention strategies. Our Graffiti Removal Team responds to an average of 10,000 graffiti removal requests each year, removing graffiti from public assets and some private property. We also provide free graffiti removal kits and supports volunteer graffiti removal programs.

The City’s graffiti prevention program includes:

• education within schools about graffiti and its consequences

• identifying graffiti hotspots and installing close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to catch graffiti offenders

• encouraging property owners to design and create spaces that are less attractive to graffiti vandals (CPTED)

• working with retailers of paint products

• facilitating public art graffiti prevention projects

• supporting community service graffiti removal programs

• working with police and other agencies on crime prevention programs.

You can report graffiti for removal: A City of Gold Coast mobile app P 07 5581 7998 (Graffiti Hotline) E graffiti@goldcoast.qld.gov.au

Reporting graffiti offenders to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Policelink on 131 444 is also encouraged.

Graffiti Prevention Mural by Libby Harward © Copyright, Council of the City of Gold Coast (Council) 2001-2014 Photographer: Sam Lindsay

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti Get involved : Years 7–8: page 11

Graffiti Prevention Education Program

Student activity worksheet 1: Get involved! View the video clip, Graffiti — Let’s stay on top of it (cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti) and answer the following questions.

Question Answer How is the City of Gold Coast helping to clean up the City?

How much does the City of Gold Coast spend to clean up graffiti each year?

What community groups are featured in the video?

What is the City of Gold Coast’s policy to remove graffiti?

How many reports of graffiti does the City of Gold Coast receive each year?

What can Gold Coast residents get for free to help them remove graffiti from their property?

How do the police treat the crime of graffiti?

If caught, what punishment can graffiti offenders expect from the justice system?

What are some of the graffiti prevention strategies discussed?

How can you report graffiti?

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti Get involved : Years 7–8: page 12

Graffiti Prevention Education Program

Student information sheet: Get involved! Community organisations What is a community organisation? A community organisation is an entity that carries on activities for a public purpose or whose primary objective is not directed at making a profit. Community organisations exist throughout Australia.

Most community organisations are made up of volunteers who are registered members; these people willingly carry out work for the organisation in accordance with the organisation’s agreed values, goals, procedures and expectations.

What they do Community organisations help to run many facilities and services for the community, including craft groups, support groups, community transport services, crime prevention groups and sporting clubs.

Along with the direct services provided by community organisations, they also deliver a host of additional benefits to their members and the community, including opportunities to:

• strengthen community bonds and friendships by widening social and professional networks (for example, residents from different ethnic or religious backgrounds meet and interact at the local community garden or at their children’s sporting events)

• develop skills and experience that flow through and benefit the whole community

• improve health and wellbeing of participants by reducing isolation and helping people maintain an active lifestyle

• engage and motivate people who in turn contribute to discussions about community planning and growth.

The Gold Coast region has approximately 2000 community organisations.

The City of Gold Coast values the voluntary contribution these groups provide to the city; therefore, the City has a range of initiatives and funding available to help new organisations and to build the capacity of existing organisations.

Photographer: Samuel Lindsay © Copyright, Council of the City of Gold Coast (Council)

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti Get involved : Years 7–8: page 13

Graffiti Prevention Education Program

Student activity worksheet 2: Get involved! 1. Make a list of local community organisations that you are aware of. Community organisations

may include sporting clubs, religious or cultural groups, environmental organisations, community care providers, and clubs for hobbies and pastimes. (Examples of community organisations can be found at ourcommunity.com.au/.)

2. Categorise the organisations according to service or type.

3. Record the benefits each community organisation delivers.

Community organisation

Type of organisation Community benefits

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti Get involved : Years 7–8: page 14

Graffiti Prevention Education Program

Student activity worksheet 3: Get involved! Select one community organisation. Use the headings below to explore the organisation’s aims and structure.

Question Answer

Why the group was formed?

When was it formed?

What are the group’s key roles?

What are the characteristics of members (demographic, other)?

Does the group have partnerships with other groups? Why?

How does the group raise funds? (e.g. donations/grants)

What direct community benefits does the group deliver?

What indirect community benefits does the group deliver?

What would be the impact if this community group didn’t exist?

cityofgoldcoast.com.au/graffiti Get involved : Years 7-8: page 15