Bathurst Community Safety Campaigns

Every year, 1 in 6 people aged 60 years and over experience some form of abuse. This abuse leads to severe physical, mental, financial, and social consequences.

The abuse of older people, also known as elder abuse, is defined by the World Health Organisation as ‘a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person. This type of violence constitutes a violation of human rights and includes physical, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse, financial and material abuse, abandonment, neglect and serious loss of dignity and respect’.

Between 2019 and 2024, the Ageing and Disability Commission received 164 reports related to allegations or concerns of abuse, neglect or exploitation of an older person or adult with a disability across the Bathurst Region. 70% of these reports related to older people in Bathurst.  For more information: Bathurst LGA 2019-2024

Abuse of older people is expected to increase given the rapidly ageing population. 

If you have concerns about your situation, or the wellbeing of someone you know, call the NSW Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline on 1800 628 221 (9am – 4pm Monday to Friday).

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2026

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is an international initiative that aims to improve the wellbeing of ageing populations by identifying the issues that contribute towards Elder Abuse. These include physical abuse, financial abuse, neglect, psychological abuse, and more. This year World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is being held on Monday 15 June 2026.

The theme for this year is “Beyond Awareness: Making Elder Abuse Prevention Work”.

In line with this theme, Council has partnered with Relationships Australia to develop a Wellbeing Booklet. This booklet includes a wellbeing checklist and links to available support services. This booklet is available at the Bathurst Library, Bathurst Civic Centre, and can be downloaded using the link above/below

View the wellbeing booklet here....(PDF, 381KB)

This is an initiative of Council’s Positive Ageing Strategy 2021-2026, Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2022-2027, and Community Safety Plan 2023-2028.

Mobility Scooter Safety Tips

Mobility scooters are a popular method of travel for people with limited mobility. People using mobility devices are classified as pedestrians and must follow the same road rules as other pedestrians.

There are lots of things you can do to ensure your mobility scooter is a safe and effective mode of transport for you and those around you.

• Travel at the same speed of those walking around you, which is often 2-3km per hour. Mobility scooters are not permitted to exceed 10km per hour.
  
  
• It is illegal to operate a mobility device while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  
  
• Do not obstruct the path of other pedestrians or drivers. Be especially mindful of your surroundings in crowded areas.
  
  
• Stay visible.
  
  
• Install safety flags, reflective strips and lights on your mobility device.
  
  
• Plan your route. Avoid steep hills and driving on the road unless absolutely necessary.
  
  
• Approach hills, curbs and sharp corners with caution. Ensure all wheels remain on the ground to prevent your mobility scooter tipping. Even four-wheel mobility scooters can become unstable.
  
  
• Be careful when carrying packages and shopping. Always use properly installed baskets and racks to carry goods and ensure the mobility device is not overloaded or unbalanced.

Remember, only people with limited mobility should use mobility devices.

For more information about mobility scooter safety and regulations visit https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/ontheroad-65plus/mobility-scooters.html

Using your mobility scooter on public transport

To be able to safely use boarding ramps and to fit within wheelchair allocated spaces on metro, train, coach, bus and light rail services, your mobility aid must be no more than:

Length: 1300mm

Width: 800mm

Weight: 300kg, including occupant, personal items and anyone required to assist on the boarding ramp

Regional trains require mobility scooters to be no more than:

Length: 1300mm

Width: 700mm

Weight: 300kg

For more information about using your mobility scooter on public transport visit https://transportnsw.info

The Bathurst Regional Community Safety Committee have developed a neighbourhood connection campaign as part of the Don't be Next Break and Enter Residential Campaign. This project is funded by a NSW Crime Prevention Grant.

The neighbourhood connection campaign includes a mail out of a tri-fold brochure to all households which outlines some simple household safety tips and includes a tear off neighbourhood connection card. This connection card allows neighbours to introduce themselves and offer assistance to each other when they are on holidays, unwell or need extra help taking bins out/gardening/feeding pets.

The roll out of this campaign will coincide with Neighbour Day on 28 March 2021. Neighbour Day encourages people across all communities to build and strengthen their social connections. The theme of Neighbour Day 2021 is "Every day is neighbour day".

Download the Listen Watch and Act Brochure(PDF, 4MB)

Bathurst Regional Council, along with Chifley Police District and NSW Department of Communities and Justice, have developed a Home Security Program for the Bathurst region  as a part of the Don’t Be Next campaign. Don’t Be Next aims to improve the home security for households in Bathurst. During the program, a variety of resources will be available at a range of local community locations, on Council’s social media pages and Council’s website.

Home Security workshops, pop-up stalls, vouchers to local hardware stores and flyers with an abundance of tips and facts will empower you with key knowledge to help secure your home and will be available over the coming months. A range of insightful and engaging collateral in both digital and printed formats will also be available.

The resources from the Don’t Be Next Campaign along with the crucial support of your friends and neighbours, will empower you to LISTEN, WATCH & ACT to keep our community a safe and happy place.

Download Home Safety Checklist and Property Inventory List(PDF, 3MB)

View Videos

Did you lock your home? 
Don't advertise your home.
Secure and double check your home before leaving.
Listen, watch and act.

Bathurst Regional Community Safety Committee (BRCSC) and Chifley Police District are reminding residents to secure their cars and hide valuables to reduce the risk of steal from motor vehicle crimes.

According to Inspector David Abercrombie, steal from motor vehicle crimes are common within the Bathurst LGA. The majority of steal from motor vehicle offences occur in residential areas, followed by shopping centres and public places.

To protect yourself from steal from motor vehicle crimes, BRCSC recommends you:

•  Lock it – Close windows. Lock doors. Lock toolboxes. Never leave keys in cars
  
  
• Secure it – Keep your garage door locked or park in a well-lit area
  
  
• Hide it – If you are leaving valuables in the car hide them from sight or in the boot
  
  
• Report it – Report all criminal and suspicious activity to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

Bathurst Regional Council and Chifley Police District are encouraging residents to be extra vigilant after a number of COVID-19 related scams have been identified.

According to Scamwatch, scammers are pretending to be trusted government agencies and services such as myGOV, Centrelink and Department of Health sending text messages and emails that contain malicious links which will steal personal and financial information.

To protect yourself from scams, Scamwatch recommends you:

• Don’t assume you know who you are dealing with;
• Don’t share your personal, banking or credit card information with people you don’t know or trust;
• Don’t click on hyperlinks in text/social media. Go directly to the website through your browser;
• Always verify a contact by finding them in an independent source such as a phone book;
• Never provide a stranger remote access to your computer, even if they claim to be from your service provider;
• Look at reviews before purchasing online;
• Be cautious and trust your instincts;
• Always ask yourself, could this be a scam? 

For more information on current scams and how to identify them visit https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/current-covid-19-coronavirus-scams

The ‘Avoid Being Scammed – Tips for Seniors’ Campaign was launched in March 2020 in response to the high incidence of fraud targeting older people within the community.

The tip sheet below provides simple strategies residents can use to reduce their risk of becoming a victim of fraud was developed and distributed throughout the community.

The Campaign included;
- A fridge magnet containing tips and where to seek help information
- A 50 page notepad designed to be placed by the telephone featuring tips and where to seek help information.
- A tip sheet flyer delivered to 10,400 local households

Seniors Safety Tip Sheet

A fridge magnet was developed for seniors to provide ideas on how to keep their properties safe in regards to malicious damage, break and enter dwelling and steal from a motor vehicle. The tip magnet also provides local emergency contact numbers.

Business Safety Tip Sheet

Business also have their own tip sheet, aiming to provide some simple and effective measures to prevent businesses becoming a target for crime, reducing losses and keeping staff and customers safe.

Business Safety Tip Sheet(PDF, 388KB)

Malicious damage to property involves the wilful and unlawful damage, or defacement, of public and private property, including graffiti and vandalism.

The Bathurst Regional Community Safety Committee has developed a set of posters to encourage residents to report malicious damage and anti-social behaviour.

Download the posters here...(PDF, 6MB)

Homelessness Week 2025 takes place from Monday August 4 to Sunday August 10.

Bathurst accounts for 30% of all people sleeping rough across the Western, Far West, and Murrumbidgee districts, making it one of the communities in NSW hardest hit by the growing crisis of homelessness. ABS data from 2021 estimates that Bathurst has a homeless population of 158 people - each one a person with their own story, dreams, and challenges.

This July, staff at Bathurst Regional Council have participated in a donation drive to collect goods for local service providers. If you have goods that you can donate, or you can help in other ways, please consider contacting Bathurst’s local service provider to discover ways you can help. Alternatively, if you are someone sleeping rough or struggling with homelessness, please consider contacting local service providers.

Bathurst’s local service providers can be found in the Community Directory