The year nine students worked with Ballarat Police and director Gavin Nash to design and deliver a crime prevention strategy tackling theft, theft of motor car and residential burglaries.

The result is a radio and social media awareness campaign It’s Your Turn Ballarat, postcards and a colouring competition spruiking crime prevention strategies that received almost 500 entries from six local primary schools.

Victims of crime were also enlisted to tell their stories, with students vox-popping at Delacombe Town Centre and Woolworths Sebastopol to produce a video putting a human face to the impact of crime.

Ballarat police Inspector Trevor Cornwill, Leading Senior Constable Des Hudson and Phoenix College principal Karen Snibson were on hand for the official launch of the It’s Your Turn Ballarat campaign at the Regent Cinemas on Wednesday.

Also present were 400 primary school pupils – the 12 colouring competition winners and their classmates – who were treated to a screening of The Incredibles 2.

“As a result of the students work over the last 10 weeks, they have become much more aware of the impact of crime on everyday people,” said Leading Senior Constable Des Hudson.

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“These kids developed the strategy and wanted to be able to tell the story from the victim’s point of view. When you hear the radio campaign it links to what crime feels like to the victims.” 

The group scripted three radio ads and, with the program’s funding, were able to buy about $1100 of air time which local radio stations 3BA and PowerFM matched, meaning the ads will be played more than 80 times over the next six months.

The initiative was made possible after Ballarat Neighbourhood House received a City of Ballarat Community Impact Grant and engaged the school. police and designers to develop the strategy.

While we’ve got you – do you want to make your voice heard before the state election? Here is your chance.