Safety Tips

• Always park your bike with a strong and secure lock.
• Be conscious about who can see your bike route on fitness apps, as thieves can use this to target your bike.
• Improve nighttime visibility by riding on well-lit roads; and wearing bright, light, or reflective clothing.
• Be mindful of cycling during poor weather conditions, and always cycle within your abilities. 
• Consider engraving a meaningful letter or symbol onto your bike, so that it is easily identifiable.

For more bike-related security tips, visit our bike security page here. For more information on bike rider safety, visit the VicRoads website. 

• Always let someone know where you are hiking and when you will be home.
  
• Your first aid kit and water bottle are your best friends. 
  
• Remember to only walk on marked trails and know your limits.
  
• Check the weather conditions and for any potential park closures before you leave home.
•  If you come across any wildlife while out; remember to start alert, remain calm, and keep your distance.
• Know where the nearest hospital, petrol station, and general store is.
• Avoid setting up camp or parking your car under trees during bad weather.
• Check the weather forecast before you leave, and always pack a first aid kit.

•  Always lock your vehicle, even when it's parked in your driveway or garage.
• Consider installing security cameras on your property.
• Keep your car keys hidden away from doors and windows.
• Always take your valuables with you when you leave your vehicle. 
• If you are unsure whether you locked your vehicle, double-check.

For more safe car habits, visit our Being Careless Could Leave You Carless campaign here. 

• Take the guesswork out of your day by planning your transport, food, and seats before you leave home.
• Spend a moment learning the key venue areas, including where the bathroom, first aid tent, and food is located.  Set a meeting place if you get lost from your friends or family.
• In case of an emergency, keep an eye out for the venue's exits.
• After the event concludes, consider waiting behind for a few extra minutes to allow for the crowd to start dispersing. This will provide a clearer path out of the venue.

• Keep pictures of gifts and holiday destinations off of social media.
• Never power outdoor lights by running an extension cable through a window.
• After the holidays, be mindful of putting the packaging of large or expensive presents outside. 
• Remember to pause any mail subscriptions, or have a trusted neighbour collect this for you,  if you are planning to be away from home for the holiday season.
• If decorating the front of your house, consider trimming your front yard, and installing sensor lights to increase on-street visibility.

• Lock your doors, windows, and garage, even when you are at home.
• Keep valuable items, such as your car and home keys, hidden from windows.
• Take note of any strangers or unknown cars on your street.
• Consider trimming your front yard, and installing sensor lights to increase on-street visibility.
• Got five for a quick chat? Consider reaching out to a neighbour. You might be surprised by what they have noticed around the area. 

• Regularly check for loose or frayed wires, damaged appliances, and leaks.
• Always be mindful of electronics around water
• Remove or secure tripping hazards like power cables, loose rugs, and general clutter.
• Ensure that everyone in your household knows what to do, and where to assemble, in the event of an emergency.
• Remember to reguarly test that the smoke alarms installed on your property are operational.

• Plan how you are getting home before you head out, by confirming a designated driver; checking public transport times; or organising a taxi or rideshare. 
• Safety is a team sport. Consider keeping a close friend or family member updated on your plans.
• If drinking, know your limit and when it's time to stop.
• Whether dancing the night away or picnicking in the park, keep your belongings close.
• Be aware of your surroundings, and trust your gut if things feel wrong.

• Be mindful of oversharing personal details on the internet. 
• Protect your personal information, and keep track of who can see your posts, by regularly updating your passwords and reviewing your account's security settings.
• If you are meeting someone you know online for the first time in person, be sure to tell a friend or family member where you are going, and who you are meeting. 
• Keep your device and browser up-to-date with the latest updates, or consider enabling automatic updates.
• Only download content from, or provide banking details to, trusted websites.

For more information on how to keep you, your information, and your money safe online,  visit our online safety campaign here.

• If you know you will be out, have your parcels redirected to the local post office, or organise a trusted neighbour to collect them in your absence.
• If given the option, consider scheduling deliveries for when you know you will be home.
• Leave detailed instructions for your delivery driver, to avoid confusion regarding which house is yours, and whether there needs to be a signature upon delivery.
• Consider purchasing a parcel locker for your deliveries to be left in.
• Be wary of scam text messages or emails with links to track your delivery. If you are not expecting a delivery; see any spelling mistakes, a lack of personalisation, a suspicious URL link; or feel that the colour or quality of any logos or images does not match the organisation's official website, this may be a scam.

• Once everyone has arrived, remember to keep entryways closed to prevent uninvited guests.
• If hosting a party, consider registering your party with Partysafe.
• Provide plenty of snacks and non-alcoholic drinking options.
• Dedicate an area for guests to leave personal items, to remove tripping hazards from the floor.
• Remember to close or lock areas where you don't want guests entering.
• Always have a first aid kit available in case someone falls ill, is injured, or becomes intoxicated.

• Get your pet microchipped, and make sure they are registered with the local council.
• Keep house gates closed and never leave your pets unattended in any area accessible from the street.
• Use caution with overly curious strangers - providing too much information about your pet can make them a target for petnappers.
• No matter how long you are stepping away for, never leave your pets unattended in your vehicle.
• Consider installing CCTV cameras and sensor lights around your property to deter potential petnappers.

• Always check for road hazards, like oncoming traffic or slippery roads, before you enter or exit a tram, bus, or rideshare vehicle.
• Hold on when the tram or train is stopping and taking off.
• Stand behind the yellow line when waiting for your tram or train.
• Plan your journey ahead of time, to prevent any last-minute rushing.
• If catching a rideshare, always confirm the car's licence plate and driver details before you enter the vehicle.
• Share your rideshare status with a friend, and ask the driver to pull over if you feel unsafe.

For more information on how to travel safely on public transport, visit the Public Transport Victoria website here. 

• Make your trip home easier by following official roads; taking your phone, map or GPS; and letting someone know your plans.
• Drive to the conditions of the road, not your deadline. 
  
• Safety first! If the car's on, your seatbelt should be too. 
• Do the right thing and always drive sober.
• Overtake with care, and keep lane changes to a minimum.
• Consider checking your car with a mechanic before leaving for a long trip.
• Pack an emergency bag with a torch, blanket, water, and first-aid kit in the boot of your car.

•  Remember to stop for regular breaks, pull over at the next safe spot if you are feeling tired, and consider taking turns behind the wheel.

• Consider postponing sharing holiday snaps on social media until after you have arrived home.

For more road safety tips visit the VicRoads website.

• Learn more about the signs of overheating and heatstroke in pets, and keep an eye on your furry friend during the warmer months. 

• Always have cool, fresh water and a shady spot available for your pet.

• Feel the ground before you take your pet for a walk. If it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for their feet.

• Never leave your pet in a hot car.

• Always make plans for your pet if you are going away.

Read more summer care tips on the RSPCA website.  

• Always swim with a buddy, and keep an eye on children and new swimmers in the water.
• Stay hydrated and remember to regularly re-apply sunscreen.
• Always swim between the flags at the beach, and observe safety signs at the pool.
• Know your physical limits and always swim between the flags.
• Set an easy-to-find meeting spot, should you get separated from your group.

Read more water safety tips on the Victorian Government's website here.