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What people in Australia think about Safety

Local perspective from 27 sources · Australia

negativeSkepticalConcernUneasyWaryVigilantFrustrated

Key figures

Overall safety rating
6.8 out of 10
Inner city safety rating
7.2
Smaller regional areas safety rating
7.1
Larger regional towns safety rating
5.8
Residents seeing law and order as a major issue
44%

Safety Perception

Feeling safe in our communities is a big deal for Australians. Recent surveys show that about 63% of us rank 'feeling safe' as one of the top five things that make a place good to live in. On average, Australians rate their local safety at 6.8 out of 10, which suggests there’s definitely room for improvement [1]. Gender also plays a part in how safe we feel. A whopping 67% of women prioritize feeling safe, compared to 58% of men. This difference is particularly evident when it comes to walking alone at night; only 46% of women feel safe doing so, down from 52% the previous year [9].

Community Safety

Interestingly, where you live plays a significant role in how safe you feel. People in inner cities and smaller regional areas report feeling the safest, with scores of 7.2 and 7.1 respectively. However, those in larger regional towns like Bendigo and Geelong feel less secure, rating their safety around 5.8 out of 10 [1]. This discrepancy highlights a real concern, especially since 44% of residents in these larger towns see law and order as a major issue [1]. In terms of community safety, many Australians express a desire for environments where they can move freely without fear. Parents, for instance, want to take their kids to the park or school without worrying about their safety [2]. The perception of safety is often linked to visible factors like lighting in public spaces and the presence of community support [12].

Socio-Economic Factors

On the flip side, those living in lower socio-economic areas tend to feel less safe, rating their safety at 6.3 compared to 7.2 for those in wealthier areas [1]. This suggests that economic conditions and community resources play a significant role in shaping our feelings of safety. Despite Australia being generally peaceful, there are still significant concerns about safety, especially in specific areas where anti-social behavior and crime are more prevalent. Many residents report feeling uneasy due to issues like poor lighting, graffiti, and general disorder in their neighborhoods [7].

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How Australia compares on safety

CountrySentimentAttitudeEmotion
AustralianegativeSkepticalConcern
BrazilnegativeNegativeFear
ChinapositivePositiveHope
FrancenegativeNegativeWorry
GeorgianegativeSkepticalConcern
GermanyneutralPositiveHope
GreecenegativeNegativeAnxiety
IndonesiapositivePositiveHope
ItalynegativeSkepticalConcern
JapannegativeNegativeAnxiety
MexiconegativeNegativeFear
NetherlandsnegativeNegativeFear
PolandnegativeSkepticalConcern
PortugalpositivePositiveHope
South KoreanegativeNegativeAnxiety
SpainpositivePositiveHope
ThailandnegativeSkepticalFear
TurkeynegativeNegativeFear
United Arab EmiratespositivePositiveHope
United KingdomnegativeSkepticalConcern
United StatesnegativeSkepticalAnxiety
VietnampositivePositiveHopeful

Selected local sources

  1. [1]Importance of feeling safe in communities | .id

    How geography affects safety Where you live also affects how safe you feel. Residents in Australia’s inner cities and smaller regional areas tend to report feeling the safest (7.2 and 7.1 out of 10 respectively). However, in larger regional towns (such as Bendigo, Geelong, Wollongong, etc), people a

  2. [2][PDF] Community Safety Strategy - City of Casey

    undertaken in to inform the 2017-21 Council Plan and future directions. Safety emerged as a key theme for residents. “A safe place is a place where everyone feels safe spending time in and moving around the streets, in local neighbourhoods, on public transport and in the home. “ What our community s

  3. [3]How our sense of safety affects our wellbeing | Australian Unity

    #### How does feeling safe contribute to mental wellbeing? When we feel unsafe—whether the threat is physical or psychological—our mental health can suffer. Safety is protective: it prevents psychological harm, gives us a sense of control over our lives, and creates the conditions for both productiv

  4. [4][PDF] Resident Perceptions of Environmental Contamination in Home ...

    Discussion Lifescape Change from Contamination to the Home Environment The findings from the survey, interviews, and focus group suggest that residents experienced lifescape-suggestive change after being exposed to environmental contamination. The number of residents reporting a lack of personal con

  5. [5]Steady on your feet: supporting safety, confidence and independence this April Falls Month - Finley Regional Care

    At Finley Regional Care, that message fits naturally with the way care should feel: supportive, respectful and focused on helping residents live as fully as possible. Finley Regional Care provides residential aged care, including dementia care, for 75 residents, along with a wide range of services,

  6. [6][PDF] community safety perception - Neighbourhood Watch Victoria

    In terms of state-wide results, the Average Feel Safe Rating in 2024 was 7.66, reflecting a generally positive perception of home safety. Longitudinal analysis from 2020 to 2024 shows that overall perceptions have remained relatively stable. However, regional variation persists. The Western Regional

  7. [7][PDF] Community Safety Plan 2016 – 2018 - Shire of East Pilbara

    research showing that public perceptions of trends in crime do not often align with actual crime trends, direct consultation with the Shire and results from the Newman Community Survey indicate that these physical disorder issues lead to feelings of unease and discomfort. So, whilst residents may no

  8. [8][PDF] Approaches to community safety: risk perception and social meaning

    them and is transferred to their immediate environ- ment (Goffman 1971,p,255).Giddens theo- rised about a 'moving world of normality' that people carry around with them. Thus a sense of safety requires the participation of other people in a consensual, coopera- tive context (1989, p. 128). So if, as

  9. [9]Feeling of safety | Australian Bureau of Statistics

    ## ABS Main Menu ## Breadcrumb ## Secure ## On this page # Feeling of safety Living peacefully and feeling safe Released 15/09/2025 ## Metric Proportion of people who felt safe walking alone at night in their local area ## Why this matters Wellbeing is impacted by safety at home, online, at work, in

  10. [10]FAQ | Manningham Community Safety Plan 2013 – 2017 | Your Say Manningham

    Manningham City Council views community safety as a community that is connected, safe and empowered to make choices for their own safety and the safety of others. Community safety is not only about reducing and preventing crime; it is also about people feeling safe. Perceptions of safety, real or pe

  11. [11]6 Police services - Report on Government Services 2026 | Productivity Commission

    ‘Perceptions of safety’ is an indicator of governments’ objective to contribute to a safe and secure community that enables people to undertake their lawful pursuits confidently and safely. ‘Perceptions of safety’ is defined by two measures – the proportion of people who felt ‘safe’ or ‘very safe’:

  12. [12][PDF] Item 4 - Public Exhibition - Community Safety Plan 2026-2031

    Perception of Safety Perception of safety is about how safe people feel in a place, which may be different to the actual crime rates of the area. It can be influenced by things like gender, age, cultural identity, past experiences, and the physical and social environment. People are more likely to f

  13. [13][PDF] Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey. May 2026 - OAIC

    Awareness of recent data breaches in Australia is associated with higher concern about data breaches, regardless of whether individuals were personally affected, suggesting that public visibility of incidents may shape perceptions of risk. Concern about organisations not storing information securely

  14. [14][PDF] AUSTRALIAN ATTITUDES TO NATIONAL SECURITY, RISK AND ...

    37 AUSTRALIAN ATTITUDES TO NATIONAL SECURITY, RISK AND RESILIENCE: RESULTS REPORT Threat perceptions The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026 identifies misinformation and disinformation and adverse outcomes of AI technologies among the top short-to-medium term global risks, alongside geo

  15. [15]No worries? Australian attitudes to national security, risk and resilience | National Security College

    This does not mean that Australians lack civic responsibility. In our February 2026 survey, we asked people about the extent to which they agreed that ‘all Australians can do more to make our communities peaceful and safe’, specifically in the aftermath of the Bondi terrorist attack. In response, 71

  16. [16]Perceptions of safety - securing your environment - Security Expo

    ### EVENT DATES Wed 2 Sep 2026 9:30 am – 5:30 pm Thu 3 Sep 2026 9:30 am – 5:30 pm Fri 4 Sep 2026 9:30 am – 4:00 pm ### Contact Us Tel: 1300 DIVCOM (1300 348 266) [Email: [email protected]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fd8e989e888f94898498858d92bd99948b9e9290d3939889d39c88) ### RECEIVE UPDATES ######

  17. [17][PDF] For the people: Future-proofing Australia's democracy

    Yet, many other public institutions are perceived more favourably. In particular, emergency services and public health institutions – the types of organisations that people deal with directly – enjoy high levels 95. OECD (2024). 96. For example, Australia ranked equal 12th out of 182 countries in th

  18. [18]Crime and justice | Australian Bureau of Statistics

    ## ABS Main Menu ## Breadcrumb # Crime and justice ## Personal Safety, Australia An estimated 8 million Australians (41%) have experienced violence (physical and/or sexual) since the age of 15, including: ## Corrective Services, Australia In the March quarter 2026: ## Federal Defendants, Australia #

  19. [19][PDF] Western Australian Health Promotion Strategic Framework 2022-2026

    enjoy good health but some groups are at greater risk than others Western Australians are living longer and healthier lives due to a range of factors. Effective public health policy and legislation, safer and cleaner conditions for living and working, health promotion campaigns, vaccinations for inf

  20. [20]Our Watch | Quick facts about violence against women

    ### Taking action While progress has been made in Australia, there is much more to do. No one person or organisation can bring about an end to violence. A collective, national effort is needed, by addressing the drivers of violence against women across all areas of society. Individuals, families, co

  21. [21]Australian Council of Local Government

    The 2026 ACLG will take place on Monday 22 June 2026 presentations focused on priority areas for local government, including housing, emergency management and

  22. [22]National General Assembly – ALGA

    Date 23 Jun – 25 Jun 2026 annual gathering of local government leaders in Australia. For more information contact ALGA on (02) 6122 9400. will focus on areas

  23. [23]Australia's state and local governments activate public precincts ...

    Security measures will be in place at Federation Square including fencing, entry gates, bag searches and hand wands.

  24. [24][PDF] Safer Cities program Impact Report - Transport for NSW

    The Safer Cities program (the Program) has invested $30 million dollars up to June 2025 to help improve perceptions of safety in our cities and towns,

  25. [25][PDF] Multiculturalism in Focus – Migrants' sense of belonging study 2025

    How safe do you feel walking alone at night in your local area? How worried are you about becoming a victim of crime in your local area? response categories “

  26. [26]United States Studies Centre

    This report lays out a case and provides a menu of policy options for how the Quad can pursue a collective approach to Indo-Pacific maritime security, with a particular focus on regional deterrence and defence. quad-report-cvr-narr.jpg Analysis of America. Insight for Australia. Solutions for the Al

  27. [27]CSIRO survey reveals Australians' attitudes toward the renewable ...

    More than 6,700 people were surveyed in all states and territories, across capital cities and regional areas, between August and September 2023.

Frequently asked

What do locals in Australia think about safety?

How Safe Everyday Life Feels for Residents in Australia Feeling safe in our communities is a big deal for Australians. Recent surveys show that about 63% of us rank "feeling safe" as one of the top five things that make a place good to live in. On average, Australians rate their local safety at 6.8 out of 10, which suggests there’s definitely room for improvement. Interestingly, where you live plays a significant role in how safe you feel. People in inner cities and smaller regional areas report feeling the safest, with scores of 7.2 and 7.1 respectively. However, those in larger regional towns like Bendigo and Geelong feel less secure, rating their safety around 5.8 out of 10. This discrepancy highlights a real concern, especially since 44% of residents in these larger towns see law and order as a major issue. Gender also plays a part in how safe we feel. A whopping 67% of women prioritize feeling safe, compared to 58% of men. This difference is particularly evident when it comes to walking alone at night; only 46% of women feel safe doing so, down from 52% the previous year. Safety isn’t just about crime rates; it’s about how we feel in our everyday lives. When we feel safe, we can focus on living our lives rather than just surviving. This sense of security is crucial for our mental wellbeing, allowing us to thrive rather than just get by. In terms of community safety, many Australians express a desire for environments where they can move freely without fear. Parents, for instance, want to take their kids to the park or school without worrying about their safety. The perception of safety is often linked to visible factors like lighting in public spaces and the presence of community support. On the flip side, those living in lower socio-economic areas tend to feel less safe, rating their safety at 6.3 compared to 7.2 for those in wealthier areas. This suggests that economic conditions and community resources play a significant role in shaping our feelings of safety. Despite Australia being generally peaceful, there are still significant concerns about safety, especially in specific areas where anti-social behavior and crime are more prevalent. Many residents report feeling uneasy due to issues like poor lighting, graffiti, and general disorder in their neighborhoods. As a citizen of Australia, I believe that while we enjoy a relatively safe environment, there’s a lot of work to be done to ensure everyone feels secure in their daily lives. It’s not just about crime statistics; it’s about creating communities where we can all feel comfortable and connected, whether we’re walking home at night or enjoying a day out with family.

Is this based on real local sources?

Yes. This summary is drawn from 27 local-language sources about safety in Australia, gathered and summarised by LikeLoc. Run a live search to see the latest results and sources.

Methodology

Drawn from 27 local-language sources about safety in Australia, searched and summarised via LikeLoc on 2026-06-23. All figures and quotes come directly from those local sources. Run the live search →