The City of Canterbury Bankstown and local students have put their heads together to come up with ideas to create places where women and girls feel safer. 

More than 50 secondary students from five different schools, including Bankstown Girls High School, Birrong Girls High School and East Hills Girls Technology High School, were challenged to come up with ideas during the South West Sydney Sustainnovation Challenge held last week. 

The students were joined by Council officers and community leaders, as well as industry experts from Transport NSW, Department of Education, Greater Sydney Commission and Police, during the two-day event held online and at the Bankstown Arts Centre. 

Through collaboration and applied innovation, the students developed proposals and solutions to tackle the theme ‘creating places where women and girls feel safer’. 

Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour said the student’s passion, insight and willingness to tackle big issues was nothing short of impressive. 

“By involving young people in this challenge, we hope to raise awareness about the importance of creating safe spaces for women and girls and inspire the next generation of leaders to take action on critical social issues,” Mayor Asfour said. 

“We want young people to know their opinions are welcomed and valued.” 

Birrong Girls High School topped the class with their Breaking Bread Program – an idea which would see regular pop-ups where various cultures could come together to share multicultural meals and swap recipes. 

The judges unanimously agreed that the proposal to “break bread and stigmas” had great potential to contribute to the safety of women and girls by boosting confidence and generating understanding through the common theme – food. 

Other ideas presented to the judging panel included a women’s wellness space, an app to navigate safe travel routes and a male etiquette program to change behaviours towards women. 

Proposals and solutions presented at the event will assist Council, and other communities, with planning and building places that will help women and girls feel safer and more empowered in their daily lives. 

Mayor Asfour said with so many town centres and public spaces, there is great potential for many of the ideas to be translated into upcoming programs, events or improvements in our City.