Community register supports safety across the Bellarine

BELLARINE police are encouraging residents to sign up to a free support register designed to provide reassurance in an emergency.

The Bellarine Support Register aims to support the safety and independence of local residents, while also offering peace of mind for families and neighbours.

As part of the free service, participants can choose to have contact and personal information securely stored, with access limited to police if it is required in an emergency. The information provided is decided by the participant.

Acting Senior Sergeant, Jarrod Chatfield, said the register offered an additional layer of security for residents, even if it was never needed.

“Volunteers make calls to registrants who request them; they enter confidential information into a database that can be accessed by police 24 hours a day,” he explained.

“They are assigned a unique numbered ID card that identifies them and is kept in their wallet [or] phone in case of a medical incident, as well as on a key tag in case of loss.

“If the police are contacted, they can immediately identify the registrant and act accordingly.”

The register can include details about a person’s property, general practitioner, pet carer and emergency contacts, depending on individual needs and preferences.

Registrants can also request regular welfare check-in calls from a volunteer during the week.

Snr Sergeant Chatfield said the register provided benefits not only for participants, but also for carers, family members, emergency services, medical professionals and volunteers.

“The service is free of charge and can provide a sense of safety and peace of mind that they might not have otherwise,” he said.

To be eligible, residents must live on the Bellarine Peninsula.

For more, head to bellarineregister.org.au