Community Connectors outreach cuts antisocial incidents around Frankston train station
The Community Connectors program, staffed by social and mental-health workers at Frankston station, has been linked to a sharp fall in disorderly conduct.
At Frankston train station, the Community Connectors team, led by Damian Anderson, engages passers-by ranging from rough sleepers to commuters, linking them to services for mental health, housing and addiction issues. SECL’s report for Frankston City Council notes that 2,452 people received support in the Young Street precinct, with 535 potentially harmful situations averted and 180 incidents de-escalated. Crime Statistics Agency figures reveal a 44 % reduction in disorderly and offensive conduct offences around the station between 2024 and 2025.
Residents, traders and the Frankston Business Collective cite the program’s visible, non-judgmental approach as a key factor in the improved sense of safety. Council mayor Sue Baker pledged to match state funding if $750,000 is secured, while Labor MP Paul Edbrooke praised the model as a cost-effective alternative to police and ambulance deployments.
Why it matters
The initiative shows how low-cost outreach can curb street disorder and improve community safety.
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