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University and Police join force on assault reduction campaign
21 October, 2004
The University of the Sunshine Coast and the Queensland Police Service have today signed a memorandum of understanding to join forces to reduce the number of assaults in the community.
As part of the Police Service's Assault Reduction Campaign, students at the University will produce three Community Service Announcements targeting assault in the community.
Seven final year Communications students are completing the project as part of their production workshop, designed to give students experience in a real working environment according to Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Thomas.
"This video production workshop project by our students goes to the very heart of the USC mission - to strike meaningful partnerships with Sunshine Coast industry, commerce, community and social groups," Professor Thomas said.
"Partnerships that bring tangible benefits to our students and to external stakeholders … like the Queensland Police Service."
The students produced storyboards, wrote the scripts, listed image shots and even composed the music and lyrics for the announcements. They are currently working on editing and final production.
"The making of the community service announcements was a challenging assignment, as these announcements are to be broadcast on commercial television stations throughout the North Coast Region and are the spearhead for the QPS' multi-media Assault Reduction awareness campaign," Professor Thomas said.
Queensland Police Service North Coast Assistant Commissioner Patrick Doonan said the partnership between the Police Service and the University will bring together a wide range of experience and expertise in an effort to reduce the incidence of assaults in the region.
"The signing of the agreement today formalises the partnership between the University, the Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Welfare Association and the Police Service for the production of the electronic media resources.
"It is anticipated that this agreement will lead to an ongoing mutually beneficial alliance between the University of the Sunshine Coast and the Queensland Police Service.
"It is only through working in partnership with experienced organisations such as the University of Sunshine Coast that the Queensland Police Service can continue to effect positive change within the local community," Assistant Commissioner Doonan said.
It is expected the Community Service Announcements will be launched in early 2005.