Community Connectors pilot secures more funding and extends into CBD
Published on 07 October 2025
Community Connector outreach workers are set to stay in central Frankston, with the Frankston Station and Young Street precinct pilot to be extended, and the program to expand into two of the city’s busiest retail strips.
Frankston City Council and South East Community Links will continue partnering with Metro Trains to deliver Frankston Station and Young Street program until at least September 2026, ensuring continued support for the city’s most vulnerable community members while helping to improve safety.
The current purple-vested Community Connectors will continue to work in the Frankston station and Young Street area. Two new social workers will be present in Station Street Mall and Shannon Mall, thanks to a new partnership between Council and Vicinity Centres, operators of Bayside Shopping Centre.
Launched in November 2024 as part of Frankston City Council’s Young Street Action Plan, the Frankston Community Connectors pilot is a collaborative effort to address complex and long-standing social issues including anti-social behaviour, mental health crises, substance abuse and visible homelessness.
Delivered by trained social workers from South East Community Links and in partnership with Metro Trains, Community Connectors provide people with assistance, advice, and referrals to local services that can offer longer-term support.
Since January 2025, the pilot has delivered:
- 1,450 community engagements
- 185 referrals to vital support services
- 124 de-escalations of physical or verbal confrontations
- 340 harm-prevention interactions
Frankston City Deputy Mayor Steffie Conroy said the program marked a shift away from a punitive approach toward long-term, collaborative solutions that drive real change in public safety and wellbeing.
“The pilot has shown that rather than shifting problems from one location to another, it’s possible to target the root causes of social harm while creating a greater sense of safety in this busy part of the city centre.”
“Thanks to the current pilot program with South East Community Links and Metro Trains, Community Connectors can now, with support from Vicinity Centres, connect even more people to the help they need, and foster a safer, more inclusive Frankston City.”
South East Community Links CEO Peter McNamara said the retail expansion demonstrates the strength of assertive outreach and the power of partnerships.
“We’re excited to continue this important work alongside Council, Metro Trains and now Vicinity Centres. Community Connectors shows the impact of being on the ground, engaging directly with people, and linking them to the right support at the right time.”
“This extension into retail strips builds on the proven success with Metro Trains at Frankston Station, highlighting the importance of strong partnerships in creating safer, more supportive communities.”
Jenny Odgers, General Manager External Affairs and Communications at Metro Trains, said: “With the success of our Community Connectors Dandenong and Frankston pilots we are pleased to see support from the local community, and that Community Connectors is now being embedded into the Frankston community for another year.”
Vicinity Centres’ Bayside Centre Manager, Emily Curcio said the community could see first-hand the importance of creating a space that is welcoming and supportive for everyone.
“We are proud to co-fund this initiative, extending the Community Connectors outreach program into Station Street and Shannon Mall right on our doorstep in the heart of Frankston.”
Council is also enlisting the support of local traders in creating a safer, more supportive city centre experience, with the release of a new resource outlining support services available to business owners and their customers.
The Trader Support Directory lists emergency services, clarifies enforcement agency roles and responsibilities, and encourages community-based reporting. It is designed to give city centre traders greater confidence in dealing with a range of issues, from graffiti removal to anti-social behaviour.
“Our CBD traders play a vital role in shaping the city centre experience for visitors, shoppers and residents. This directory connects them to the support they need to help make our city centre a safer, cleaner and more welcoming place,” said Deputy Mayor Conroy.
Available in print and online, the directory will be distributed across Young Street, Station Street Mall and Shannon Mall.
For more information, visit: frankston.vic.gov.au/Community-Connectors.