Safety is a priority in the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region.  That’s why the Mackay, Whitsunday and Isaac Regional Councils work together with government agencies and people in the community to uphold this value and do all they can to make sure that all individuals living, working or visiting the region can go about their daily life without fear or risk of harm or injury.

Safety means different things to different people. It is not just about the level of crime in our community, it is about developing and implementing programs that can also prevent unintentional injury.  It is about how people feel in our community and there are many factors that affect this.

In August 2004 the local government areas of Mackay and Whitsunday became Queensland's first International Safe Communities designated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre on Community Safety Promotion. Safe Communities are where all individuals make daily economic and social choices without the fear of becoming a victim of crime or unintentional injury.

Many communities in the region participate in Neighbourhood Watch, a program organized by the community with an aim to reduce residential crime. It is also about encouraging interaction and a sense of responsibility between neighbours and communities.

Householders are encouraged to join together in small informal groups for the purpose of improving the safety of their families and other neighbourhood residents. It is not a police scheme. Police only lend their expertise to enable residents to organise themselves for the purpose of minimising crime in their community.

The region is also involved in rural, commercial and hotel watch schemes to ensure that each sector of the community remains safe and is not targeted.