We all deserve to feel safe. How can we help?

blog 2021
Written By Andrew Ford

Last night a few things happened to make me renege on my promise to not enter the tech dev world again. 

The first was one of my University students asked me to walk her to the tram stop as she didn't feel safe out at night. It shocked me that she was so concerned, but with all the media regarding the Parliament House situation increasing awareness of how common assaults are, I can understand why she would be worried. I was glad to help.

The second was my girlfriend was looking after a grandma that was callously bashed for no apparent reason. No theft, no revenge. Just a random thug attack outside a church. Bloody shameless!

I was on the train home at 10 pm then walking home and reflecting on the safety I personally feel being a guy with a black belt and fighting training in Melbourne and wishing it was the same for all of us. I feel safe and everyone else should too.

It's a blight on our society that women (men, LGBT, people from overseas...) shouldn't feel safe in their home town. I have personally had to stand in and stand up for a couple being subjected to racist attacks on public transport. Imagine how often this is happening. Crazy.

It's got to stop.

Which brought me to think about how could I help? An idea surfaced that I wanted to share and get assistance with. Perhaps it's a poor idea, someone is already doing it or maybe, just maybe it's got legs. If it is helpful I will commit to getting it up and running.

The working title is 'SafeWalk'. 

The idea is to have an Uber-like app where someone who wants some company to walk home or anywhere really, can request a 'SafeWalker' to accompany them. The person would be verified and tracked using the app on their phone.

The technology isn't complicated and the funding could be accessed with corporate partners. Again not difficult. Walkers could be rewarded with vouchers from sponsors and of course good vibes. I'm sure someone like Grill'd would support such a cause with a few free burgers.

The app would be free, there is no commercial model, it's just a helpful tool for those who feel walking with a companion would increase their level of safety. I don't have any research on the reduction in incidences if there are two or more companions, but from my experience, it would be a deterrent and also mental comfort which is sometimes just as important.

Finally, most of the other apps I have found alert your friends if you are not home on time or something actually happens. Far too late. We need to prevent these situations from occurring in the first place.

My question is, do women (or others) think this is a good idea? Would you use it? Or is it patronising? Would people sign up to be a 'SafeWalker'?

I would rather there was no need for this app in the first place, but that isn't a reality right now. So perhaps one thing we can do is provide some support for each other with some simple technology.

I welcome your thoughts.

Andrew Ford
Marketing expert Andrew Ford, the founder of Social Star, has discovered the secret of ‘Powerful Branding’. With a fire for unleashing people’s inner brand and developing business models to generate profit from an individual’s passions, Andrew leverages ground-breaking digital and social media marketing techniques to create digital strategies for clients to attract maximum opportunities. Having established a strong name for himself in the field, Andrew blends traditional business techniques with now-necessary tools for entrepreneurs to achieve scale, quality, and influence in their niche. Andrew’s comprehensive business background and qualifications consist of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (RMIT 2003), a Graduate Certificate in Management (MBA Executive Program, University of Sydney 2005), and a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University 2011). Continually on the cutting edge of his own education, Andrew has tested his marketing theories in forums such as the BCG Business Strategy Competition, which he won in 2005 against all Victorian MBA schools, and the Venture Cup Business Plan Competition (Swinburne University 2003), which he won in the Masters category. With experience working at Hewlett-Packard, Sensis (Telstra) and IBM, Andrew also has mentored dozens of junior staffs to help them achieve their professional goals. Meeting and influencing high-profile public figures helped Andrew to realise just how many professionals require more understanding and control of their public brands or appearance, and need help with the skills to use the many amazing free tools at their disposal to generate success. At Social Star, Andrew consults with clients to uncover their personal brand – both where it is today and where it can be tomorrow – and refine and define how that should be displayed in social media in order to attract their perfect target audience. Andrew mentors his clients to rapidly grow their business’ audiences, resulting in larger potential client bases and higher revenue. Applying formulas that integrate over twenty years of Andrew’s business experience and fifteen years of formal business education, Social Star specialises in building clarity and velocity for clients’ brands using the ‘Understand, Build and Leverage’ methodology. ‘Having a Personal Business enables people to have an authentic, congruent connection with their valued clients and partners, using their brand as the bridge,’ says Andrew. ‘I’m highly driven to work with the new breed of entrepreneurs and small business owners – people who have a passion for making the world a better place. Traditional business models are stepping aside as people follow their innermost dreams and my role is to see them operate within their values while creating wealth. Some people think you have to sacrifice what you love to be successful in your business, yet it is actually the opposite. Follow your passion and success will come.’ Lecturing at Swinburne University from 2009 to 2011 on brand dynamics and digital marketing, presenting at numerous conferences, and consulting to hundreds of clients, Andrew has seen his philosophy work that if you follow your unique path, based on your skills, experience, values and goals, you will automatically attract the opportunities you desire and achieve the success you deserve. Living his mantra, Andrew has created a successful business and attracts high-profile clients including musicians, athletes, authors, models, entrepreneurs, professionals and small business owners, helping them find their ‘why’ in their business and fulfilment in their lives. Business for Andrew is more than work, it’s personal. Running a personal business means that he is able to fulfil all of his values rather than separating his life from work. It supports his two boys while providing social opportunities, educational development, fitness opportunities, spiritual fulfilment and many valuable friendships. Social Star has now become the vehicle for Andrew to crystallise his mission in the world, to help people love what they do, supporting his ‘why’, that if more people loved what they did, the world would be a better place.
http://www.andrewford.com.au/
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