RACV calls for home security rebate to help Victorians feel safer at home

RACV is calling on the Victorian Government to introduce a $500 home safety and security rebate, to help households improve their home security and feel safer where they live.

RACV’s Home Safety Pulse, released in April, showed a growing sense of unease among Victorians, revealing that one in five Victorians do not feel safe in their home, while around one in three feel less safe than they did 12 months ago.

RACV General Manager Corporate Affairs Liz Carey said the findings highlight the need for practical, preventative solutions that support households to improve home security.

“Home should be a place where people feel secure and at ease, but this research shows that for many Victorians, that sense of safety is being eroded,” Ms Carey said.

“Importantly, this isn’t just about personal experience. People’s perceptions of safety are shaped by what they see and hear in their community, and what’s happening in the broader conversation about crime.”

Community perceptions of safety are not misplaced, as new data from the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency shows more than 26,000 home burglaries were recorded in the year to March 2026. Sitting 25 per cent above 2021 levels.

RACV’s Home Safety Pulse surveyed more than 5,000 Victorians across metropolitan and regional areas, capturing how safe people feel at home, what influences those feelings, and what support is needed to improve safety.

The research also shows that many Victorians want greater support to take practical action, with almost half indicating they would like government assistance to improve their home security.

To address this, RACV is advocating for a targeted home safety and security rebate to help households install proven safety measures, such as door and window deadlocks, security screens and alarm systems.

Ms Carey said that supporting households to take preventative steps would deliver both safety and cost-of-living benefits.

The 2025 Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) report showed that Australians were making sacrifices on household spending, with money spent on repairs, renovations and maintenance down 11.1% between 2021 and 2023.

“A home safety and security rebate would help Victorians take practical steps to protect their homes and give them greater confidence in their safety,” she said.

“It’s about reducing risk before harm occurs, while also easing the financial burden on households who want to invest in their safety.”

RACV said improved home security not only helps deter opportunistic crime, but also plays an important role in strengthening people’s overall sense of safety and wellbeing.

Findings from the Home Safety Pulse show that people who feel safer at home often attribute this to improvements they have made to their home security, reinforcing the role that practical measures play in building confidence.

RACV has shared the survey results with the Victorian Government to support evidence-based policy solutions that help Victorians feel safer at home and in their communities.