Within Our Community
Smiles per Hour
Are Port Phillip Streets getting friendlier?
'Are we a friendly folk here in Port Phillip? Do we smile or say 'Hi' to our neighbours and strangers as we walk down the street? Do we even make eye contact, or do we hurry down our street hoping no one will talk to us?'
In 2005, a suvey of residents across our 7 neighbourhoods found that many people yearned for a friendlier neighbourhood, but didn't know where to start. Some admitted that they also avoided eye contact and a smile with others in their streets.
Others were keen to take action and work with the Community Pulse program to help develop the Smiles per Hour (SpH) project. They researched the concept, trialled a methodology and rated 28 streets in the suburbs of Port Melbourne, South Melbourne Albert/Middle Park, St Kilda Rd, St Kilda, Elwood and Balaclava along the main shopping street, a high, medium and low pedestrian street. Smiles per Hour is one of Community Pulse's four measures of 'Community Connectedness' that can help us determine whether our streets are becoming friendlier or not.
How do you measure that?
A 'Smile Spy' community volunteer walks on a defined section of the street (averaging 400m) for a 15-minute period keeping their faces up and their expression open. In that time everyone who passes them on their side of the street is counted. People who smile, nod, or make any kind of positive greeting are counted separately. These two numbers are converted into a percentage, and this becomes the Smiles Per Hour rating for that section of street.
How did my neighbourhood rate?
The Smiles per Hour rating for each neighbourhood are shown on the graph below:
Signs showing the Smiles Per Hour rating have been updated with the most recent Smile Spy Rating informed by data collected in 2010/11 by our Smiles Spies team. To track the progress of your neighbourhood you might like to download the Smiles per Hour - Tested Neighbourhood Baselines as they were initially measured in 2005
Smiles Per Hour - Tested Neighbourhood Baselines
This isn't about counting smiles, it's about stimulating community action and creating a friendlier local culture.
Many people have told us they would feel happier and safer if they knew their neighbours better. The heartening feeling of knowing that other nearby care about you is often difficult to describe, but is profoundly powerful when you experience it.
A community where no-one would miss you if you were gone is one which horrifies me personally. I want to live in a community where we know when there's someone in distress...and if someone doesn't say hello for a while, then that person is missed - that's the type of environment that I want to live in.
Ripponlea Resident
Smiles are free. They are simple. You can do it straight away as you've already had lots of practice. You don't need a funding grant. You don't need to know another language. You don't need to have a long-term relationship with someone - smiles can test the water. Try smiling at someone you feel safe with first.
Smiling and friendly behaviour is contagious. They can boost people's sense of pride, safety and enjoyment of their neighbourhood. They can start new friendships. They can brighten someone's day. They can break the ice and build good relationships in your street. You never know when you might need someone's help or have to negotiate with them over something prickly. Physiologically, smiling has well documented health benefits.
Smiles ask for a small investment, but offer a big return.
There is extensive research that supports the Smiles per Hour project. Read the Smiles per Hour Foundation Document
Become a Smile Spy.
The Smiles per Hour project not only measures social connectedness, it also contributes to it thanks to the efforts of many community members.
If you would like to join our 'Smile Spy' team and become a Smile Spy we provide training sessions, support and information packs. Smile Spies measure four streets (approximately 1 hours work + travel time) every 3 months. Join in for the next round of Smiles per Hour data collected very soon.
More Information
For more information on becoming a Smile Spy, use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer call ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTy (03) 9209 6713 and ask for the Community Pulse project officer.
