General News
26 June, 2024
Celebrating good sports
Community sport is the lifeblood of many regional and rural towns, and now the Good Sports Program is celebrating 25 years of helping to keep those communities healthy and safe.
Run by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, 11,500 clubs across 120 sporting codes are currently part of the program, reaching more than three million Australians.
Encouraging the prevention, and reduction, of alcohol-related harms such as drink driving, and addressing issues around tobacco, vaping, illicit drugs, and mental health, the foundation is celebrating the milestone with the release of a report which highlights the powerful impacts of the program, including:
* The reduction of risky drinking at participating clubs by 37 per cent
* An eight per cent reduction in the odds of drink-driving compared with non-Good Sports clubs
* Increased confidence by up to 89 per cent of participating clubs in managing illegal drug issues
* 70 per cent increased awareness of mental health issues at Good Sports clubs
* Less reliance on alcohol sponsorship
* An average nine per cent increase in club members, and 17 per cent increase in non-players, at participating clubs
“This milestone is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the positive impacts of the program and to give a massive shout out to the participating clubs and volunteers who are so dedicated to creating and maintaining healthy and family-friendly club environments,” Alcohol and Drug Foundation CEO Dr Erin Lalor AM said.
"Community sport plays a huge role in the lives of millions of Australians and provides many benefits, including social connection and improved physical health.
"Unfortunately though, local sports clubs can be high-risk environments for risky drinking and alcohol and drug-related harm.
“Whilst local sport clubs can be places where alcohol and other drug-related harms occur, Good Sports demonstrates that they can be the opposite, and role model healthy, positive behaviours."
To join the program visit http://goodsports.com.au