Casey football and netball clubs will receive shares in more than $600,000 under the TAC Club Rewards program for their efforts in campaigning to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries in their communities.
This year the program encourages clubs to engage with players, members and their communities on key road safety issues and promote safe behaviours, with the dangers of distracted driving a key focus.
The Allan Labor Government and Transport Accident Commission have announced this year’s 251 recipients, incentivizing grassroots clubs across the state for showing a commitment to promoting road safety during the 2023 season.
Delivered in partnership with AFL Victoria, clubs will receive rewards of up to $10,000.
Successful clubs are able to use the money for a range of initiatives including education programs, club transport initiatives, new equipment and uniforms and facility upgrades and improvements.
Berwick Football Club, Berwick Junior Football Club, Berwick Springs Junior Football Club, Clyde Football Club, Cranbourne Football Netball Club, Doveton Eagles Football Club Inc, Doveton Football Club, Hampton Football Club, Hampton Park Football Netball Club, Hampton Rovers Football Club, Lyndhurst Football Netball Club, and Narre North Foxes Football Club are among the recipients.
So far this year, 236 people have died on Victoria’s roads and more than half of those deaths have happened on in regional areas, where tens of thousands of local footballers and netballers travel for games and training.
Distracted driving is one of the major causes of fatal and serious injury crashes on Victoria’s roads and is particularly concerning on regional roads where people are travelling at higher speeds.
AFL Victoria-affiliated clubs from across the state were able to apply for the program by showing how they supported road safety throughout the year, including taking part in the TAC’s Road Safety Round Band Together campaign.
The TAC Club Rewards Program is part of the TAC’s 31-year partnership with AFL Victoria, which aims to empower clubs to develop a culture where all players and members are expected to be safe on the roads.
Transport Accident Commission chief executive officer Tracey Slatter said road trauma had a significant ripple effect and there was no denying the power of peer-to-peer support and education at sporting club level.
“These clubs should be proud of their efforts to create a culture that prioritises road safety,” she said.
