LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has highlighted the great work of local sports clubs who are helping to reduce binge drinking in the community and make clubs more welcoming to families.
More than 40 clubs in Leichhardt are registered with the Australian Drug Foundation’s Good Sports program, which works with community clubs to help change their culture so they are more focused on young people and families, and less about drinking alcohol.
“This is a fantastic initiative and one that the Australian Government is pleased to support,” Mr Entsch said. “New research shows that the program really helps to reduce excessive drinking at sports clubs while keeping them financially viable.
“It’s also a good investment for government, because for every dollar invested more than $4 is saved by reducing alcohol-related harm in the community.
“From a club’s point of view, the program makes sport more accessible to people and increases participation, and Good Sports clubs attract more sponsors, players and supporters than clubs which aren’t associated with the program.”
Good Sports provides free support, advice and a framework to help sports clubs become leaders in reducing binge drinking and promoting family-friendly, safe and healthy environments. The program grew by 18 per cent in 2013 and there are now 6300 Good Sports clubs in Australia.
“In Leichhardt, these include a whole range of clubs, representing sports as diverse as BMX, rugby league, Oz tag, hockey, surf lifesaving, soccer, bowls, athletics, dragon boating, netball and judo, located from Edmonton to Cairns, Port Douglas, Mossman, Weipa and the Torres Strait,” Mr Entsch said.
“I congratulate these clubs for the leadership they are showing in our community. By helping people to get healthy through sport, we can avoid many of the negative consequences of binge drinking as well as lessen the substantial burden that alcohol places on governments and communities.”
For more information on the program, visit www.goodsports.com.au
