Rewards for Victorian clubs committed to road safety

Victorian grassroots football and netball clubs will have a chance to apply for a share of $600,000 from the 2024 Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Club Rewards Program.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne joined TAC’s Executive General Manager of Community, Jacqui Sampson, Head of AFL Victoria, Greg Madigan, and members from the Ringwood Football Netball Club to announce the launch of this year’s rewards program.

In its fifth year, TAC Club Rewards allows AFL Victoria-affiliated football and netball clubs to apply for rewards of up to $10,000 when they meet a set criteria for promoting road safety throughout the season.

Due to their outstanding efforts in the 2023 program, Ringwood was one of the top-earning clubs from last year’s program, receiving $10,000 to spend on uniforms, training equipment, and further programs or community engagement opportunities.

TAC Club Rewards is an important initiative to promote conversations about road safety in sporting communities. Victoria’s regional and metropolitan football and netball players regularly travel long distances on country roads, with high speeds often a factor in the increased severity of a crash.

Tragically 121 people have lost their lives on Victoria’s roads this year, with many of those fatalities occurring on regional roads.

Peer-to-peer conversations are valuable in developing a culture that encourages safe driving and as part of this year’s program, clubs will be asked to start conversations and be part of the campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding, with the tagline – “Show up for your team. Slow down on the road”.

AFL Victoria’s partnership with the TAC provides a connection to regional Victorians urging them to prioritise road safety, ensuring everyone gets to the game safely.

In addition to the Club Rewards Program being open between May 31 and August 25, clubs from across Victoria will also be participating in the TAC’s Road Safety Round on July 19 to 21. Information on the Club Rewards Program and Road Safety Round can be found here.

Quote attributable to Head of AFL Victoria, Greg Madigan:

“AFL Victoria is proud to have partnered with TAC for more than three decades, and this generous investment once again exemplifies TAC’s ongoing support for community football and helps to send the important message around road safety.

“There have been 121 lives lost on Victoria’s roads in the first five months of 2024, and many grassroots football and netball clubs across the state have been affected by road trauma in some way, which is a devastating reality for many clubs and communities.

“So many people involved in local football, including players, coaches, umpires, volunteers and supporters, cover huge distances on the roads every year travelling to and from training and games. It’s vitally important that the messages around road safety are shared and understood, something the TAC Club Rewards Program helps to do.”

Quotes attributable to TAC, Executive General Manager of Community Jacqui Sampson:

“TAC’s Club Rewards Program has developed into a key part of the football and netball seasons across the state and we’ve seen some terrific methods to promote road safety throughout those clubs over the years.”

“The TAC’s partnership with AFL Victoria is creating a cultural shift in Victoria’s grassroots football and netball clubs, that prioritises road safety and being a team player on and off the roads.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne:

"Connecting with Victoria’s grassroots football and netball clubs gives us an invaluable opportunity to connect with Victorians who are regularly travelling on our regional road network.”

“The TAC’s Club Rewards Program can help football and netball clubs make improvements for their members, while also providing a catalyst to make real change and embed a culture of prioritising road safety.”