La Trobe University Hockey Club has been awarded a Level 3 accreditation as part of the Good Sports program, for our work as leaders in reducing the link between alcohol and sport in the community.
The Australian Drug Foundation’s Good Sports program works in communities to make sports clubs safe and healthy. Clubs learn about managing alcohol responsibly to become more family-friendly.
Being a Good Sports club means changing practices and adopting Good Sports policies, such as safe transport options, smoke-free club rooms, alcohol alternative fundraising and training in Responsible Service of Alcohol.
Phil Nguyen, La Trobe University Hockey Club’s Promotion Officer, said that Good Sports was helping to promote positive messages and examples around alcohol.
“The club has gone to great lengths to promote healthier lifestyles and we are putting hockey as our number one priority, not alcohol. We want to be a club where everyone feels safe and we aim to be a benchmark at the university and the community,” he said.
Mark Nash, Good Sports VIC/TAS Manager, said alcohol is a leading cause of preventable illness and death in Australia, and breaking the link between alcohol and sport has never been more important.
“By joining Good Sports and achieving accreditation, La Trobe University Hockey Club is showing the community that they care about the health and wellbeing of their players and members,” he said.
“Congratulations to the club for leading the way in changing Australia’s binge drinking culture.”
Previously in 2012, the club won the Good Sports Club of the Year for Victoria and maintain the highest level of any hockey club in the northern suburbs. It makes us one of two clubs at La Trobe University, out of 23 clubs, with a Good Sports qualification.
Good Sports is Australia’s largest preventive health program for the community sporting sector, with over 6500 involved nationally, supported in Victoria by VicHealth, Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and Department of Health (DoH). For more information visit the Good Sports website or Facebook page.
By Simeon Barut