05/12/25 - ADF salutes VicHealth amidst concerns for its future
The Alcohol and Drug Foundation has deep concerns for the future of community health prevention in Victoria, following the Allan Government’s announcement that VicHealth will be rolled into the Department of Health.
“As the world’s first health promotion foundation, VicHealth has led the way in initiatives to boost community health and prevent chronic health conditions, including the harms associated with alcohol and other drugs,” stated ADF CEO Dr Erin Lalor AM.
“Its independence has been fundamental to its success and ability to swiftly implement new programs to address evolving public health challenges, as they occur, without time-consuming red tape.
”Its role is critical and the ADF urges the Government to reconsider its decision.”
A prime example of VicHealth’s long-term impact and commitment to innovative health promotion is the Good Sports program, which was launched in 1994 with VicHealth as the founding funder.
According to Dr Lalor, that initial VicHealth seed funding has resulted in Good Sports burgeoning into Australia’s largest community health sports program.
“Good Sports has been helping build strong community sporting clubs across Australia for more than 25 years,” Dr Lalor explained.
“It operates in over 12,000 local clubs and reaches nearly 3.2 million Australians.
“Most importantly, Good Sports has been proven to help Australian community sporting clubs reduce harms from alcohol and other drugs – fostering a healthier, safer and more family friendly environment for all.
“Withdrawing funding from a health promotion foundation with a track record for introducing innovative prevention programs at the grassroots level is deeply concerning for the entire health sector and community health as a whole.”
Good Sports now operates nationally, strengthening community sporting club policies and practices around alcohol consumption, sales and management, safe transport, safe celebrations, tobacco and vaping, illicit drug use, and mental health support.
It drives impact, with far reaching and lifelong benefits, fostering healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities.
And its impact amplifies well beyond the sporting field – the stats tell the story:
- 12,000 participating sporting clubs across 120 sporting codes
- 3M+ people participating across Australia
- 37% less risky driving and 42% less overall harms
- 9% increase in club members
- 89-95% of clubs improved their illegal drug policies, and 79-89% of clubs are better at managing drug issues
- $10.2m contribution to community wellbeing, and an ROI of $3.10-4.20 per $1 spent.
“None of this would have been possible without VicHealth’s vision 26 years ago,” Dr Lalor stated.