28/2/2024 Community sports celebrated at Parliament House

Australia’s best community sporting clubs and volunteers were today celebrated at the annual Good Sports Awards at Parliament House, Canberra, for going above and beyond in making their clubs healthy and family-friendly environments.

The community sport champions were recognised for their work with the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s Good Sports program, in tackling topics like alcohol, illicit drugs, smoking, mental health and safe transport.

Receiving the top award was Orange United Sports Club from regional New South Wales. The club was crowned the 2023 Good Sports National Club of the Year for adopting practices to improve the health and wellbeing of their members, inspiring positive change and building a healthier, and more family-friendly club environment. The star club also won the 2023 Good Sports National Safe Transport Award and the 2023 Good Sports NSW Club of the Year award, and were runners-up of two more.

Club President, Katrina Hausia said the Good Sports program has helped Orange United adapt these practices over six different sporting codes including basketball, netball, touch football, soccer, league tag, cultural dance, and rugby league.

Reaching and exceeding the highest level of the Good Sports program, Orange United educates their members on risky alcohol and drug use, and delivers events and activities around mental health, including mandatory education for officials, coaches, and senior players. The club also works hard to reduce barriers to sport and helps their members get home safe.

“Good Sports has shown us the importance of modelling positive behaviours not just on home turf, but out in the wider community too,” Katrina said.

“Our club does not supply alcohol, or have it consumed at our home games. After identifying fatigue was a risk for some players driving more than two hours both ways to play, we introduced courtesy buses to help them stay safe.

“Our clubs’ focus is improving access to mainstream sport for local Indigenous families and others. We will support anyone to overcome any barrier, whether that means reduced membership fees, uniform costs, transport, or daily expenses.

“We also partner with community organisations to help young people access a range of health and support services, such as medical appointments, mentoring programs, tutoring, employment services and fitness initiatives.

“To win these awards is such a huge thing for a small club that started from nothing and is run solely by volunteers – we are so excited, not just for ourselves but for NSW and the Orange community.

“Winning the Good Sports Club of the Year award is such an honour and everyone who is associated with our club will carry this with pride. We would not have been able to achieve all we have without the advice and support received from Good Sports.”

Working with almost 12,000 community sports clubs across 120 sporting codes, and reaching more than three million Aussies, Good Sports is Australia’s largest community health sports program. It’s managed by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation and federally funded by the Australian Government.

Australian Health Minister, the Hon Mark Butler MP, congratulated the finalists, thanking them for their leadership and for making their local sports clubs the very best they can be.

“It’s fantastic to see all the incredible award winners and finalists recognised for their work in creating healthier sporting communities, and inspiring the next generation to follow suit,” Minister Butler said.

“The Good Sports awards demonstrates that local sports clubs play an important role in building communities and fostering healthy behaviours, on and off the field.”

Alcohol and Drug Foundation CEO, Dr Erin Lalor AM, said Good Sports is helping build a healthier sporting nation.

“Over the last 25 years, the impact of the Good Sports program has been extensively and independently evaluated and is proven to reduce risky drinking and drink driving in participating clubs. It also increases club members confidence to deal with mental health or illicit drug issues.

“Whilst local sport clubs can be places where alcohol and other drug-related harms occur, the Good Sports program demonstrates that they can also be the opposite - and strongly influence positive, healthy behaviours.

“The Good Sports Awards are the ultimate trophy for any Good Sports club. They shine the spotlight on success, celebrate the volunteers who are the backbone of Good Sports clubs and give winning clubs the recognition they deserve. The Award winners should be incredibly proud of their achievements.”

For more information about Good Sports and the Good Sports Awards visit: www.Goodsports.com.au Please find below the full list of the award finalists.

ENDS

For media enquiries please call the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s media team on 0430 948 380 or email media@adf.org.au.

Backgrounder