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Submission by Ian R. Harrison on 06 November 2008.
1. Ensure Australia's continued elite sporting success
No response
2. Better place sport and physical activity as a key component of the Government's preventative health approach
In the region in which I live and serve the community as a Sports Trainer injury is a major barrier to participation in sport. Sports injuries cost local business and the participants quite a considerable amount of money, contributing to the loss in the Australian economy which is said to be up to $1.65 billion each year. Every effort is made to reduce injury through prevention practices. These prevention practices can reduce the incidence and severity of sports injuries up to 50 per cent allowing more of the Australian community to become and remain physically active. Sports Medicine Australia’s (SMA) members, programs, Sports Trainers and Sports First-Aiders play a key role in breaking down the barrier of injury to sport and physical activity. The Federal Government can support grassroots sport through injury prevention and management strategies. One of the impediments to people like me participating in community sports programmes is the difficulty in being able to keep abreast of latest trends in prevention measures. It is easier in metropolitan areas as the higher populations and shorter travel distances to organisations, such as SMA, who present sports injury prevention and safety information to its members, and the general public. In rural and regional townships it is very difficult for programmes to be run on a regular basis to enable sports participants, Sports Trainers and Sport First-Aiders to be kept informed of latest trends and information. I have participated for nearly nine years in Whyalla in assisting athletes in Basketball, Netball, Football and Soccer attempting to provide education to the participants in preventing injuries. Where injuries occur, I have worked closely with medical professionals in rehabilitation programmes to assist the participants to be able to return to their chosen sport in the shortest possible time – much the same as a ‘return to work program’. Unfortunately we are limited in skilled Sports Professionals – we are fortunate to have a sports orientated Physiotherapist with whom I have a close working relationship. With other serious injuries, it is necessary to send the participant to Adelaide (some 400 kMs away by road). This makes it difficult to liaise with the professional in providing local assistance in the recovery program. Personally, in attempting to keep my self abreast of latest trends, I travel to Adelaide as much as I can to attend information sessions, workshops, and professional development training in this field. One impediment to this is the cost of travel these days – petrol, air fares ($210.00 one way to fly), and also that most of these sessions are mid week, or last for several days, meaning that I have to take time off from work. On return I then pass this information onto other Sports Trainers in Whyalla. Being able to participate in these information sessions on weekends and in my local region would be more productive, and would enable other people such as myself to participate, ask questions, attend workshops etc. I would ask that consideration be given to funding or subsidising education programmes for Sports Medicine Australia Sports Trainers and Sports First-Aiders to maximise the dissemination of injury prevention and injury management and assessment information. More trained personnel serves to increase the reach of the programme to increase knowledge of those who can impact reducing or preventing sports injury.
3. Strengthen pathways from junior sport to grassroots community sport right through to elite and professional sport
No response
4. Maintain Australia's cutting edge approach to sports science, research and technology
No response
5. Identify opportunities to increase and diversify the funding base for sport through corporate sponsorship, media and any recommended reforms, such as enhancing the effectiveness of the Australian Sports Foundation
No response
Page last updated: 06 November, 2008