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Geelong Venom WNBL is proud to support a major new Transport Accident Commission (TAC) initiative that will see grassroots and elite basketball communities across Victoria unite to help save lives and prevent injuries on the state’s roads.
As part of the TAC’s expanded partnerships with Cricket Victoria, Basketball Victoria and Football Victoria, more than 1,700 sporting clubs will take part in Road Safety Rounds designed to raise awareness and promote safer driving behaviours. Basketball’s Road Safety Round will take place in January, with Geelong United and Geelong Venom WNBL playing a leading role in delivering the message locally.
Geelong is one of Victoria’s fastest-growing regional cities, and basketball is a year-round sport that brings families together - whether attending games, training late at night, or travelling across the state for competitions. With so many journeys happening outside regular hours, ensuring players, families and fans arrive home safely is critical for the Geelong community.
To champion this message, Geelong Venom WNBL has partnered with the TAC, with the collaboration highlighted by a Road Safety Round on January 30. The initiative will leverage the influence of elite and community sport to drive positive behaviour change and help reduce the road toll during the holiday season and beyond.
As part of the TAC Club Participation Program, Road Safety Rounds will be held across basketball competitions, with players and officials wearing blue armbands to “Band Together” for road safety awareness and in honour of those impacted by road trauma.
Community basketball clubs will also have the opportunity to share in merchandise and vouchers valued at $40,000, by demonstrating how they are actively promoting road safety within their communities.
Key elements of the Geelong Venom WNBL and TAC partnership include:
- A TAC Road Safety Round at Geelong Venom WNBL on January 30
- Engagement of Geelong United Basketball RMA Civil Construction Supercamp junior participants, who will attend the Geelong Venom WNBL Road Safety Round and learn about safe driving behaviour
- Education initiatives reaching the entire basketball community - from junior players and families to club presidents and volunteers
- Encouragement for clubs and supporters to join the TAC Rewards Club, promoting safe driving culture at the grassroots level
- WNBL players serving as leaders and role models, inspiring safer choices both on and off the court
Across summer, the TAC pilot program focuses on the dangers of speed, reinforcing key messages including “Be the Difference” and “Make the right choice. Slow down on the road.” Clubs are being equipped to spread these messages and remind communities that everyone is accountable for road safety, every time they get behind the wheel.
Geelong Venom WNBL CEO Mark Neeld said sport has a powerful role to play in influencing behaviour and protecting lives.
“Basketball is deeply embedded in the Geelong community, and our players, families and supporters are on the road constantly - often late at night and over long distances,” Neeld said.
“Partnering with the TAC allows us to use the influence of our sport to reinforce the importance of making safe choices on the road and ensuring everyone gets home safely.”
Neeld said involving young people and community clubs was central to creating lasting change.
“By engaging our junior players, families and clubs, and having our WNBL athletes lead by example, we can help build a culture where road safety is front of mind,” he said.
“If sport can help prevent even one tragedy, then this partnership will have made a meaningful difference.”
The initiative comes as 274 people have lost their lives on Victorian roads this year, with speeding contributing to around 30 per cent of fatalities. The TAC has launched a major holiday road safety campaign featuring new television advertisements highlighting the dangers of speed and drink driving.
Geelong Venom WNBL is proud to stand alongside the TAC and the broader basketball community to help ensure every journey ends safely.
For more information on the TAC Club Participation Program, visit: tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/current-sponsorships/sports-program
