THE HON KATE ELLIS MP
Minister for Youth and Sport
MEDIA ALERT
21st September 2008
Att: News and Sports Editors, Chiefs of Staff, News and Sports Reporters,
Pictorial Editors:
LAUNCH OF NATIONAL SPORT SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND A NATIONAL SPORT
INJURY PREVENTION PROGRAM
Participation in sporting activities is universally heralded as one of the most important
elements in curbing Australia’s childhood obesity epidemic and yet studies have estimated
that around one million Australians injure themselves while playing sport each year and that
children aged 5-14 years have the highest rate of injuries requiring treatment and affecting
performance or participation in activity.
To help address this issue, the Australian government
Minister for Youth and Sport, Kate Ellis
will tomorrow (Monday) launch a National Smartplay program and
accompanying injury prevention guidelines for children and young people
in sport and recreation.
Ms Ellis will be joined by:
Stephen Herbert, Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Education
Representatives of Sports Medicines Australia which designed the program and
guidelines, funded by the federal government
Kim Crow, Australian Olympic Rower,
Professor Caroline Finch, leading sports injury epidemiologist and
Students from Maribyrnong Secondary College’s Sports Specialism Program
(students identified as having the potential as elite athletes)
WHEN:
Monday September 22, 2008
TIME:
11.30am
WHERE:
Sports House, 375 Albert Rd,
South Melbourne, Victoria
Media contact:
Neil Branch, 0448 207 226
NEWS 
