Sport clubs step up to change alcohol attitudesTuesday, July 22, 2014 - 2:32 PM

Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron recently joined representatives from the State’s major sporting codes to launch the next phase of the Changing Attitudes to Alcohol Through Sport (CAATS) program.

The $1million program promotes the responsible service and consumption of alcohol through a partnership with the WA Sports Federation and eight major participating State Sporting Associations (SSA), including the West Australian Football Commission.

Tuesday, July 8 marked the start of the rollout of the Top Club Online Planning Tool to more than 500 clubs across the State over the next 18 months.

Focusing on alcohol service and consumption, Top Club helps a club identify its core values and develop strategies to promote the agreed 'club culture’.

 “Top Club is about arming clubs with the tools for change, backed by on-ground support from State Sporting Associations and our network of Club Development Officers,” Mr Waldron said.

 “Core values that relate to issues such as alcohol must be driven by club leaders and owned by the membership - they cannot be mandated. Cultural change must come from within.

 “With the right culture in place, sport is a powerful vehicle to deliver positive messages to the wider community about responsible drinking. There are numerous health and social benefits of being involved in organised sport and I’m very keen to see our sporting clubs to step up and play a key role in tackling an issue which affects society on so many levels.”

As part of the program, the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor will also continue to hold refresher workshops for all sporting clubs across the State. In the past six months alone, 165 club representatives have attended the workshops.

The WAFC is actively engaging football clubs across the State to participate in the program and utilise the online club planning tool that is being offered to CAATS partner sports.