Safety in Sport – Club volunteers sign up to Play the Broome Way

Published on 10 June 2021

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A sports trainer network established as part of the Shire’s Play the Broome Way Safety in Sport initiative is now working with local clubs to ensure injuries and concussions are better managed.

The group was formed after 13 volunteers participated in Sports Medicine Australia’s Level 1 Sports Trainer Course in March.

Mentored by Level 2 Sports Trainer Pat Moase, the group is now operating at Broome Boxing Club and several junior and senior football clubs.

Pat has also provided an additional session on strapping to the group and assisted those involved at Broome Boxing Club with their concussion protocols.

The Play the Broome Way initiative aims to promote good culture at local sporting clubs, while acknowledging volunteers, high-achieving athletes and best practice such as safety in sport.

The Shire of Broome has now provided seven Safety in Sport workshops, partnering with St John Ambulance and Sports Medicine Australia to provide four first aid courses, a sports trainer course and two concussion management courses.

The free sessions provided volunteers with the necessary skills to understand sports injuries and how best to manage them.

The four free first aid courses were offered to local sporting clubs between March and May, with 31 people from 11 different clubs attending.

The initiative aims to increase the number of qualified first aiders within the sporting community. The partnership with St John, which began in 2018 as a way of giving back to our valued club volunteers, has now seen 115 sports club volunteers qualified in first aid.

Shire of Broome deputy president Desiree Male said the first aid qualification was also a prerequisite for the Sports Trainer accreditation.

“The critical role these sports trainers now play at local sport was realised within a week of the course being completed,” she said. “A newly qualified Level 1 Sports Trainer was on hand to respond to a major concussion incident at the West Kimberley Football League’s Lightning Carnival, applying his newly acquired skills to prevent serious injury.

“That incident provided a powerful example at one of the concussion management sessions where both the injured athlete and sports trainers were able to share their experiences.

“Better education on concussion recognition and management continues to be a major focus of the Safety in Sport initiative and the Shire is happy to be able to play a role in upskilling the local sports community.”

For details on how to better understand the topic, contact Mike Doyle at mike.doyle@broome.wa.gov.au.

All workshops were made possible through funding from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries’ Every Club program.

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