ACC says $100,000 will boost injury prevention

9 August 2002

Media Release

ACC says $100,000 Vodafone grant will boost injury prevention in sport

ACC Acting Chief Executive John Saunders says he’s delighted with Vodafone’s $100,000 grant, which he says will boost ACC’s injury prevention in sport programmes.

“Thanks to the Vodafone grant, we will be able to extend our sporting injury prevention education and awareness campaigns in the community, and increase ACC’s ability to work at the grass roots level,” Mr Saunders said.

He said additional funding could now be put towards further community-based activities under the flagship programme for ACC’s sports injury prevention activities, ACC SportSmart –a programme that revolves around a 10-point action plan for preventing sports injuries.

“Now ACC will be able to get its injury prevention messages to an increased number of coaches for teams that span every level of competition,” Mr Saunders said.

“An example of how ACC SportSmart works is the highly successful RugbySmart programme that is undertaken in conjunction with the New Zealand Rugby Union,” Mr Saunders said.

“Rugby is historically a high injury sport. But ACC is working hard to reduce rugby injuries which alone account for a quarter of all sport and recreation claims, at a cost of around $20m a year.

“Since the inception of the rugby injury prevention programme we have seen a steady decline in injury rates, with an overall reduction of 25 percent. “

“This year, more than 10,000 coaches and referees at all levels of involvement will attend the compulsory RugbySmart coach education courses. There they will watch the RugbySmart video fronted by April Ieremia, and featuring John Mitchell and Bull Allen, and club teams going through the correct tackling and scrumming techniques, with a practical session later to reinforce the learning.

“Vodafone’s generous grant is a significant contribution to reducing New Zealand’s sporting injury rate, by increasing ACC’s ability to work within every community,” John Saunders said.

ENDS

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