History

The Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) has been working in the sports setting since 1996 and the following research projects have underpinned the development of the Good Sports program. 

Timeline of events

1997

• Sporting Clubs Alcohol Project is conducted.  Findings from this research show clubs need resources to address the responsible management of alcohol.

1998

• Staying Fit and Surviving Kit is a resource that provides practical strategies to assist sporting clubs develop a policy that reflects a responsible attitude towards alcohol.

1999

• Gippsland Football Leagues Project aimed to ensure that four football leagues developed responsible alcohol management policies.

2000

• The Good Sports pilot is conducted!  During 2000 the ADF conducted a pilot project to trial the accreditation program across four rural regions in Victoria.  Read more about the Good Sports Pilot Accreditation Model.
• Alcohol Use in Metropolitan Sporting Clubs Project was conducted to identify attitudes and concerns relating to alcohol consumption in sporting club settings, and to gauge actual levels of alcohol consumption in the clubs. Full findings can be accessed in the ACHPER Healthy Lifestyles Journal 53 (2) 7-11. 

2001

• Good Sports program is officially launched in March in rural Victoria, and in metropolitan Melbourne in November.
• A progress report of the program is conducted in December 2001.

2002

• In March, a pilot program is implemented in the south-east of New South Wales.  Clubs in the pilot are from Wollongong/Illawarra, Monaro, South Coast, Goulburn, Yass, Queanbeyan, and Snowy Mountains regions.

2003

• In March, a pilot program is launched in Tasmania.  Clubs in the pilot are from Hobart, Launceston and Devonport.

• Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation fund an evaluation on the Good Sports program. The evaluation is conducted by the Australian Institute of Primary Care at LaTrobe University.

2004

• Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation fund a national roll out of the program across Australia.
• A pilot program is launched in South Australia in April.  Fourteen clubs are involved, from metropolitan Adelaide, Southern Fleurieu, Mt Gambier and Tumby Bay.  An official industry launch is held during Drug Action Week in June.
• Good Sports is officially launched in Tasmania in May.
• First ever national survey of drinking attitudes and behaviours in amateur sporting clubs is completed, funded by the Alcohol Education & Rehabilitation Foundation. Read the Executive Summary and the media release.
• Good Sports launched its first television advertising campaign in September 2004, in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. 
• Good Sports wins an award at the inaugural 2004 Rural Victorian Alcohol & Drugs Awards for Excellence in the category of Best Urban Contribution.

2005

• Roll-out of the program commences in New South Wales in February.  Initial focus is on the South Coast, South West and North Coast regions, as well as two Sydney council areas; Blacktown and Bankstown.
• 1000 club mark reached in Victoria in May.
• On-line accreditation, communication and reporting system (extranet) launched in September.  The system is the first of its kind for a health promotion program in Australia.
• Both South Australia and Tasmania achieve 100 participating clubs by the end of 2005.

2006

• Roll-out of the program in Queensland commences early 2006, with the support of Queensland Health, and the Liquor Licensing Division of DTFTWID.  Initial focus is in Brisbane and Toowoomba.
• Two pilots of the program were conducted in Western Australia (Albany and Wheatbelt) over the winter sports season.

2007

• Funding provided for a pilot of Good Sports in Alice Springs supported by the Northern Territory Department of Justice and the Drug and Alcohol Services Association in Alice Springs. An exciting initiative that results in the program becoming operational in every state and territory for the first time. 
• The Good Sports program launched in the Hunter New England Health region in August. Hunter New England Health’s new Good for Kids. Good for Life program will use Good Sports’ know-how to help promote healthy eating and physical activity.