Tuesday, March 26, 2013

TIO joins forces with CAFL to promote road safety



TIO has joined forces with the Central Australian Football League as naming rights sponsor to promote road safety in Central Australia.

TIO Chief Executive Richard Harding said around 600 players and thousands of fans across Alice Springs and remote Central Australia participated in CAFL activities.

“People love their footy in Central Australia and we’re hoping to leverage that to get the road safety message out,” Mr Harding said.

“Our support for footy in the Top End has allowed us to work with the AFL on a range of road safety initiatives, including the Road Safety Day in January. Our support for the CAFL will bring this important message to central Australians.

“It is a particularly important message for CAFL players and their fans. Each week more than 300 players travel on unsealed roads from Indigenous communities to and from Alice Springs to participate in the competition, travelling distances of up to 720km for a round trip.

CAFL Regional Manager Andy Hood said the three-year partnership is one of the most important the CAFL has been involved with for many years. “The partnership will help with the sustainability of the CAFL over the next three years,” he said.

“Just as important is the opportunity to work together to promote road safety messages through AFL football throughout Central Australia and educating Territorians about road safety.

“Our players travel a lot of kilometres on difficult roads, so getting the road safety message out to them is critical.”

Mr Harding said TIO was proud to extend its road safety football programs into Central Australia.

“As administrators of the NT Government Motor Accidents Compensation Scheme, we have made a conscious decision to align our sponsorships and community engagement activities to provide lasting benefits to the Territory.

“We want young drivers to be aware of their choices and know the consequences, and this is a great opportunity to engage with them through something they are passionate about,” he said.