Victoria Minister for Sport and Recreation Hugh Delahunty

Victorian Diamond To Head Expert Panel Into Sports Injury Prevention

Victor P Taffa

Australian Diamonds Commonwealth Games captain and Vixens co-captain, Sharelle McMahon, will chair a new taskforce to investigate the issue of sports injury prevention, the Minister for Sport and Recreation Hugh Delahunty announced today.

Mr. Delahunty said Sharelle was well placed to lead the taskforce of prominent academics in the sport injury field, who will lend their extensive sports injury prevention expertise.

“Increasing participation in sport and recreation – getting people more active, more often – is high on my agenda and this government is working hard to reach that goal.” Mr. Delahunty said.

“As we work towards that goal, a key success factor is to identify and address all the blockers that prevents people from leading a more active lifestyle.”

“There are many barriers to fitness, but injury and fear of injury are significant obstacles to boosting and sustaining participation in sport.”

“A large number of sports injuries can be prevented or reduced simply by improving knowledge in the community on how to better respond to injuries when they occur.”

Mr. Delahunty met with the Sports Injury Prevention Taskforce for the first time today, which will deliver a report in 2013 to support sporting bodies, sports management authorities and local government with risk management strategies and sports injury prevention plans.

Members of the taskforce are:

• Ms Sharelle McMahon (Chair)
• Professor Caroline Finch (Monash University)
• Professor Geraldine Naughton (Australian Catholic University)
• Dr Dara Twomey (University of Ballarat)
• Ms Lynne Sheehan (Sports Medicine Australia)
• Mr Cameron McLeod (VicHealth)
• Mr Mark McAllion (Vicsport)
• Mr John Smith (Municipal Association of Victoria)
• Mr Colin Sindall (Department of Health)
• Mr Michael Cahill (Department of Planning and Community Development).

Taskforce Chair, Sharelle McMahon said she was delighted to accept the role of chair, and to be working with an expert panel in sports injury prevention.

“As an elite athlete and someone who is currently making a comeback from a serious injury, I know only too well the impact of injury – not just as an individual, but as a member of a team.” Ms. McMahon said.

“Thankfully I have a great team of doctors, surgeons and physios that have helped me get back on the court, but people out there playing community sport don’t always have that luxury.”

“Through this taskforce we now have a wonderful opportunity to help communities, teams and individuals to be more proactive in sports injury prevention.”

The establishment of the Sports Injury Prevention Taskforce was a 2010 election commitment.