Philosophy
Sports Medicine Australia participates in the community through:
- Providing medical coverage for sporting events
- Educating and accrediting Sports First Aiders and Sports Trainers
- Providing up-to-date and expert information to the community on Sports Medicine issues
- Producing policy statements and guidelines critical to safe and healthy activity
- Network and information referral service on general sport and health enquires
Physical activity is vital to general good health and disease prevention. Yet 43% of the population simply are not active enough to get any health benefit. People who exercise regularly are less likely to develop heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and some cancers, as well as reduced risk of developing osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Sports Medicine Australia is uniquely placed to provide leadership and guidance for the promotion of lifelong participation in safe physical activity.
SMA is keen to ensure that the general public is aware of the benefits of physical activity and that the risk of losing momentum by doing too much too early or sustaining an injury is prevented. To get people active and keep people active, SMA produces a range of useful resources and a variety of community education programs.
The Safer Sport Program is the principal National community education program run by SMA Australia. Its main goal it to increase the general community’s awareness of the prevention, assessment, management and referral of sporting injuries. By doing this, Sports Medicine Australia hopes to make Australian Sport Safer Sport. The education programs are designed in the knowledge that for many community run sporting activities, the parents, officials and coaches are volunteers seconded to help through their own interest, or through a family member’s involvement in sport. As volunteers, the ability to easily access courses during their busy schedules is also a problem. The courses aim to provide accurate, easy to understand information in a time frame that is suitable to the volunteer’s commitment. For the participants, a range of courses is also available so they can monitor their own health and safety.
Sports Medicine Australia’s history began with the provision of medical coverage at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, so it’s not surprising that medical coverage of sporting events continues to grow.
SMA members provide sports medicine coverage, primarily concerned with participant safety, at international, national, state and local community sporting events. Coverage personnel include accredited sports trainers, physiotherapists, podiatrists and medical practitioners, with support from other professionals such as nurses, Orthopaedic surgeons and massage therapists.
