‘Making Sport Safe’ Forum – Event Summary
Organized by: Community Concussion Research Foundation (CCRF)
Date: Friday, July 12, 2024
Location: Community Hub at The Dock, Docklands, Melbourne
The Making Sport Safe Forum, now in its second year, united medical experts, sports professionals, educators, and community advocates to tackle the rising concern of concussions in sport—especially among junior players.
Major Themes Covered
- Rising Youth Concussions: Hospitalizations for concussions rose by 89% from 2011 to 2019, with adolescents making up 68% of those affected.
- Safer Junior Sport: The CCRF called for a shift to non-contact formats like AFL 9s for junior athletes.
- Independent Medical Authority: Proposed an independent panel of medical experts to develop and oversee concussion protocols.
- Stronger Recovery Protocols: Advocated for a mandatory 30-day medically supervised recovery for all concussion cases.
Key Speakers and Contributions
- Peter Jess (Founder & CEO, CCRF): Delivered the keynote address and pushed for independent oversight in concussion management and better support for affected players.
- Dr. William O’Brien (Monash University): Shared new diagnostic research in concussion detection.
- Ian Coutts: Introduced the King-Devick sideline concussion test.
- John Hennessy (CCRF Board Member): Shared international insights on CTE and prevention best practices.
Watch the Forum
CCRF’s Mission
The CCRF is committed to reducing concussion and CTE cases in Australian collision sports by 25% annually. Their strategy includes education, improved diagnostics, rehabilitation pathways, and robust policy reform.
To view a copy of the forum program, click here: ‘Making Sport Safe’ Forum Program.
