St Kilda Mums protecting our most precious cargo

Published date: 01 Dec 2021

The Victorian Government is helping protect infant and child passengers by supplying car seats to families in need.

As part of the TAC's latest round of Community Road Safety Grants, St Kilda Mums not-for-profit organisation has received funding for its Travel Safe Project.

The grant will help provide safe car restraints for vulnerable families, so they can travel safely with their most precious cargo, reducing their risk of death or serious injury in a crash.

The TAC will ensure all restraints meet Australian standards and provide educational resources to support the rollout of the restraints.

A safe car restraint is designed to match a child’s age and size. Because children grow at different rates, it is important to choose the type of restraint that is best for the child’s size.

Research studies investigating the benefits of child restraints have shown significant reductions in the likelihood of fatal or serious injuries, with risk reductions ranging from 30 per cent to 82 per cent.

Victoria’s Starting out Safely Program provides key information and resources on car restraints: https://childroadsafety.org.au.

St Kilda Mums collects, sorts, and redistributes donated essential nursery equipment, clothing, books and toys for babies and school-age children.

The program is one of nine projects to receive money through the TAC’s latest Community Road Safety Grants program, with the groups each receiving a share of more than $220,000.

The grants program provides funding to not-for-profit community groups, schools, and local councils to implement projects aimed at improving safety for vulnerable road users.

Other projects to receive grants are:

Hobsons Bay City Council – VMS speed advisory sign for school zones - $30,000
City of Greater Bendigo – Speed awareness monitors - $26,708
Moyne Shire Council – Road Safety Plan update - $22,500
East Gippsland Shire Council – Road Safety Strategy - $30,000
Attwood Child Care Centre and Kindergarten – Ride Your Bike Program - $6,545
Corangamite Shire Council – New speed activated advisory sign purchase - $22,000
Hindmarsh Shire Council – Variable message sign trailer - $23,038
Warrnambool City Council – Think Bike - A community approach to road safety - $8,000

More information on grants available through the TAC can be found at: https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/about-the-tac/community/grants.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Ben Carroll

“The recent period on our roads has been tragic and our thoughts are with the loved ones of those people who have lost their lives, as well as those injured.”

“Busier roads should never mean more road trauma, and we all have a role to play keeping each other safe, particularly with Victoria now open and so many of us travelling around the state.”

Quotes attributable to Transport Accident Commission CEO Joe Calafiore

“The TAC’s Community Road Safety Grant program is about protecting vulnerable road users and supporting community groups in their initiatives to keep people safe on the roads.”

“There’s no question that an appropriate and safe car seat is crucial in keeping babies and children safe on our roads and by choosing the safest car seat available parents can give their children the best possible protection.”