How kids in cricket can build safer communities in Queensland

Crime Stoppers Queensland is committed to keeping our communities safe and crime-free. We’re consistently partnering with our local communities to help with education, crime prevention and safety. Through our newest partnership with Bulls Masters, we’re bringing our crime stopping message to kids of all ages through the magic of sport.

Bulls Masters is a not-for-profit organisation designed to positively influence the lives of children living in regional Queensland and their families through playing cricket. They work with some of the state’s greatest retired cricket players to develop the sport in their local communities, as well as providing education and community support regionally.

Studies have shown that sport is an extremely effective way to reduce youth crime rates. Sport promotes tolerance, respect and helps to empower young people, both as individuals and within a community. Sport also is regularly shown to contribute to health, wellbeing, education and teamwork.

Numerous sporting advocates and researchers discuss how team sports such as cricket have an amazing impact on diverting youth from crime. Team sports promote social bonds between peers, help to relieve boredom, and provide routine and stimulation. It’s clear that using sports such as cricket are great ways to empower and reach young people.

This is especially true when the climate of the sport prioritises teamwork and cohesion, and the coach-participant relationship is strong. Working with an organisation such as Bulls Masters means that we can have confidence in knowing that the kids participating in the program will be engaging with trained professionals on a regular basis.

Through our partnership with Bulls Masters, we’re looking to engage with thousands of Queensland kids of all ages and educate on both the dangers of crime and the importance of reporting crime. By engaging with these kids directly through a forum comfortable and familiar to them, we’ll be able to encourage safe, anonymous reporting and help keep our community united while reducing crime.

Jimmy Maher, Managing Director at Bulls Masters, is stoked to be partnering with an organisation that holds the same values for the wider Queensland community. “We’re thrilled to have Crime Stoppers Queensland supporting our work here at Bulls Masters. We pride ourselves on being a positive influence in the lives of many, and bringing the love for cricket that we have to the masses. By having an organisation such as Crime Stoppers Queensland supporting our work, we’ll be able to spread their message even further whilst receiving their support to help keep our programs stronger than ever.”

David Hansen, Crime Stoppers Queensland CEO, is looking forward to seeing the impacts of this partnership come to life in coming months. “We’re proud to be a presence atseveral major Bulls Masters events throughout this year. Supporting this organisation means that we can pass on our message to even more kids than before. By educating kids on what makes a safe community how they can protect it now and when they get a little older, we’ll be able to intervene, prevent, and disrupt crime before it even starts.”

Nurturing the sport of cricket among kids is a powerful catalyst for building safer communities. By instilling discipline, teamwork, and structure into their lives, sport can work to build safer communities state-wide. Crime Stoppers Queensland is pleased to partner with Bulls Master to help empower younger generations in providing information that supports the prevention of crime.