The South Australian Government has launched the THINK! Road Safety Community Grants Program, providing $200,000 in funding to support local initiatives that promote road safety education and awareness. The new program is designed to help councils, schools, charities, sports clubs, and community organizations develop projects that encourage safer road use and foster lifelong road safety learning among residents.
A total of 13 grassroots organizations have been awarded funding to deliver targeted road safety programs tailored to the needs of their communities. The initiative supports a wide range of educational activities, including driver training, cycling and pedestrian safety education, and community awareness campaigns aimed at improving road user behavior and reducing crash risks.
Several organizations will use the funding to expand existing road safety efforts. Uniting Country SA will enhance culturally safe and inclusive driver training programs across northern regions of the state, while the City of Salisbury will deliver cycling and walking education initiatives through its new Road Safety Park. These projects aim to increase road safety knowledge and encourage safer travel practices among community members.
Schools are also playing an important role in the program. Bridgewater Primary School will introduce a walking school bus initiative that teaches students pedestrian safety through supervised group walks after school. Meanwhile, Marree Aboriginal School will implement the Marree Youth Save Moves Program, providing culturally appropriate road safety and cycling education tailored to local community needs.
The program additionally supports learner driver development. The Logging Investigation and Training Association will continue its volunteer-based driver mentoring initiative in South Australia’s southeast region. The project helps learner drivers meet licensing requirements by pairing them with trained mentors and providing access to safe vehicles for practical driving experience.
The Community Grants Program complements the longstanding THINK! Road Safety Partnerships Program, which collaborates with major organizations and sporting clubs to promote road safety messages. The grants initiative also supports the objectives outlined in South Australia’s Road Safety Action Plan 2025–2027, which seeks to reduce road fatalities by 50 percent and serious injuries by 30 percent by 2031.
The importance of these initiatives is underscored by ongoing road safety challenges in the state. South Australia recorded 87 road fatalities and 787 serious injuries during the previous year. This year, road crashes have already resulted in 47 deaths and 396 serious injuries, highlighting the need for continued investment in education, awareness, and community-based road safety programs aimed at creating safer roads for all users.
