Launch of Thinksafe Club for children with Eagles footballer Glen Jakovich

12/12/97

Labour Relations Minister Graham Kierath and Eagles footballer Glen Jakovich today launched the ThinkSafe Club, a fun way for children up to 12 years old to learn about safety on the Internet.

The ThinkSafe Club is part of the State Government's ThinkSafe campaign, aimed at halving the number of workplace accidents and deaths by 2000.

Children entering the ThinkSafe Club on the Internet are greeted by Glen Jakovich and ThinkSafe Sam and shown how to apply the three simple safety steps at school, home and on the roads.

Children can work through safety examples and hazards to complete a quiz and gain a certificate signed by Glen Jakovich if they score 75 per cent or more.

Access is available through home computers, public libraries and primary schools when they re-open in February and the Internet address is http://www.wt.com.au/safetyline

Mr Kierath said the ThinkSafe Club was a fun way for children to heighten their safety awareness.

"The ThinkSafe steps can be applied by children at home, at school and on the roads and that will carry through to when they join the workforce," he said.

"The messages are consistent with those promoted by the Police Service and Kidsafe WA."

Mr Kierath said children could win prizes like t-shirts and caps by completing the quiz.

The program follows on from the highly successful WorkSmart Internet program for Year 10, 11 and 12 students who go on work experience.

"Since February about 16,000 students have achieved WorkSmart certificates and that is helping ensure they are more safety conscious before going to a workplace for work experience.

"The ThinkSafe club is the equivalent for younger students and I am pleased to see it is not only educational but fun too.

"It's important that we instill safety messages at an early age so that everyone in the community thinks about safety in all areas for the rest of their lives."

Media contact: Steve Manchee 9481 2133