The Gold Coast SUNS are proud to announce a three-year partnership extension with SUNS Academy Major Partner StreetSmarts.
The significant partnership extension with Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) coincides with Queensland Road Safety Week, with the two organisations joining forces to highlight the importance of road safety and ‘one team’ mentality when on the roads.
StreetSmarts is the Queensland Government’s road safety public education program designed to change attitudes and behaviours to improve safety on our roads; key messages the SUNS have been supporting since the partnership began in 2021.
In 2023, the club’s Official Road Safety Partner also became the inaugural SUNS Academy Naming Rights Partner, with the partnership now set to extend into 2028.
The StreetSmarts SUNS Academy, which has produced 26 players currently on the club’s AFL and AFLW lists, delivers important road safety education sessions to its participants and has the StreetSmarts logo featured prominently across the teams' apparel.
Gold Coast SUNS Chief Executive Mark Evans said the SUNS are thrilled to continue its partnership with TMR.
“Our club plays an important role in the Gold Coast community and our continued partnership with StreetSmarts allows us to help in promoting and creating safer experiences on the road as for all Queenslanders,” Evans said.
“We have more than 1,000 males and females between 13-19 years across Queensland and the Northern Rivers in our StreetSmarts SUNS Academy, with many of those young men and women learning to drive. It’s fantastic that these young drivers and their families are exposed to the road safety messages from StreetSmarts at the very beginning of their driving journeys.
“We understand the impact that incidents on the roads have on our community, and in Queensland Road Safety Week, there is no more important time for drivers to understand their responsibilities of being safe and smart when on the roads.”
As part of the partnership extension, the two organisations are excited to launch a new community initiative in 2026 which will include the opportunity for local AFL clubs to receive a $10,000 grant, for doing their part in promoting road safety. StreetSmarts will also continue to sponsor the AFL Queensland Schools Cup, the largest junior sporting competition in Australia.
Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said:
“Sport has a unique ability to transcend boundaries and bring people together, making it a powerful tool for promoting road safety—especially among some of our most at-risk road users. That’s why we’re partnering with organisations like the Gold Coast SUNS and AFL Queensland to deliver this important message.
“This three-year partnership will also introduce an exciting new phase, encouraging local AFL clubs to actively promote road safety within their communities.
“I thank the SUNS and AFLQ for helping spread the road safety message.”
