Engaging Aboriginal communities on road safety at the 2025 Koori Knockout
As the annual Koori Knockout (The Knockout) begins tomorrow (3 October) at Tamworth and continues until Monday (6 October), Transport for NSW will be supporting the event and engaging with attendees to raise awareness of the importance of road safety.
Up to 30,000 people are expected to come together to celebrate the Koori Knockout over the four days and support their community and teams. The 53rd Knockout celebration will be hosted by last year’s winners, Walgett Aboriginal Connection (WAC), at the Riverside Sporting Complex, in Tamworth NSW.
Transport for NSW Executive Director of Transport Safety, Chadi Chalhoub said the Aboriginal Rugby League Carnival (Knockout) is a great opportunity to connect with the Aboriginal community on the topic of road safety on NSW roads.
“Sadly, Aboriginal people are over-represented in road trauma and fatalities on NSW roads. In 2024, Aboriginal people accounted for almost nine per cent of all fatalities in NSW but make up just 4.2 per cent of the population,” Mr Chalhoub said.
“We want to save lives, but we can’t do that alone. We need everyone on NSW roads to make safe decisions every time they're out and about.
“I encourage people to chat with our staff and ask any questions they might have about driving and road safety,” Mr Chalhoub said.
Staff at Transport’s marquee will be providing interactive education activities, road safety resources, and giveaways. The Get Kids Active team will be showcasing the ride to school interactive bike game for primary school kids where kids strap on a helmet and ride a stationary bike to school on a simulation.
Transport for NSW staff will roam the grounds to start positive, culturally respectful conversations about road safety with community members who may not visit a stall. Roaming Ambassadors will approach festival-goers in queues, seating areas, and open spaces to ask attendees to share “Safe Trip Tips” or stories about travel to the event.
“With many families travelling to and from The Knockout driving long distances on country roads it’s important to plan ahead and drive safely. Please stop and take a break from driving if you are feeling tired – or swap drivers if you can, drive to the conditions and under the speed limit, always wear a seatbelt and put your phone away while driving.
“Double demerits will apply for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and helmet offences over the October long weekend, so please follow the rules and help everyone get to their destination safely,” Mr Chalhoub said.
To plan your journey to The Knockout, visit transportnsw.info. To find where to stop for a cup of tea or coffee, visit www.driverreviver.com.au.You can also download the Live Traffic NSW App for the latest traffic updates.