Increasing road safety awareness within the Victorian basketball community

In 2023, Victoria tragically lost 295 lives on its roads. Alarmingly, young adults aged 16 to 24 make up a significant portion of these casualties. Despite basketball ranking among the top three sports played by Victorians in this age group, there's a noticeable absence of a road safety campaign associated with it.

I have been a member of Victoria Police for 28 years and worked across many different commands and locations. I am victim-focused and for the most part of the last 10 years, worked within the sex offences and child abuse investigations area. Now working in the Road Policing Command, the trauma aspect of road safety and the impact on community drives my enthusiasm to promote road safety messaging across the state.

I have two teenage sons, one currently learning to drive and the other a probationary driver, both of whom play basketball at association and representative level.

I am involved in my local community, driven by a passion to instil in my children the value of giving back to the community. Alongside my participation in multiple sporting committees, I took great pride in serving as the school council president for several years. I take great pleasure in collaborating closely with both local and state governments to secure grants in those areas. I founded a caravan manufacturing company in 2011, soon after extending to service and repair. The founding partners continue to run day-to-day operations in Lilydale, Victoria.

In my current capacity, I am regularly engaged with the Road Safety Partnership, which includes the Transport Accident Commission and believe I can leverage my networks, to pinpoint key road safety messaging that can be effectively disseminated across the Victorian basketball community.

Ben is participating in the 2024-25 VicPol Leadership Mentoring Program. Paul Fowler is Ben’s mentor.