How We Support

We aim to support our injured and ill jockeys in necessitous circumstances by raising funds to help them recover.

Thanks to your generous donations, the National Jockeys Trust has helped over four hundred jockeys with equipment and resources to assist them and their families during and after their recovery.

Can you imagine having a job where an ambulance has to follow you around? That’s the reality for our jockeys every day. It’s easy to take for granted the risks jockeys take every time they race, and when things go wrong, it can be career-ending and even life-ending in some cases. The National Jockeys Trust aims to support injured and ill jockeys Australia-wide. We provide compassion, empathy and financial assistance should jockeys become injured, sick, or tragically lose their lives.

Who Does The National Jockeys Trust Help?

Our goal is to provide funds and other benefits to jockeys to relieve their financial difficulties and help them gain stability during times of crisis. Did you know:

  • More than a third of Australia’s 860 jockeys are involved in accidents every year
  • 89% have had at least one fall during their career that required medical attention
  • Each year, 40% of jockeys will have a fall that will prevent them from riding for an average of five weeks
  • Several jockeys will suffer permanent disability each year
  • Injury, illness or death can cause severe financial hardship to jockeys and their families as they try to cope with medical bills and manage significant loss of income.
  • Serious illnesses like cancer, heart disease and kidney disease make up a significant proportion of claims the Trust assists with.

Who is eligible for support?

Any person, including an apprentice, holds or has a jockey licence in Australia. We determine eligibility for support against specific criteria on a case-by-case basis, and this can include:

  • Financial and other support for jockeys injured at work
  • Financial and other support for jockeys experiencing serious illness requiring extended time off work
  • Funeral expenses and other support for the families of deceased jockeys 
APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE