Support Blue Datto and join the Blue Datto Charity Golf Day on 28 September 2018 at Richmond Golf Club
Impact the Screen: Impact a Life
Blue Datto’s inaugural 2018 Impact The Screen: Impact a Life short film competition helps young people bring their ideas for change to the screen. Let everyone know about it! This Blue Datto initiative is sponsored by Celestino. Find out more here.
AUSTRALIAN ROAD SAFETY AWARD
Winner 2018 – Founders Award for Outstanding Achievement
Winner 2018 – Community Programs Award
Winner 2017 – School Programs Award
The Blue Datto Story
The Blue Datto Foundation is a NSW based registered charity that aims to protect the lives of young Australians through innovative road safety education. Blue Datto’s mission is to change the culture of young drivers by altering attitudes and behaviours.
Blue Datto was established by the Vassallo family following the death of 17-year-old Philip Vassallo in a crash in which both drivers were red ‘P’ platers. Phil, ‘the kid in the Blue Datto’, was a much-loved teenager who brought happiness to everyone who knew him.
Blue Datto established its flagship education program, ‘Keeping Safe™’ in 2014. Keeping Safe’s point of difference is it is delivered by undergraduate university students, trained by Blue Datto in facilitation to become our Peer Mentors. Our Peer Mentors are close in age to the school students so create an open and honest dialogue with the school students about what is happening, thereby positively influencing the attitudes of the students, and giving them practical measures to change their behaviours to help students keep themselves and their friends safe.
Blue Datto aims to make Keeping Safe available to every school in NSW. Blue Datto is fortunate to have the support of the NSW Police and NSW Fire and Rescue, and many other community organisations and businesses.
With your help, we can be the beginning of a positive change to the culture of young drivers in NSW.
Get InvolvedPhilip - The Kid in the Blue Datto
Philip Vassallo was a caring, friendly and fun young man who always tried to make others happy. He usually succeeded. When he went out with his friends, he always ensured that everyone got home safely. He was an ordinary 17 year old: he loved his family and friends, enjoyed going out, was making a great impression at work and excelling at TAFE.
Anyone who knew Phil was well aware of his passion for cars, especially his blue Datsun ute. He was affectionately known as ‘the kid in the blue datto’.
Blue Datto was established in Phil’s memory after he passed away in a crash aged 17.
Our programs
Keeping Safe
Program Overview
Keeping Safe™ is an award-winning road safety education program targeting young drivers and passengers in school and community settings. The program is an interactive analysis of travel safety risks and examines the influence of family, friends and the social environment on the choices young drivers make. Keeping Safe’s overall aim is to teach safe behaviours, encourage self-belief and empower young people to make better choices on the roads as drivers and passengers.
Keeping Safe is suitable for schools, community, sporting or youth groups and can be delivered over a period of 3 to 5 hours. It is curriculum linked and involves a combination of whole group presentations and breakout sessions and features films, role plays, interactive activities and presentations. Activities are flexible, practical and where appropriate fun, to achieve the desired learning outcomes.
As part of every program participants complete a Personal Road Safety Plan considering strategies they will use to travel safely as both a driver and passenger. They also formalise their commitment in a Pledge, which Blue Datto emails to them every year for five years around their birthday as a reminder of the program and their promise.
Key Learning Outcomes
Keeping Safe uses appropriate teaching strategies and activities to:
- Examine safe vs unsafe behaviours and common risk factors for young drivers
- Analyse choices, influences, responsibilities and outcomes
- Improve participants’ ability to problem solve and make decisions, particularly in risky situations
- Develop leadership and communication skills
- Develop strategies to empower young people to be safer drivers and passengers
- Provide a forum for young people to brainstorm road safety ideas for their own community
Why Choose Keeping Safe?
Other Programs
Blue Datto routinely delivers other programs and educational sessions for specific audiences including parents, teachers, local government and anyone else with an interest in road safety. To enquire about a specialised program email us at info@bluedatto.org.au
Click here to read Blue Datto’s Trading Terms and Conditions.
Bookings
Keeping Safe Programs
Keeping Safe is suitable for 15-18 year olds in school, community or sporting group settings .
Please contact us to see how we can customise Keeping Safe to best suit your needs.
Book a ProgramCommunity Events
Would you like to invite Blue Datto to be involved with your next community event?
Please contact us to see how we can help raise road safety awareness in your community.
Book a Community EventNews & Media
Blue Datto in the News

Blue Datto is extremely grateful for the ongoing support we receive from local and national media who help us raise awareness and tell our story. In case you missed them, here are some recent stories featuring the Blue Datto Foundation.
Read full storyKeeping Safe targeting the Central Coast

In late May the Blue Datto Foundation was pleased to launch its programs on the Central Cost – a region that continues to be devastated by young fatalities on its roads.
Read full storyKeeping Safe Wins Best School Program Award

Blue Datto’s Keeping Safe Program was named Best School Program at the 2017 Australian Road Safety Awards in March, overcoming 14 other finalists to take out the accolade.
Read full storyLatest news stories
- Keeping Safe Wins Best School Program Award
- Blue Datto in the News
- Keeping Safe targeting the Central Coast
- Blue Datto is launching on the Central Coast
- 24 May 2017 at Windsor - Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers
- Penrith Panthers with MG: Helping Learner Drivers Become Safe Drivers - 7 June 2017
How you can help
Fundraise or Make a Donation
As a not-for-profit, community fundraising is vital for Blue Datto. As a result of the community’s generosity, Blue Datto is able to continue our work in the community, providing critical programs for vulnerable young Australians.
Through our programs we’re not just hoping to save one life; we’re aiming to save hundreds. And we need ongoing assistance to make this a reality.
If you are interested in holding a fundraising event in your school or community, we’d love to hear from you and find out how we can support you in your efforts! Give us a call or email Blue Datto at info@bluedatto.org.au.
Blue Datto Account Details
Account Name:Blue Datto Foundation LimitedBSB No:112 879Account No:458 788 936Fulfil Your Goals
Running a marathon? Setting a world record? Fulfilling a dream? Nominate Blue Datto as your charity of choice raise funds while doing it!
Make a Donation
Blue Datto is grateful for any and all donations. $20 funds the cost of a student completing Keeping Safe, $200 funds 10 students, $2000 funds 100 students!
Friend of Blue Datto – Continual Giving
Become a regular donor and choose to dedicate your giving to the memory of someone you have lost or who was injured in a road accident. Choose any monthly amount- $20, $50 or $100 – or anywhere in between.
**Please note that while Blue Datto is grateful for all donations, unfortunately we are unable to issue receipts as we are not a registered Deductible Gift Recipient**
Online Shop
Support Blue Datto by purchasing t-shirts, event tickets and more from our online shop.
Browse the shopSponsor Us
Blue Datto provides the opportunity to help save lives whilst directly talking to thousands of youth, families, teachers and the wider community.
If you’d like to know more about available sponsorship opportunities please email our Partnerships Manager at nic@bluedatto.org.au.
Sponsorship Documents:
Become a Peer Mentor
Do you want to help young people make safer decisions on our roads?
Would you like to help facilitate our workshops? Are you between 18-24 years of age and studying at university? Then the Blue Datto Peer Mentor program may be just the opportunity for you.
Community Support
Blue Datto is fortunate to have the support of many wonderful sponsors and supporters who make our work possible. We are so very thankful for your ongoing generosity.
Paper Dough Cookies & Cakes
Community Supporter
Solutions Law
Community Supporter
Deloitte Western Sydney
Community Supporter
Turner & Freeman Lawyers
Community Supporter
Hosted Network
Community Supporter
Winston Express Haulage
Sponsor Bede Polding College
PANSW
Plantinum Sponsor
Cutcliffe
Blue Datto Gala Dinner Sponsor
Top Chelf
Community Supporter
Little Blue Darkes Cider
Community Supporter
Eaton Photography
Community Supporter
Black Castle Events
Community Supporter
Marie's Bella Zucchini Flowers
Hawkesbury Sponsor
Plant Haul
Hawkesbury Sponsor
Allied Accountants
Platinum Sponsor
Ambassadors
Mark Geyer
Ambassador of Blue Datto Foundation ltd.
Mark Geyer is an former professional rugby league legend of the 1980s and ’90s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-rower, he is currently a rugby league media identity. In the 1990s, he was one of the code’s hardest players that played the game. Geyer’s career was played with Penrith Panthers with whom he won a premiership in 1991.
Mark is passionate about giving back to community and is delighted to be an ambassador for the Blue Datto Foundation, with the great work it does in making our kids safer on the roads. Mark has 5 kids, 3 being teenagers who are soon to get their licence.
Geyer is part of the Triple M on-air team for the Sydney breakfast show called The Grill Team.
Liz Ellis
Ambassador of Blue Datto Foundation ltd.
Liz Ellis is one of the most respected names in netball, with a remarkable 18 year elite career including 2 Commonwealth Gold Medals, 3 World Championships, 4 National League titles, 4 Most Valuable Player awards and an Australian record of 122 Test matches.
In 2009 Liz became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Australia Day Honours for “services to netball and the encouragement of women in sport, and to the community through support for a range of charitable organizations”.
Liz is also an experienced broadcaster and media personality, hosting and commentating netball and other sports, and appearing on radio and television as a sports expert and personality.
See more at www.lizellis.com.au
Patrons
Christopher Brown
AM Executive Chair
Between 1992-2011, Christopher Brown led two of the nation’s most high profile CEO-based industry associations – the Tourism & Transport Forum and Infrastructure Partnerships Australia. He is now Executive Chair of Taylor Street Advisory, providing professional services to blue chip organisations such as Lend Lease, Brisbane Airport, Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Urban Growth NSW, SAP Australia, Elanor Investors Group and the City of Parramatta.
Christopher is a Director of logistics developer, Moorebank Intermodal Company Ltd and the University of Western Sydney and sits on the Advisory Board of ANZ Stadium. He served on the Federal/State Commission that nominated Badgerys Creek as Sydney’s second airport and is founding Chair of the high-powered Western Sydney Leadership Forum.
In addition to his role as founder and Executive Deputy Chair of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia he was industry representative to the National Ministerial PPP Panel, a member of the Commonwealth’s Infrastructure Security Forum, Convenor of the Australian Cities Roundtable and brokered international alliances with UITP, Serco Institute and PPP forums in the UK, USA & NZ.
Christopher started (but never completed) a degree in Economics & Law at Sydney University. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, an Adjunct Professor at the UTS Business School, and a graduate of the NZ Institute of Strategic Leadership & ADC’s Future Leader Program. He was the 2000 Olympics Attaché for Botswana, and an Ambassador for both the Paralympic Games & the Australian Republican Movement.
Born and educated in Parramatta, he still lives with his wife and two sons in the Emerald City. In the June 2014 Queens Birthday Honours List he was made a Member in the Order of Australia to recognise his service to industry and the community.
Betty Klimenko
Owner and manager of Erebus Motorsport
After 16 years participating in motorsports as a sponsor in the Forumla 3 and GT categories, Betty purchased the Stone Brothers Racing outfit in 2013 – along with one of its racing Entitlement Contracts – making her the first woman to head a GT and a V8 motorsports racing team.
The renamed Erebus Motorsport team achieved outstanding success in the GT class with Australian GT Championship driver Peter Hackett, and was the first organisation outside Europe to purchase the AMG Customer Sports SLS AMG GT3 Gullwing it races in the GT Championship. When Betty Klimenko entered V8 Supercars she broke the mould giving fans a new level of accessibility. An extremely popular personality the motorsport matriarch loves to provide glimpses of behind-the-scenes action to the public.
Born in Sydney, Ms Klimenko is the daughter of the late John Saunders, co-founder of Westfield. She’s a commercial property developer in her own right and a Director of Terrace Tower Group.
Boyd Cordner
Sydney Roosters, NSW State of Origin, Australian Kangaroos
Boyd Cordner is an Australian professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League. A New South Wales, Country Origin and Australia representative player, Cordner primarily plays at second-row and lock.
At just 25 years old, Boyd has won a premiership with the Sydney Roosters in the 2013 NRL season and his representative honours include 6 Tests for Australia (2013,14,16), World Cup (2013), Four Nations (2014,16), 6 games for NSW (2013,2015,2016), Country Origin (2013). Boyd was also the captain of the 2017 NSW State of Origin team.
Contact Us
Drop us a message
Contact info
Please contact us for more information on our Foundation, programs or to find out how you can help save lives on our roads.
- Address PO Box 3031, LLANDILO NSW 2747 Australia
- Phone +61 2 8999 8005 or +61 434 208 823
- Fax +61 2 8999 8004
- Email info@bluedatto.org.au