Deadly Choices 2026 Season Launch
Deadly Choices, Australia’s leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander preventative health program, officially launched its 2026 season at Queensland Parliament House on Monday 2 February 2026.
The event marks the program’s 16th anniversary and brings together key sporting clubs from across Australia, in addition to the community controlled health sector, government stakeholders and corporate partners who play a pivotal role in Deadly Choices’ preventative health mission through their ongoing support.
The launch will also unveil the highly anticipated 2026 Deadly Choices shirts featuring over 15 sporting partners across NRL, AFL, rugby union, Tennis Australia and Professional Bull Riders. The highly sought after shirts play a significant role in encouraging community to complete a 715 Health Check at their local Community Controlled Health Service (CCHS).
A host of Deadly Choices’ partners sporting stars will model the renowned shirt range, Gehamat Shibasaki, Tamika Upton and Scott Prince (Brisbane Broncos), Allan Fitzgibbon and Jamie Chapman (Gold Coast Titans), James Walsh (North Queensland Cowboys), Selwyn Cobbo (Dolphins NRL), Keidean Coleman, Courtney Hodder (Brisbane Lions), Rhani Hagan (Reds Rugby), David Fifita (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Jada Taylor (Cronulla Sharks), Olivia Kernick (Sydney Roosters) along with Deadly Choices Ambassadors Shaylee Bent, Petero Civoniceva, Edrick Lee, Brenton Bowen and Taliqua Clancy.
Deadly Choices, an initiative of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH), empowers and educates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to make healthier lifestyle choices for themselves and their families. The program encourages community to eat nutritious food, be physically active, quit smoking or vaping and connect with their local CCHS for a 715 Health Check. A 715 Health Check is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific health check which identifies key areas of risk.
Last year IUIH Executive Director of Commercial Operations, Dallas Leon, commissioned a comprehensive and community focused evaluation of Deadly Choices to understand the true effectiveness and impact of the program.
“The community led and strength-based approach of Deadly Choices leverages cultural experience, strong relationships with local health services, and the popularity of our sporting partnerships to create impactful health behaviour change in communities across Australia,” said Mr Leon.
The study, by research consultancy group Pollinate, found that Deadly Choices successfully empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to take control of their health.
Of over 800 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants surveyed in Queensland, those that were aware of Deadly Choices responded:
Deadly Choices Evaluation 2025
“This data confirms Deadly Choices is a proven Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health promotion model that community knows and trusts and is delivering real, measurable change,’ Mr Leon said.
“This evaluation shows transformational impact, with 715 Health Checks now the norm in community, health literacy rising and trust in health services growing.
“This is what Closing the Gap looks like in action, but from the position of empowered community control.”
The program has continued to expand across the country, with new CCHSs joining the initiative in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and Tasmania, growing the CCHS network delivering the Deadly Choices health check incentive program to more than 30.
The 2026 Deadly Choices Season Launch celebrates Deadly Choices empowering Mob, the power of partnerships, and reinforces the role of collaboration in driving better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, families and communities.
