Deadly Choices and Tennis Australia Are Hitting Differently
Deadly Choices and Tennis Australia are hitting Community Controlled Health differently, offering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community members who complete their 715 Health Check the chance to experience the 2026 Australian Open, including tickets, flights, and accommodation for Evonne Goolagong-Cawley Day (First Nations Day).
Deadly Choices, an initiative of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH), aims to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to take control of their health for themselves and their families by eating nutritious food, being physically active, quitting smoking or vaping, and connecting with their local Community Controlled Health Service (CCHS) for a 715 Health Check.
2026 marks 4-years of the Deadly Choices and Tennis Australia collaboration evident in the brand new 715 Health Check shirts endorsed by Barngala artist Uncle Tom Croft. Two variations of the brand-new health check shirts are available and will be worn by the Deadly Choices group throughout First Nations Day.
The campaign for 2026 launched across social media in October 2025. Queensland Tennis Academy athletes, Kalkadoon and Kuku Yalanji girl, Talara Noon and Kunja, Wonkamara boy, Billy Brickwood feature heavily in this year’s campaign alongside Deadly Choices Ambassadors Shaylee Bent, a Wiradjuri and Biripi woman, and NRL legend Petero Civoniceva.
Talara and Billy played a vital role in the social media campaign, as young Community members and tennis players. Not only have they represented their Mob but they have shown young Community a pathway into tennis through their work in this campaign.
Tennis Australia play a vital role in ensuring the message of Deadly Choices is spread throughout Community nationwide.
“Partnering with Deadly Choices at the Australian Open is driving positive health outcomes for First Nations communities, using tennis as the incentive to inspire change. Every health check completed is a step towards stronger, healthier futures. Creating these once-in-a-lifetime experiences for winners at the Australian Open is about honouring culture, community, and the power of sport to inspire healthy living.” Kyah Jones, Tennis Australia First Nations Lead.
With the support of tennis legend and Wiradjuri woman Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, the Australian Open experience provides Community members with a behind-the-scenes look at the iconic event.
This experience will have competition winners enjoying a hit on court and a tour around the arena. A Welcoming Ceremony will tee off the day matches, followed by an opportunity to do the coin toss with world-renowned tennis players ahead of the night fixtures.
“Without a doubt this experience has connected Mob from Far North Queensland down to Hobart and everywhere in between because they made the empowering decision to get their health check.”
“This partnership engages Community from all over to celebrate sport, culture, and health. We are grateful that through Tennis Australia we can reward Community with this opportunity,” said Commercial Operations Director for Deadly Choices, Dallas Leon.
The Deadly Choices and Tennis Australia 715 Health Check shirts are now available for Community members who get their health check at a local participating Community Controlled Health Service.
