Deadly Maroons Target All Ages in new Campaign
From infants to elders, the 2023 Deadly Maroons health check campaign directed by Deadly Choices in conjunction with the Queensland Rugby League (QRL), will positively impact Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, ensuring the creation of thriving populations right across the State.
On hand today to reaffirm Queensland support of the Deadly Maroons preventative health initiative, were an entourage of Maroons State of Origin legends, Deadly Choices Ambassador Willie Tonga plus Queensland and Australian Women’s rugby league legend Tracey Thompson, all adding their voice to the State-wide campaign, encouraging individuals, families and entire communities to take the most positive steps towards the continued maintenance of a healthy lifestyle.
Deadly Choices is a preventative health initiative of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) which aims to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to make healthy choices for themselves and their families – to stop smoking, to eat good food and exercise daily. The Deadly Maroons annual health check campaign continues to reinvigorate the efforts of Deadly Choices and has been directly responsible for more than 20,000 health checks across the past four years. Already in 2023, based on orders received through participating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health services, the campaign has eclipsed the average 5,000 health checks across the calendar year.
Today, our sporting superstars were in abundance as the promotional strategy was outlined to ensure regular health checks at the various clinics across the State remain top-of-mind among all families. A strategy considered the cornerstone towards successfully closing the gap in health and life expectancy outcomes among Queensland’s Indigenous populations both young and old.
“Thanks to the Queensland Rugby League, the concept of Deadly Maroons ensures we’ve got the whole of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations engaged and empowered to take control of their own health,” added a Deadly Choices Ambassador.
“A new addition to this year’s stock of Deadly Maroons shirts includes an impressive 1980 retro version designed to entice our elders towards maintaining good health.
“We’re also ear-marking the added importance of flu vaccinations post COVID-19, and will unveil a suite of scarves and beanies, plus caps for North Queensland communities as an added incentive during the campaign.
“As we celebrate 13 years of Deadly Choices, we now have an entire generation of young boys and girls who were born into an environment of positive, preventative health practice. We have babies being born into it, so they’re learning right from the beginning about a Deadly Choice and what that means, and obviously through the popularity of State of Origin that health consciousness is elevated via Deadly Maroons.”
