Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Services (ATSICCHS), across New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania, will enhance their community’s health outcomes through a collective partnership with leading First Nations preventative health program Deadly Choices.
Deadly Choices, an initiative of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH), has significantly added 10 ATSICCHS to its footprint to deliver its signature health check incentive strategy. The program offers 80-plus shirt varieties which carry co-branded designs from NRL, AFL, Super Netball, Tennis Australia, Patty Mills and Professional Bull Riders to First Nations clients who complete a 715 Health Check (MBS 715 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific health check focusing on key areas of risk).
In 2021/22 in South East Queensland, Deadly Choices linked health services completed an outstanding 22,500 health checks. In recognition of its success, the 2023/24 Federal Budget has committed to expanding Deadly Choices across Australia investing in improving the uptake of health checks by 15%.
Today, Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services is the latest ATSICCHS to announce its intention to embed Deadly Choices in ACT with a Community Day featuring special guests Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Minister for the Public Service; Senator David Pocock; Alicia Payne MP Federal Member for Canberra; and Deadly Choices Ambassadors & NRL legends Petero Civoniceva, Shaylee Bent and Tyrone Roberts.
Winnunga CEO Julie Tongs is excited to be hosting the Deadly Choices expansion program in Ngunnawal/Ngambri Country (Canberra)
“The Deadly Choices program is a great initiative, it is an important health promotion tool for our Mob who may not be engaged to come and have a 715 Health Check and receive a Deadly Choices shirt to wear in the community,” confirmed Ms. Tongs.
“Deadly Choices is about promoting healthy lifestyles through healthy eating, the importance of sport and physical activity, learning about the negative impacts of smoking & vaping and getting regular health checks to ensure healthy and strong families and communities.”
IUIH Director of Commercial Operations, Dallas Leon, is confident Deadly Choices will be complimentary to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector’s efforts.
“These invaluable partnerships with ATSICCHS will enhance our capacity to deliver on the core Deadly Choices objective to have more of our people empowered to take control of their health,” confirmed Leon.
“Pivotal to that outcome is increasing our health check numbers across the country by enhancing the community engagement portfolio of related health services and promoting positive health behavior in their local communities.
“Health checks are just as important for our little ones, youth, families and Elders, so we welcome the support of the entire ATSICCHS sector in becoming key driving partners in engaging our people to live healthy lifestyles, strengthen our culture and Close The Gap.”
This nationally coordinated approach will allow all participating ATSICCHS areas to maintain autonomy, delivering culturally appropriate health care to the communities they serve while leveraging Deadly Choices’ health check campaigns, sporting partnerships, Ambassadors and localized events to reach their united health check target.