Deadly Choices, Australia's leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander preventative health program, is set to officially launch its 2025 season and renowned shirt range, celebrating the ongoing commitment of its sporting partners in improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes.
A host of sporting stars from Deadly Choices’ partner organisations will model some of the 2025 shirts, including Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo (Brisbane Broncos), Jamal Shibasaki (North Queensland Cowboys), Josh Kerr (Dolphins NRL), Jayden Campbell (Titans), Ally Anderson (Lions), Cody Walker (Rabbitohs) and Jada Taylor (Cronulla Sharks).
This exciting event will bring together key sporting figures, community health leaders and government stakeholders who play a pivotal role in Deadly Choices’ preventative health mission through their ongoing support.
Deadly Choices, an initiative of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH), empowers and educates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 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 Community Controlled Health Service (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.
IUIH Executive Director of Commercial Operations, Dallas Leon, said “The proven community-led 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 and build health literacy in communities across Australia.”
The 2025 Season Launch will also unveil the highly anticipated new range of 715 Health Check shirts featuring more than 20 sporting partners across NRL, AFL, rugby union, netball, Tennis Australia, the Boomers and Professional Bull Riders. These free and highly sought after shirts play a significant role in encouraging community to complete a 715 Health Check at their local CCHS.
“We are proud that the Deadly Choices health check shirt incentive concept, first proposed in 2010, has evolved into one of Australia’s most successful preventative health promotions. Using the vehicle of sport, we effectively get more of our people into our health services, engage them in positive health behaviour and make a significant contribution to closing the health and life expectancy gap for Indigenous Australians,” said Leon.
Deadly Choices continues to expand its impact across the country, with new CCHSs joining the initiative in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and Tasmania over the past year, growing the CCHS network delivering the Deadly Choices health check incentive program to more than 30.
The 2025 Deadly Choices Season Launch celebrates Deadly Choices’ roots in South-East Queensland and its national expansion, the power of partnerships, and reinforces the role of collaboration in driving better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people towards stronger, healthier, and happier families and communities.