Deadly Choices, Australia’s foremost preventative health and education program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, will enjoy front-of-jersey exposure during this Friday night’s NRL Harvey Norman All Stars blockbuster in Townsville.
As this year’s NRL All Stars host, Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS) is taking a pro-active approach to the campaign, including cultural celebration and community day at the TAIHS Medical Centre, which will be attended by hundreds of young, local schoolchildren involved in Deadly Choices education programs and their extended families throughout the region.
Also in attendance will be NRL Indigenous All Stars players Hamiso Tabua-Fido, Bailey Biondi-Odo, Shaylee Bent, Jaime Chapman, Grace Kemp, Tahliah Fuimaono who were joined by Deadly Choices Ambassadors, league legends Willie Tonga and Tyrone Roberts, plus dual national rugby and touch football representative Bo de la Cruz, who will mix and mingle with an enthusiastic group of local supporters.
The nationwide brand arrangement through the NRL Indigenous All Stars, represents part of a formalised partnership between the National Rugby League (NRL) and the flagship Institute for Urban Indigenous Health program.
This shared Deadly Choices-NRL commitment will assist new year health initiatives aimed at promoting preventative health checks among communities across Australia.
First Nations populations including those in and around the Townsville region, will be able to secure a replica Deadly Choices NRL Indigenous All Stars shirt; featuring the design of artist Jakita Saunders from the Wakka Wakka and Widi nation; as part of the promotion, simply by completing a health check at a participating Community Controlled Sealth Service.
Originating in 2010, the NRL All Stars match has evolved into an annual celebration of First Nations peoples, showcasing cultural pride and strength, plus a chance to acknowledge the ongoing contributions of Indigenous Australians to the sport. Similarly, the Deadly Choices program was conceived in 2010 by IUIH, as part of the Australian Government's Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) initiative. The program quickly elevated its status as Australia’s leading First Nations preventative health program by empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to take control of their own health and thereby ensuring healthy, strong communities into the future.
“Our proven preventative health model leverages sport as a vehicle to connect with communities. Deadly Choices has strong partnerships with a range of NRL and other sporting clubs, including the Broncos, Dolphins, Titans, Cowboys, Sharks, Bulldogs, Roosters, Rabbitohs and Melbourne Storm, so it makes progressive sense to formalise an arrangement with the NRL governing body,” confirmed IUIH Director Operations Dallas Leon.
“Deadly Choices linking with the NRL creates a perfect fit. We are excited to work together on the upcoming NRL All Stars match as an opportunity to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, while simultaneously promoting health messaging for mob across Australia.
“It’s fitting that this game returns to Queensland’s northern capital in 2024, with the region forming a vital part of Deadly Choices’ existing footprint through the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS) which has been serving community for nearly 50 years.
“This partnership will also directly support more remote regions of North Queensland, via community-controlled health services in places such as Yarrabah and Palm Island who are aligned with our Deadly Choices preventative health and education messaging.”
Deadly Choices encourages community to get active, eat healthy, quit smoking/vaping and connect with their local Community Controlled Health Service (CCHS) for a 715 Health Check.
The collective Deadly Choices and NRL partnership in 2024 will include various health promotion activities, including alignment with the NRL Magic Round, plus Jillaroos and Kangaroos international features.