Melbourne Storm will play a significant role in promoting healthy lifestyle choices for Victoria’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, as part of the Club’s ongoing partnership commitment to the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service’s (VAHS) Deadly Choices program.
To kick of the renewal of the partnership, new Storm Deadly Choices shirt were unveiled by Storm’s current NRL squad players Reimis Smith (Bunjalung, Wiradjuri), Jordan Grant (Wiradjuri) and fullback Nick Meany.
Deadly Choices shirts are used as incentives for community members who book in for a health check, at participating Community-Controlled Health Services – in Victoria this includes VAHS, Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative (BDAC), Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-Operative (GEGAC) and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative.
“The Storm, VAHS and Deadly Choices partnership exists across Melbourne and our wider Victorian footprint to provide a strong community engagement tool to enhance positive health messaging and continue to encourage health checks among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Victoria,” confirmed VAHS CEO, Michael Graham.
“With the valued support of fellow Deadly Choices licensees Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative, Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-Operative and Geelong’s Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative, we’re able to extend the footprint of this partnership far beyond the outer reaches of Victoria’s metropolitan areas.
“As they’ve done the past couple of years, Storm NRL players are once again at the forefront of promotional activities around the importance of 715 health assessments, as one of the core directives in assisting to help close the health and life expectancy gap of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
“These sporting partnerships are ensuring healthy, positive futures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Victoria.”
Deadly Choices is a preventative health initiative which aims to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to make healthy choices for themselves and their families – to stop smoking, to eat nutritious food and exercise daily.
Core directives which align perfectly with the overarching ideals of the Melbourne Storm.
Storm CEO Justin Rodski said the club had a proud heritage of fielding Indigenous players in its NRL team and partnering with Indigenous organisations in its home state.
“We have very meaningful connections to the Indigenous community, particularly in Victoria,” Rodski said.
“These ties are strong, they are powerful and we are committed to making them stronger through partners such as Deadly Choices whose ideals align perfectly with Storm.
“Our players will continue to play a major role in highlighting that a Deadly Choice is a good choice and that it’s important that those choices are made every day.”