An array of Indigenous stars, decked out in specially designed shirts, were out in force to throw their support behind this year's Deadly Choices season launch.
Headlined by Rabbitohs recruit David Fifita, as well as NRLW premiership winner Olivia Kernick and joined by respected NRL legend Petero Civoniceva, the stars shared their passion for helping Indigenous communities get on the front foot about their health.
Deadly Choices, Australia's leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander preventative health program, use their highly sought after shirts to help encourage community to complete a 715 Health Check at their local Community Controlled Health Service (CCHS).
This health check helps identify whether someone is at risk of illnesses or chronic conditions.
“It's really special and to have the ambassadors here prior to the (rugby league) season kicking off," Civoniceva said at the launch held in the grounds of Queensland State Parliament.
“I think for our ambassadors, (it's about) understanding the important part they play in being a Deadly Choices ambassador, inspiring community members to go out, make healthy choices and go out and get their 715 Health Check.
“Our men and women here today are all heroes in the community.
“They come from their communities, no doubt everyone's inspired by their story, but when it's them talking about making those healthy choices, what it took for them to be successful on the footy field, it's inspiring.
“That's what it's about, inspiring the next generation of young stars, no matter what they pursue, whether it's on the sporting field or, whatever work opportunities they take on.”
Fifita, who himself was inspired as a youngster to pursue his NRL dream at a Deadly Choices clinic, said as a proud Torres Strait Island player, he felt it was important to give back to the community.
“Since I was a little boy, I just started the journey, I went to one of the camps in the university there in Indooroopilly … back in the day, and I was just a little fella doing those camps," Fifita said.
“I was in exactly the same position that (kids are in now), Sam Thaiday was the NRL player that came out and spoke to all of us when I was a little boy in the crowd.
“He gave us a yarn about Deadly Choices and the things that you have to do to be a professional athlete in the NRL.
“It was just one of those little moments and I'm a proud Indigenous person too, my mum and my nan come from Badu Island, I'm from Torres Strait Islands and born in Brisbane. I'm an Inala boy, which is an Indigenous community.
“Deadly Choices has come a long way to where it's now, we've got heaps of professional athletes doing so well for the community and hopefully the young people can follow our footsteps in the future.
“We’ve got good ambassadors like Petero and Princey (Scott Prince) there and the people behind me from different clubs and sports doing so well.
“We'll just keep building and trying to make a positive movement for our community."
When not training for the NRLW season, Sharks young gun Jada Taylor is out in the community helping to deliver the programs to Mob.
“We're in a quite a unique situation down in the Shire, where we're the only one who deliver the program out of a club," Taylor said.
"I think that's something that we don't take lightly and it's something that the Cronulla Sharks as a whole are very proud of.
"Deadly Choices is all about making those healthy choices, so it's important that that messaging gets everywhere.
"I hope that anyone who sees this or sees the Deadly Choices branding actually looks into it and see what it talks about, and that is about trying to get mob to be healthy and make those positive life choices.
“Really proud that it's growing, but it's not everywhere yet, and that our goal is to make sure that it's everywhere.”
Deadly Choices stats*
Of more than 800 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants surveyed in Queensland, those that were aware of Deadly Choices responded:
- 74% said I understand my own health better because of Deadly Choices
- 94% said Deadly Choices influenced my decision to get a health check
- 84% said Deadly Choices makes me feel more comfortable accessing health services
- Deadly Choices has motivated 64%to quit smoking and 52% to quit vaping
- 73% said Deadly Choices has motivated me to eat healthier and 70% said it has motivated me to exercise more
- 84% of people who had a health check, yarn about Deadly Choices with others and become health advocates in their community
*figures provided by Deadly Choices.
