Deadly Choices is a health promotion initiative of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH), which aims to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to make healthy choices for themselves and their families – to stop smoking, eat good food and exercise daily.
In Aboriginal slang, if something is ‘deadly’ it is great. A Deadly Choice is a good choice, and the program encourages community to make good choices each day.
How it works
Deadly Choices is the promotional and preventative health arm of IUIH and works to educate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. Having developed and implemented unique preventative health education and behavioural change initiatives, Deadly Choices has increased the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples taking control of their health through community-controlled health services (CCHS).
The program has encouraged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders to complete 715 health checks (government-designed annual health checks, focusing on key areas of risk), engage in more physical activity, improve their nutrition and stop smoking.
Deadly Choices delivers varied education programs that all contribute to Closing the Gap, a national blueprint towards greater life expectancy among Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The range of programs include:
- Healthy Lifestyle Junior and Senior programs
- Good Quick Tukka Cooking Program
- Indigenous Senior Games
- DC Fit – Sport and recreation program
- Tobacco Education programs
For further information on programs, events and community activities, reach out to Deadly Choices via:
- Web: www.deadlychoices.com.au
- Socials: @deadlychoices
- Email: deadly.choices@iuih.org.au
Resource submitted by Deadly Choices
