NRL and Deadly Choices commit to creating community All Stars

Indigenous All Stars representative Shaylee Bent is a powerful advocate for Deadly Choices and is passionate about encouraging her mob to have their 715 Health Checks.

The Titans forward headed to Community Controlled Health Services (CCHS) across New South Wales earlier this month to help spread the vital message.

"We met the community, told them about the health checks and how much they make a difference," Bent said.

"A lot of our mob are scared of doctors, scared of the health system and hospitals so it’s important to have programs like this to encourage people to take the opportunity to get their health checks annually.

"We give them an incentive to do it, we supply the health centres with the T-shirts and help connect them with mob to get their health check and as an incentive they get a shirt.

"It was a good week getting out in the community and encouraging mob to make healthier decisions and keep up on their health."

Created in 2010 to educate and empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to make healthy choices, Deadly Choices has evolved into Australia’s most successful community-focused preventative health program.

Deadly Choices aim to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities 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 a Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific health assessment that focused on key areas of risk. 

In 2024, Deadly Choices expanded into CCHSs across NSW, Victoria, ACT and Tasmania, with an additional 10 Community Controlled Health Services added to the Deadly Choices footprint.

The expansion allows for health services to further support their communities’ health outcomes by providing Deadly Choices incentives to clients who compete a 715 Health Check.

“The Deadly Choices and NRL partnership is a great example of a health sports initiative making a real difference for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community," said Dallas Leon, Commercial Operations Director for Deadly Choices.

"In 2024 the NRL All Stars and Deadly Choices co-branded health check shirt was one of the most popular shirt options of the year. More than 10,400 shirts were distributed through participating services to community members who completed a 715 Health Check, demonstrating the success of the partnership in supporting our community members in accessing primary health care services.”

Deadly Choices health check incentives include over 80 unique shirts, created in collaboration with a range of NRL, AFL and Super Netball clubs, as well as Boomers legend Patty Mills, Professional Bull Riders Australia and Tennis Australia. This includes the NRL All Stars 2025 health check shirt.

And in 2025, Deadly Choices will be bringing 30 community members from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and ACT to Sydney to watch the Indigenous All Stars take on the Māori All Stars at CommBank Stadium on February 15.

Community can go on the draw to enter the competition by getting their 715 Health Check at a participating Community Controlled Health Service.

"Sport is and has always been an equaliser and motivation for all of community achieving and doing better, the All Stars game in particular portrays what individuals can achieve through hard work," said Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation CEO, Scott Monaghan.

"The All Stars game shows as a nation collectively we can make a difference saying we are deadly, strong and healthy.

"The national expansion of Deadly Choices has significantly contributed to community requesting a 715 Health Check to be healthy and deadly just like their champion playing in this year’s All Stars game.”

How to get a shirt

• Both designs of the Deadly Choices All Stars shirts are available at participating Community Controlled Health Services around Australia
• Community members are able to get theirs when they get a 715 Health Check at a participating Community Controlled Health Service
• Shirts are free and are offered as an incentive
• Find your nearest CCHS here: https://deadlychoices.org.au/nrlallstars