Deadly Choices, Healthy Lives Promoting health in remote

Indigenous communities

Rachel Yates, Glenn Clarke

May 2015

Gidgee’s region

• Mt Isa base. Wider region includes Cammoweal and lower gulf

• Between 26% to 56+% of catchment area population are Indigenous.

• High smoking rates and chronic disease burden. Lower than average life expectancy.

• Much potentially preventable.

• Need culturally secure health promotion and treatment services locally.

Gidgee Region

Cammoweal

Our health promotion aims

• Increase awareness and healthy literacy – chronic disease

• Encourage healthy lifestyle choices

• Provide practical knowledge and skills

• Increase links to primary health care

• Be and develop role models within the community

• Commonwealth Funding: Tackling Smoking and Healthy Lifestyles

Deadly Choices – Healthy Lives

• Strengths based• Evidence informed• Culturally appropriate• Brand power• Corporate sponsorship

Deadly Choices is a campaign developed to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to make healthy lifestyle choices to increase life expectancy while preventing and managing chronic illness. 

Health promotion activities

Healthy lifestyle education program 

Sport  and recreation

Community days /events

Tobacco Cessation programs 

Cooking programs 

Social media / marketing  campaigns Ambassadors

A taste of GQT

Education Program

7‐8 x 90 minute sessions 

1. Leadership2. Chronic Disease3. Tobacco4. Nutrition5. Physical Activity6. Harmful Substances7. Medicare & Health Checks8. Relationships 

TV Commercials

What have we achieved?

Since February 2014:

• Delivered health promotion education / activities* to:

• Over 1000 participants at 10 different Community events

• Over 400 students (school and TAFE)

• Over 20 different year groups in 80% (8) of eligible schools

• 50 participants in 5 different community groups

• 300 healthy lifestyle TV commercial spots

• Social media campaign - hit rates 3000+

• Linked people into health checks (715s) and PHC

*Education program, Good Quick Tukka, 12 week/10,000 step challenge, Zumba, walking group, smoking cessation

Education outcomes

3534

26

23

16

108

6 65 5

2 21

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Indigenous health checks (715s)

Unexpected benefits

We’ve really enjoyed learning about making healthy choices. 

I’ve often overheard my students discussing the 

program to other students who have not yet been involved. 

The program has helped develop social interactions with my class. They are 

showing more understanding towards each 

other. 

Students are reminding each other the day before to 

come to school. They are...excited

Teachers’ comments

What can we conclude?

• Raising awareness, increasing CD knowledge and health literacy

• Self reported changes in health behaviour

• Associated increase in health checks

• Anecdotal feedback about enhanced school attendance/behaviour

• Further analysis

• Culturally appropriate health education still needed

Want more info?Contact Glenn Clarke

Tackling Smoking and Healthy Lifestyle Team Leader

Phone: 07 4749 1129

Email: gclarke@gidgeehealing.com