A unique incentives program targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island children under the age of three has been launched in the Redlands.
The program is being delivered by the Capalaba-based Yulu-Burri-Ba Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health with the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH).
Yulu-Burri-Ba provides services on North Stradbroke Island and in Capalaba, including at a specialised ‘mums and bubs’ clinic.
The maternal and infant primary health focus is part of the Deadly Choices incentives program run by IUIH partner clinics.
The program is a partnership with the Brisbane Broncos.
It aims to encourage Indigenous people to access local health services and complete a health check to prevent or better manage chronic disease and remain healthy, rather than consulting a doctor only when sick.
IUIH partner clinics have been running an incentives program using Deadly Choices jerseys for Indigenous adults and children who have the full health check.
With a 1200 per cent increase in health checks performed in the clinics since 2009, most adults are up to date, but rates among infants and young children have not reached the same levels.
As a result, IUIH network clinics have launched the initiative to give Deadly Choices-branded ‘onesies’ to children under three years who complete a routine health check in the next few months.
IUIH CEO Adrian Carson said partner clinics were working hard to ensure children and babies were given the best, most comprehensive care available.
“It is vital we engage indigenous children and babies in indigenous primary and preventative health if we want to make long-term improvements,” he said.
