Free community health checks appear to be pushing Australians towards further healthcare, with new research finding 85% of participants took action after being screened.
The findings came as the Shane Warne Legacy Health Check program passed the 500,000-check milestone, reached last week during Community Day at the International Diabetes Federation Western Pacific Region Congress in Melbourne.
Brendan Lynch, whose life was reportedly saved after undergoing a check when the Legacy launched in 2023, marked the milestone alongside former Australian cricketer Shane Watson (pictured above).
The research, commissioned by Latrobe Health Services in collaboration with Ipsos, surveyed more than 1200 Australians aged 18 to 65 years, comparing people who had undergone a Shane Warne Legacy Health Check with those who had not.
Of those who had a check, 20% subsequently booked an appointment with a healthcare provider, while 85% reported taking some action as a result of the check.
That included changes to diet and exercise, seeking medical advice and researching their health further.
Among participants identified as having a risk factor, 91% took some form of action after the check.
The five-minute checks were conducted using SiSU Health Stations and measured blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI and type 2 diabetes risk, as well as providing an estimated “heart age”.
The program was launched in 2023 with founding partner Latrobe Health Services and health partner Diabetes Australia, with checks offered at sporting and community events, workplaces, and selected pharmacies.
Related
The survey found 78% of participants felt better able to take proactive steps to prevent serious health problems after undergoing a check, rising to 84% among those with a risk factor.
Just over half believed the check had improved their health, while 39% described it as the single most important thing they had done for their health in the previous 12 months.
The findings were stronger outside metropolitan areas. Sixty percent of regional participants believed the check had improved their health, compared with 52% overall, while 43% regarded it as their most important health action of the previous year.
Cost was an important driver of participation, with the fact that the checks were free identified as the primary motivation, followed by curiosity about personal health.
Regional participants particularly valued the checks where healthcare services were harder to access and were more likely to report improving their diet and arranging follow-up healthcare after screening.
The milestone was reached as clinicians, researchers, and people living with diabetes gathered in Melbourne for the biennial IDF Western Pacific Region Congress, held alongside the Australasian Diabetes Congress and Metabolic Diseases 2026.
Diabetes Australia CEO Justine Cain said an estimated 215 million people across the Western Pacific region were living with diabetes, while about 500,000 Australians were estimated to have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.
Ms Cain said the half-million health checks demonstrated the role community screening and prevention could play in improving health outcomes.
“Reaching half a million Shane Warne Legacy health checks is a remarkable achievement and a powerful reflection of Shane Warne’s enduring legacy,” she said.
“To reach this milestone at an event focused on diabetes is especially meaningful, demonstrating the impact that awareness and early detection can have in improving health outcomes in communities across Australia and beyond.”
Mr Watson, a former teammate and friend of the cricketing legend who died in 2022 from a suspected heart attack at the age of 52, said encouraging people to understand their risk factors was particularly important to him.
“Shane [Warne] would have been so proud of the impact that’s being achieved through these health checks,” he said.
“I have a history of type 2 diabetes in my family, so encouraging people to get a free health check and understand their risk factors is something that’s very close to my heart.”
Latrobe Health Services CEO Ian Whitehead said the survey findings suggested reducing barriers to screening could translate into subsequent health action.
“When barriers to health screening are removed, people engage with the screening and act on their results,” he said.
“Shane Warne Legacy Health Checks are helping more Australians understand their health, act on potential risks sooner, and take meaningful steps towards a healthier future.”
The post Warne checks prompt health action appeared first on Medical Republic.
Add Comment