Victoria-based not-for-profit private health insurer Latrobe Health Services has partnered with Shane Warne Legacy and SiSU Health to expand the Shane Warne Legacy Health Check program across Australia, extending the initiative through 2026.
Latrobe, one of the top 10 private health insurance companies in Australia last year, said the partnership expansion is part of its annual community investment totalling $5 million. It has already facilitated more than 160,000 free health checks through this partnership.
This latest collaboration aims to deliver an additional 400,000 free health checks nationwide over the next two years, with a focus on early detection and preventive care.
It responds to heightened awareness of cardiovascular health following the sudden death of cricket legend Shane Warne in 2022.
Ian Whitehead, who has served as CEO of Latrobe Health Services since November 2018, emphasised that the program plays a critical role in improving access to health services, particularly in rural and regional communities where healthcare resources are often limited.
“Through our partnership with Shane Warne Legacy, we are helping the community gain free access to important health checks for critical early detection and prevention,” he said.
Noel Duncan, founder of SiSU Health, added: “We’re privileged to collaborate with forward-thinking organisations that share our belief in the power of screening, data, and technology to improve health outcomes. This initiative will undoubtedly have a positive impact on public health.”
Despite increased public interest in heart health, participation in Medicare-funded heart health checks remains low.
Data from Medicare indicated that less than 2% of eligible Australians underwent a heart health check between November 2022 and October 2023, with particularly low engagement among younger age groups.
“High blood pressure often presents no symptoms, leaving many people completely unaware of any issues. We’ve had numerous individuals take the test purely out of convenience, believing they had no health concerns, only to find themselves in the hospital receiving life-saving procedures,” said Shane Warne Legacy CEO Helen Nolan.
The Shane Warne Legacy Health Check program has seen significant uptake during major events, including the 2023 Boxing Day Test at the MCG and the AFL Gather Round in South Australia. More than 15,000 Australians participated in these events, underscoring the program’s potential to enhance public awareness and engagement in preventive health measures.
The health check program also aligns with Latrobe’s broader strategy of integrating community health initiatives with its insurance offerings.
The insurer’s Bronze Hospital plan, for instance, covers 18 of the 38 clinical categories defined under Australian law, including chemotherapy and gynaecology, providing comprehensive coverage that complements the preventive focus of the health check initiative.
In June 2022, Latrobe conducted a trial of 500 health checks as part of the Gippsland Healthy Hearts Study, in partnership with SiSU Health, Wesfarmers Health, and Novartis. The study, which revealed that 85.8% of participants had one or more cardiovascular disease risk factors, has since expanded to include an additional 2,500 health checks in regional and rural communities.
