Medical scientists from Flinders University’s International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing will be at booths during this weekend’s AFL Gather Round to conduct vital cholesterol and diabetes checks.

As part of a South Australian Government initiative to provide free heart and diabetes checks at the popular sporting event, Flinders University is joining SiSU Health and The Shane Warne Legacy to raise awareness of cardiovascular and metabolic health and associated risks.

The aim is to test 9,000 attendees across the four days in booths located at Adelaide Oval, Elder Park, Norwood Oval and Mount Barker.

Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling says the University is proud to kick some goals for community health by offering free, on-the-spot cholesterol and diabetes checks at 12 point-of-care testing stations situated around the SA venues hosting AFL games.

“With just one small finger prick, we can screen for heart health and diabetes, and deliver a result in less than 10 minutes,” says Professor Stirling.

“For more than 20 years, Flinders University has provided accurate, convenient, and patient-focussed point-of-care testing across extensive networks comprising more than 200 regional and remote locations across Australia.”

The initiative was formally announced on Monday 1 April by The Honourable Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia, and Jackson Warne, son of cricketing legend Shane Warne, in honour of his father, who passed away suddenly from a heart attack at the age of 52. For more information about the announcement, read our newsblog here.