Alex Homer

Since 2015, the TAL Community Foundation has contributed over $8 million and 21,000 volunteer hours to support Australian communities through genuine partnerships and employee-driven philanthropy.

To celebrate the milestone, TAL’s four Foundation partners have shared $100,000 in 10th Anniversary Grants.

TAL Chief Customer & Brand Officer and Community Foundation Chair, Alex Homer, said: “Ten years ago, we committed to extending TAL’s community impact by supporting organisations and initiatives making a real difference all over Australia. Whilst we’re proud of what we’ve achieved with our partners and TAL people so far, there’s more work ahead. Our ten-year anniversary marks a renewed commitment to continue this important work.”

The Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN), Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy (NASCA) and SANE collaborated with TAL employee teams and TAL digital transformation provider, Amazon Web Services (AWS), to pitch innovative solutions to a real-world challenge.

RFDS’s pitch secured $40,000 to extend their Guiding Rural Outback Wellbeing (GROW) program, which helps children in remote communities learn to grow nutritious food, laying the foundation for lifelong wellbeing. The other important initiatives each received $20,000.

RFDS Corporate Partnerships Manager, Josh Bamford, said: “We are so incredibly grateful for this continuing support and are delighted as part of the TAL Community Foundation 10th Anniversary celebrations to see this support extend to the GROW program in NSW.

“GROW’s mission is to build more connected and resilient communities. Through the support of the GROW Aquaponics Program, NSW communities will build confidence and learn practical skills with sustainable food production, STEM outcomes and a holistic wellbeing approach.”

A decade of community impact

Over the past decade, thousands of TAL employees have worked alongside partner organisations to create lasting impact through mentorship, volunteering, matched giving, and investment in community programs.

The TAL Community Foundation’s impact over the past decade includes:

• $8 million in total contributions and in-kind value to community causes, including $1.8 million directly raised through employee fundraising and Foundation matching
• 137 community charities supported, chosen by TAL employees
• 3,000+ TAL employee volunteer participation
• 21,000 volunteer hours contributed to community projects across Australia

Building more resilient communities, together

In its second decade, the Foundation is focused on working with its partners on scalable, innovative projects that create shared value and reach more Australians in need.

“Partnerships work best when they’re based on shared values. Looking forward, the TAL Community Foundation is focused on helping our partners expand the reach and impact of the incredible work they do in their communities, and backing initiatives that make a lasting difference,” said Mr Homer.

Alex Homer

Australian life insurer, TAL is pleased to announce a new three-year partnership with a leading authority in heart disease prevention and research funding, the Heart Foundation.

The partnership extends TAL’s Health for Life program which empowers people living in Australia to take charge of their health by staying informed, checking in and taking early action to detect and prevent potential health conditions.

The life insurer’s significant support of the Heart Foundation will help fund preventative programs, medical research and support for people living with heart disease.

Most heart attacks and strokes can be prevented with healthy choices. Around 99% of adults in Australia have one of six modifiable heart disease risk factors, while 54% have three or more^[1]. These include smoking tobacco, stress and high blood pressure or cholesterol.

Through early detection and management, and lifestyle changes to address these risk factors, many heart attacks and strokes can be prevented.

The partners’ ambition to reach millions of TAL’s customers and those at risk in the community with their heart health message includes targeting younger Australians whose decisions now can have a positive long-term impact on their heart health.

Heart Foundation CEO David Lloyd said, “What you do now can impact the health of your heart down the track. It’s never too early to start thinking about your risk factors for heart disease and taking small actions that can deliver a big gain for your health.”

“We share a goal to reach more people in Australia with the message of preventative health. By partnering with TAL, we’re able to reach millions of their customers with this important information,” said Mr Lloyd.

The partnership announcement coincides with the launch of the TAL HeartChecker campaign which features awareness initiatives, including the promotion of the Heart Age Calculator and heart health content and information resources developed by the Heart Foundation.

TAL Chief Customer and Brand Officer, Alex Homer said TAL’s partnership with the Heart Foundation would bolster Health for Life’s Health Living initiatives, focused on providing information and tools to help Australians live healthier lives through proactive and preventative healthcare.

“At TAL, we want to support better health for our customers and the community, at every stage of life. By partnering with the Heart Foundation, a leading authority with years of expertise, we can provide evidence-based tools and information to help more Australians improve their heart health.”

“TAL HeartChecker, supported by the Heart Foundation, takes heart health back to basics, making the information easy to understand – and easy to follow,” said Mr Homer.

Some fixed risk factors for heart disease include age, sex, ethnicity, and family history. However, people can reduce their risk by being active, not smoking, and managing high blood pressure and cholesterol.

4.5 million Australians are living with cardiovascular disease. Conditions of the circulatory system, including heart attack and stroke, are responsible for 9% of TAL’s claims – and the largest proportion of death claims (55%).

During the last financial year, TAL delivered targeted preventative health services through Health for Life, including health screening tool Health Scout and online mental health service Headlight to over 260,000 Australians.

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Ally Morphett

TAL, the official Life Insurance Partner of the AFLW, has announced new initiatives supporting athletes on and off the field through the TAL Assister Program.

Launched in 2023, the program compliments TAL’s partnership with the AFLW, supporting AFLW players through sponsorship, flexible career opportunities and positive engagement. It includes sponsorship of AFLW doctors and physios providing on-field support, and of Workplay, powered by John Holland, to assist players build successful off-field careers. TAL is also funding a new career mentoring program.

This year, TAL has collaborated with AFLW athletes who have shared stories in a film celebrating the people whose off-field assists have made them the players they are today.

“It’s often the small, everyday acts of support that help us be our best,” said Hawthorn FC Captain, Emily Bates, who features in the TAL Assister film alongside GIANTS player, Aliesha Newman and Sydney Swans player, Ally Morphett.

TAL Chief Customer and Brand Officer Alex Homer said the TAL Assister Program is aligned with TAL’s focus of helping Australians to be well protected and supported in building a life for themselves and their families.

“In sport, an assist symbolises teamwork and enabling others to shine. What we wanted to highlight in this campaign – and what we heard from AFLW players – is while an assist on the field is one thing, in life, it can often mean so much more,” Mr Homer said.

This year, the TAL Assister Program will also fund 12 scholarships for emerging AFLW talent to receive bespoke leadership training dedicated to empowering emerging talent to reach their full potential by embracing their experiences and skills learned through sport.

“Our goal is to play a part in helping AFLW players to achieve in their careers, on and off the field,” said Mr Homer.

TAL’s three-year partnership with the code commenced in 2023, with sponsorship agreements with the AFLW, as well as with the Sydney Swans, GIANTS and Hawthorn FC AFLW teams.

TAL is an employer partner of Workplay, with several flexible employment opportunities available to AFLW players on the platform. Workplay addresses challenges facing many athletes, connecting them to flexible employment, education and career opportunities.

Alex Homer

Leading Australian life insurer, TAL, has launched TAL SpotChecker 2023 for the eighth consecutive year, designed to encourage and enable more Australians to embrace skin safety.

Since the inception of the TAL SpotChecker program in 2016, TAL has been working to empower people with greater understanding about the value of preventative health – particularly within the context of skin cancer.

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with 2 in 3 Australians anticipated to be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the age of 70, according to the Cancer Council of Australia^[1].

TAL’s research^[2] finds most people continue to underestimate the prevalence of skin cancer, with less than 1 in 4 (23%) aware of this figure, despite 69% being concerned they will develop skin cancer themselves.

Alex Homer, TAL Chief Customer and Brand Officer, said “TAL cares deeply about the health and wellbeing of all Australians. We are focused on playing our part in helping people live a healthy and full life, and we do that by seeking to bridge the gap between awareness and action.

“TAL is committed to generating meaningful and impactful ways for our customers, partners, and the broader Australian community to engage with TAL SpotChecker. Now in our eighth year, we are highlighting a renewed message around protection and prevention to capture the public’s attention, drive attitudinal change, and most importantly change behaviours and preventative action around skin safety.”

Dr Priya Chagan, TAL General Manager of Health Services, said “The incidence of skin cancer remains alarmingly high. As a specialist life insurer with a dedicated in-house Health Services team, TAL is uniquely placed to help Australians live a life as full as possible through good health.

“Secondary prevention in the form of regular self-checks and professional skin checks, where there is a concern, is the only way to ensure early detection. By placing emphasis on people knowing their skin and recognising any changes to it over time, in addition to the typical sun safety precautions, we can ensure that people can feel more confident about their time in the sun.

The insights from the TAL SpotChecker research over the last seven years show a slight uptick in people self-checking their skin for signs of skin cancer, however there are still 1 in 5 (19%) Australians who have never done a self-check of their skin, and 38% who either have not done a check within the last three months or cannot remember when their last one was.

Dr Chagan adds “We take a holistic approach to health and wellbeing to protect and support our customers, and through TAL SpotChecker we will continue to educate more Australians around the incidence of skin cancer and the importance of early detection.”

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[1] Cancer Council of Australia
[2] The survey was conducted by Edentify Pty Ltd on behalf of TAL, in October 2023, with a sample of 1,000 respondents in Australia aged 18-65+ years old

Alex Homer

Leading Australian life insurer, TAL, has launched a new brand campaign, ‘Whatever Life Holds’, portraying the defining moments – the highlights and the challenges – experienced by Australians throughout life.

TAL Chief Customer & Brand Officer Alex Homer said that the campaign, created by BMF and produced by Finch, captures the breadth and beauty of Australian life, alongside the unpredictable moments that make up the good days, the tough days, and all those in between.

“’Whatever Life Holds’ is also a reflection of TAL’s deep commitment to delivering for our five million customers. Central to that is paying claims and providing support during their most challenging times – whether they are recovering from an injury or illness or after the loss of a loved one,” said Homer.

Tom Hoskins, Creative Director, BMF said: “It’s the unpredictability of life that makes it truly beautiful. There are experiences we can control. Others we can’t. We show these defining moments, that often come and go in an instant, by treating them as beautiful moving portraiture, captured in the unique Australian sunlight that connects us all.”

‘Whatever Life Holds’ is the latest evolution in TAL’s brand platform which launched in 2016 with This Australian Life and Scars in 2019. The major campaign, which includes ads cut into 30-, and 15-second versions, will be supported by outdoor and digital.

The campaign ads will premiere during the 2023 NAB AFLW Finals Series this Saturday night.

Alex Homer

Leading Australian life insurer, TAL, has launched TAL SpotChecker 2022 with the aim of promoting the importance of skin safety, preventative health screening and early detection for overall health and wellbeing.

Now in its seventh year, TAL SpotChecker is a national skin safety awareness program designed to help more Australians understand how to self-check their skin, as well as access professional skin checks.

The incidence of skin cancer in Australia remains high with 2 in 3 Australians diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the age of 70, according to the Cancer Council of Australia’s Understanding Skin Cancer guide^[1].

The Cancer Council of Australia^[2] recommends adults check their own skin every three months and TAL’s research shows self-checking has declined in recent years. According to TAL research, the number of people who self-check their skin every 2-3 months decreased from 16% in 2018 to 14% in 2022.

TAL’s research ^[3] found that 72% of Australians would feel more confident in their protection against skin cancer if they were self-checking their skin regularly, however close to 1 in 4 (23%) never examine their skin for signs of skin cancer.

Alex Homer, TAL Chief Customer and Brand Officer, said: “We have conducted this research over time to better understand behaviour and sentiment in the Australian community regarding skin safety. We combine this with our preventative health expertise at TAL to provide relevant support for our partners, customers, and the broader Australian community on this important health matter.

“But there’s still more work to do in raising awareness around skin cancer prevention.  Through TAL SpotChecker, we will continue to help inform more Australians about the importance of prevention and early detection in achieving better health outcomes.”

Dr Priya Chagan, TAL General Manager of Health Services, said: “In addition to being more sun safe, such as wearing sunscreen and covering up, it’s equally as important for people to get to know their skin and what looks normal for them by engaging in regular self-checking, in addition to professional skin checks where there is a concern.

“TAL’s 2022 research found that over two thirds (67%) admit they should be self-checking their skin more often. But with 64% saying they don’t know how to self-check their skin, it’s clear there’s still more to be done to support people in committing to skin safety.

“At TAL, we want all our customers to enjoy the very best of life, which is why we encourage them to be proactive about their health and why we are committed to preventative health programs such as TAL SpotChecker,” Dr Priya Chagan concluded.

TAL SpotChecker launched at Manly Beach on 3-4 December 2022 offering free skin checks to the community. Over the past seven years, TAL has delivered 4,700 free professional skin checks to the Australian community across the country.

Alex Homer

Leading Australian life insurer, TAL, has launched TAL SpotChecker 2022 with the aim of promoting the importance of skin safety, preventative health screening and early detection for overall health and wellbeing.

Now in its seventh year, TAL SpotChecker is a national skin safety awareness program designed to help more Australians understand how to self-check their skin, as well as access professional skin checks.

The incidence of skin cancer in Australia remains high with 2 in 3 Australians diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the age of 70, according to the Cancer Council of Australia’s Understanding Skin Cancer guide^[1].

The Cancer Council of Australia^[2] recommends adults check their own skin every three months and TAL’s research shows self-checking has declined in recent years. According to TAL research, the number of people who self-check their skin every 2-3 months decreased from 16% in 2018 to 14% in 2022.

TAL’s research^[3] found that 72% of Australians would feel more confident in their protection against skin cancer if they were self-checking their skin regularly, however close to 1 in 4 (23%) never examine their skin for signs of skin cancer.

Alex Homer, TAL Chief Customer and Brand Officer, said: “We have conducted this research over time to better understand behaviour and sentiment in the Australian community regarding skin safety. We combine this with our preventative health expertise at TAL to provide relevant support for our partners, customers, and the broader Australian community on this important health matter.

“But there’s still more work to do in raising awareness around skin cancer prevention.  Through TAL SpotChecker, we will continue to help inform more Australians about the importance of prevention and early detection in achieving better health outcomes.”

Dr Priya Chagan, TAL General Manager of Health Services, said: “In addition to being more sun safe, such as wearing sunscreen and covering up, it’s equally as important for people to get to know their skin and what looks normal for them by engaging in regular self-checking, in addition to professional skin checks where there is a concern.

“TAL’s 2022 research found that over two thirds (67%) admit they should be self-checking their skin more often. But with 64% saying they don’t know how to self-check their skin, it’s clear there’s still more to be done to support people in committing to skin safety.

“At TAL, we want all our customers to enjoy the very best of life, which is why we encourage them to be proactive about their health and why we are committed to preventative health programs such as TAL SpotChecker,” Dr Priya Chagan concluded.

TAL SpotChecker launched at Manly Beach on 3-4 December 2022 offering free skin checks to the community. Over the past seven years, TAL has delivered 4,700 free professional skin checks to the Australian community across the country.

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Alex Homer

Leading life insurer TAL has launched the latest edition of the TAL SpotChecker Australian Skin Safety Report, with the aim of continuing to shine a light on Australians’ attitudes and approaches to preventative health and skin safety.

The 2021 report marks the sixth consecutive year of the TAL SpotChecker program, ^[1]   a national initiative aimed at reducing the impact of skin cancer by encouraging Australians to embrace skin safety and have regular skin checks with a qualified professional, as well as regularly self-checking at home.

Supporting the campaign, TAL has enhanced its online TAL SpotChecker information hub, which has been built as an educational resource aimed at encouraging and empowering Australians to engage with their skin health and embrace skin safety.

TAL Chief Customer and Brand Officer, Alex Homer, said: “The TAL SpotChecker program reflects our ongoing commitment to highlighting the importance of preventative health for our customers and the broader Australian community.

“Now in its sixth year, the annual TAL SpotChecker program and the 2021 edition of the TAL SpotChecker Skin Safety Report focus on driving continued awareness and providing information around skin safety,” he said.

 The latest TAL SpotChecker Australian Skin Safety Report revealed a quarter (25%) of Australians said the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented them from getting a skin check this year, while an additional 1 in 4 (24%) said the COVID-19 pandemic has distracted them from regularly self-checking their skin.

Commenting on the research, Dr Priya Chagan, TAL’s General Manager of Health Services, said in response to COVID-19, a large number of Australians have delayed getting relevant professional skin checks and are putting themselves at risk of skin cancer going undetected.

“The 2021 research found 29% of Australians have never had a professional skin check, and only 36% have had one in the last 12 months, while a further 19% of Australians admitted they never self-check for signs of skin cancer.

“Each year, TAL SpotChecker has aimed to contribute to the reduction of one of the country’s most common cancers, but it’s clear there is still a long way to go in raising awareness of the importance of prevention and detection of skin cancer.

“After a challenging year, once again characterised by the global COVID-19 pandemic, and as the nation continues to face concerningly high rates of skin cancer – with 2 in 3 Australians set to be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the age of 70 – it is crucial that Australians prioritise their health and understand the importance of prevention in living a healthy life,” said Dr Chagan.

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[1] https://www.tal.com.au/about-us/our-commitments/our-customers/health/tal-spotchecker/skin-cancer-early-detection

Priya Chagan

To further the conversation on preventative health, leading Australian life insurer, TAL, has launched the TAL SpotChecker Australian Skin Safety Report, which explores Australians’ attitudes and actions around skin safety and skin cancer.

The report marks the fifth year of TAL’s national skin safety awareness program: TAL SpotChecker. TAL SpotChecker aims to bridge the gap between awareness and action around skin safety by encouraging conversations around early detection, the importance of self-checking and getting regular, professional skin checks.

TAL Chief Customer and Brand Officer, Alex Homer, said TAL is committed to continuing to invest in initiatives that support preventative health and positive health outcomes for TAL’s customers and the broader Australian community.

“At TAL, we are committed to supporting preventative health and TAL SpotChecker is one of the ways we do this. The incidence of skin cancer in Australia remains alarmingly high, with 2 in 3 Australians diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the age of 70^[1]. Since 2016, we have been running our TAL SpotChecker initiative to encourage Australians to think more about their skin safety and encourage more skin checking.”

“Our TAL SpotChecker Australian Skin Safety Report reveals that while 97% of Australians say skin safety is important to them, more than two thirds (68%) haven’t had a skin check in the last year and Australians are getting progressively worse at self-checking their skin for signs of skin cancer.”

TAL Chief Medical Officer and General Manager of Health Services, Dr Priya Chagan, said there is a clear disconnect between Australians’ intentions when it comes to skin safety and the actions they are taking.

“It’s critical that Australians are regularly self-checking their skin so they can recognise any changes over time and maximise their chance of detecting skin cancer early. That way if they notice any sore, changing, abnormal or new spots, they can have it checked by a professional straight away. In addition to self-checking, it’s also important to get regular professional skin checks done by a GP, dermatologist or a skin cancer clinic.” 

As part of the TAL SpotChecker program, TAL has created a hub of online resources to educate more Australians on how to self-check and reduce, or in some cases help prevent, skin cancer spread through free resources along with options to help them get their own skin checked.

Since the launch of TAL SpotChecker in 2016, TAL has delivered more than 4,500 free professional skin checks across Australia along with resources to help Australians understand the importance of skin safety.

Read the report.

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[1] Cancer Council of Australia

Alex Homer

Leading Australian life insurer, TAL, has announced the extension of its partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) for a further three years, continuing to provide financial support to help them deliver life-improving medical services and expertise to Australians when they need it most, during COVID-19 and beyond.

TAL Chief Customer & Brand Officer, Alex Homer, said, “The RFDS provides vital services for the regional communities it serves and we’re really pleased to be able to continue our support and partnership with them for another three years.

“TAL will work with the RFDS to support and promote their health care services and expertise provided across regional Australia, including education around health. This support for people in regional Australia is even more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

During the pandemic, the RFDS continues to provide vital emergency medical and primary health care services to rural and remote Australia. Between 2 February and 12 June 2020, the RFDS helped 517 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19^[1].

“TAL and the RFDS both have proud histories of being there for Australians when they need us most. By combining our resources and expertise, TAL and the RFDS can make a real difference for each other and the Australian families we support,” Mr Homer said.

RFDS Federation Executive Director, Frank Quinlan, said, “We want to thank TAL for their ongoing support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service as a National Community partner.

“We are excited to have the support and assistance of TAL staff, customers and supporters to provide better health access for those that live in rural and remote Australia.”

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Alex Homer

Leading Australian life insurer, TAL, has announced the extension of its partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) for a further three years, continuing to provide financial support to help them deliver life-improving medical services and expertise to Australians when they need it most, during COVID-19 and beyond.

TAL Chief Customer & Brand Officer, Alex Homer, said, “The RFDS provides vital services for the regional communities it serves and we’re really pleased to be able to continue our support and partnership with them for another three years.

“TAL will work with the RFDS to support and promote their health care services and expertise provided across regional Australia, including education around health. This support for people in regional Australia is even more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

During the pandemic, the RFDS continues to provide vital emergency medical and primary health care services to rural and remote Australia. Between 2 February and 12 June 2020, the RFDS helped 517 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19^[1].

“TAL and the RFDS both have proud histories of being there for Australians when they need us most. By combining our resources and expertise, TAL and the RFDS can make a real difference for each other and the Australian families we support,” Mr Homer said.

RFDS Federation Executive Director, Frank Quinlan, said, “We want to thank TAL for their ongoing support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service as a National Community partner.

“We are excited to have the support and assistance of TAL staff, customers and supporters to provide better health access for those that live in rural and remote Australia.”

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