The National Heart Foundation of Australia (known as the Heart Foundation) is an independent charity

Charitable organization

A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...

 established in 1959. Its vision is for Australians to have the best cardiovascular health in the world and its mission is to reduce suffering and death from heart, stroke

Stroke

A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...

 and blood vessel disease in Australia.

Over the past five decades, the Heart Foundation has championed the heart health of all Australians by funding world-class cardiovascular research, supporting health professionals in their practice, developing health promotion activities, informing and educating the public, and assisting people with cardiovascular disease.

While the work of the Heart Foundation has helped to reduce the number of deaths, cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease

Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...

 (heart, stroke and blood vessel disease) remains one of Australia’s most devastating health problems. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounted for nearly 34 per cent of all deaths in 2008. This translates to one person dying from CVD on average every 11 minutes. Heart disease is the leading single cause of death with more than 23,600 Australian lives lost to the disease in 2008.

The Heart Foundation has offices in each state and territory.

Supporting and informing

The Heart Foundation helps people with, and at risk of, cardiovascular disease by providing comprehensive information and guidance on how to minimise their risk. Annually, the organisation distributes more than 1.3 million heart health brochures. Each year, the Heart Foundation’s information service (ph: 1300 36 27 87) and its website www.heartfoundation.org.au provides heart health information to thousands of Australians.

Partnerships

The Heart Foundation supports and works with all levels of government, other health organisations, the media and community groups to implement policies and programmes that improve the cardiovascular health of Australians. This includes programmes on cardiovascular health risks such as smoking or physical inactivity, through to recovery and rehabilitation.

Improving care

To ensure that people diagnosed with cardiovascular disease receive the best possible care, the Heart Foundation takes the latest research and creates practical treatment tools for health practitioners. The Heart Foundation works to bridge gaps in care through programmes specifically targeting those Australians at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Building healthy communities

The Heart Foundation supports local governments that change neighbourhoods to create healthier communities. Initiatives by councils, such as building cycleways and upgrading walking paths are eligible for Heart Foundation Local Government Awards (to be renamed Heart Foundation Healthy Community Awards in 2011).

Promoting awareness

Through community education campaigns and media activities, the Heart Foundation promotes lifestyle changes to improve the heart health of Australians. Recent examples include the Warning Signs campaign, which raises awareness of the symptoms of a heart attack and of the need to phone 000 so that sufferers can get early treatment to have the best chance for survival.