Advocating for Change in
Cardiac Care
Breanna Ellis
Health Director
Heart Foundation Northern Territory
©2016 National Heart Foundation of Australia
Heart Foundation Northern Territory
The Heart Foundation aims to strengthen the prevention, diagnosis and
treatment of Rheumatic Heart Disease.
Heart disease continues to be the single biggest killer of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander People, who continue to die from this disease at
far greater rates than non-Indigenous Australians.
Heart Foundation was a strong advocate for the National RHD Strategy,
which in 2007 the incoming Federal Labour Government adopted based
on Heart Foundation policy asks leading into the 2007 Federal Election.
©2016 National Heart Foundation of Australia
Heart Foundation And RHD
• ‘For All Hearts 2013-2017’
Goal 3 focuses of Health
Equity.
• The Heart Foundation
wants to address
disparities in heart health
so that all Australian can
live longer and healthier
lives.
©2016 National Heart Foundation of Australia
Heart Foundation and RHD advocacy
• In the lead up to the 2016 Federal
Budget the Heart Foundation advocated
strongly for the continuation of the
National Partnership Agreement on
rheumatic fever strategy.
• These measures maintained and
expanded the existing state based
registers and programs that focused on
ARF and RHD
• Heart Foundation election policy 'ask'
focused on closing the gap on RHD.
$10m over the next three years.
• Federal Government seems to indicate
that the RHD initiative is on-going,
though current funding runs to June
2017.
©2016 National Heart Foundation of Australia
Heart Foundation and RHD advocacy
• Heart Foundation was a funding partner in the
development of the ‘Take Heart’ Movie.
• ‘Take Heart’ was launched at the Northern Territory
Parliament House in March 2016.
• Heart Foundation worked closely with the makers of the
movie on an advocacy document
http://www.takeheart.tv/news/why-we-made-this-movie/
• AMA will soon be launching its annual Indigenous Health
Report, which this year will focus on RHD. The Heart
Foundation have been consulted throughout its
development.
©2016 National Heart Foundation of Australia
Heart Foundation and RHD advocacy
Where to next…..
• The Heart Foundation continues to work closely with RHD
Australia to champion the need for a greater and ongoing
focus of ARF and RDH.
• In the Northern Territory we are currently working with key
stakeholders on a number of fronts looking at how we can
bring the Social Determinants of Health front and centre
to all levels of government.
• This is crucial work if we wish to see any further traction
in terms of closing the gap on RHD
©2016 National Heart Foundation of Australia
Heart Foundation and RHD advocacy
Where to next…..
• Through our Health Ambassador program we are trying to
ensure that RHD is clearly in the minds of all Health
Professionals working in the NT. Our Health
Ambassador’s are often our best and strongest voices in
the community.
• The Heart Foundation will continue to work with the NT
Health Minister and encourage the new Government to
be strong leaders in addressing the gaps not only in
healthcare but housing, infrastructure, transport,
education and employment.
©2016 National Heart Foundation of Australia
Heart Foundation and RHD advocacy
Where to next…..
• The Heart Foundation continues to work with the media to
ensure that the rest of Australia are aware the issues of
social disadvantage and ARF /RHD.
• Importantly we are advocating for improved cardiac care
for all Territorians. The Heart Foundation would like to
see all Territorians receive secondary care that is
evidence based, measurable, culturally appropriate and
improves the health outcomes for people.
• This includes appropriate cardiac rehabilitation.
©2016 National Heart Foundation of Australia
Heart Foundation and RHD advocacy
Where to next…..
• Heart Foundation continues to work in the media space to
ensure that the rest of Australia are aware of this issue.
• Importantly we are advocating for improved cardiac care
for all Territorians. The Heart Foundation would like to
see all Territorians receive secondary care that is
evidence based, measurable, culturally appropriate and
improves the health outcomes for people.
• This includes appropriate cardiac rehabilitation.
©2016 National Heart Foundation of Australia
©2016 National Heart Foundation of Australia
Thankyou
Breanna Ellis
Health Director
Heart Foundation
[email protected]
89822700
©2016 National Heart Foundation of Australia
©2016 National Heart Foundation of Australia