Heart health will be achievable by everyone in Australia by 2050

Eight guiding principles will inform the Heart Foundation’s contribution to this vision.

We will invest in research, innovation, and translation into policy and practice

We will continue to invest in research and innovation to deepen our understanding of how to advance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart disease. Building on past successes, we will fund a strategic research portfolio that evolves with this 25-year vision, ensuring that research aligns with identified priorities. Our focus will be on translating research into real-world impact, guiding clinical practice, advocacy, policy, and program development. By strengthening the link between research and action, we will advance prevention, early detection, and the effective management of heart disease across all ages.

We will collaborate with partners and supporters to fight heart disease and promote heart health

We will continue to work with donors and partners to identify and fund critical research and innovations to fight heart disease and promote heart health. We will increase the practical value of our research funding year-on-year. New, innovative programs such as the Catalyst Partnership Grants will engage non-traditional funders, such as impact investment and venture capital. We will collaborate with the corporate sector where our shared goals align, advocating for a healthier Australian population.

We will be relevant and useful to people of all ages

We will fund research into early life causes of heart disease and ensure that insights from this research are published and translated into policies and programs. We will develop strategies to reach and influence younger age groups and their parents, including children, teens, and young adults. We will ensure that we offer reliable and authoritative information for people of all ages.

We will address heart health equity

We will identify initiatives and programs that address inequities in access and outcomes brought about by wider social and economic determinants of health. This work will take the Heart Foundation far beyond our traditional remit, calling out the social, economic, environmental, cultural, and commercial determinants of health. This suggests a more wide-ranging advocacy agenda than we have traditionally had, and will see us collaborate with community, consumers, people with a lived experience, non-government organisations, corporate, and other groups who are also interested in addressing these issues.

We will address system and population-level drivers of heart disease

We will speak openly about critical issues affecting heart health and the need for policies that support heart health. We will address issues such as obesity, vaping and tobacco use, access to services and medication, urban design, air pollution, environmental health, and the likely significant impacts of climate change on heart health. We will collaborate with partners in the development of the system-level policy improvements required to address the social, economic, environmental, and cultural determinants of health and wellbeing. We will work with and support other organisations with aligned interests to amplify our calls-to-action and drive positive policy outcomes.

We will act as a catalyst for improvements in heart health

We will bring together consumers, clinicians, politicians, researchers, people with lived experience, and the wider community to share priorities, research, and data. Through this, we will connect research and policy agendas to address gaps in knowledge and evidence, as well as enable the translation of research into policy and practice. We will provide a forum to showcase and discuss big issues and bold ideas. Our international connections will help to bring the best ideas from around the world to bear on Australia’s fight against heart disease and the promotion of heart health.

We will help people to manage heart disease alongside other chronic health conditions

We will address the complex relationship between heart disease and other chronic health conditions by focusing on overall health and wellbeing, recognising that heart health is foundational to broader positive health outcomes. We will collaborate with organisations focused on other chronic conditions, as well as with community, consumer, and corporate partners, designing, testing, and implementing initiatives across all stages of prevention.

We will continue to be a trusted source of evidence-based information on heart health in Australia

We will ensure that people living in Australia are able to rely on the Heart Foundation to provide accurate and up-to-date resources and information on heart health. We will actively counter mis- and disinformation. We will continue to be a trusted, authoritative source of evidence-based knowledge, ensuring that all people in Australia can access clear and understandable information on promoting heart health and preventing heart disease.