Resources for healthcare professionals

Healthcare professionals play an essential role in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of cardiovascular disease. Our evidence-based guidelines, tools and resources support you to provide best practice cardiovascular care to your patients.

Clinical guidelines 

The Heart Foundation, often in partnership with the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ), develops high quality, evidence-based clinical guidelines for a range of cardiovascular conditions.

Our guidelines are co-developed with healthcare professionals and consumers to ensure the guidance is relevant and meets the needs of the Australian community.

Find links to our published guidelines, and relevant tools and resources, below.

2020  Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) - (Guideline developed by RHD Australia and shared with permission) 

2018  Heart failure

2018  Atrial fibrillation  

2016  Hypertension  

2016  Acute coronary syndromes (currently being updated by the Heart Foundation in partnership with the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand) 

2012  Absolute cardiovascular disease risk (currently being updated by the Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance)

Explore our Heart Health Check toolkit, developed to support general practices to implement absolute cardiovascular disease risk assessment as part of routine patient care. You can also view our lipid management information and resources. 

Smart Heart Guidelines App 

Access the Heart Foundation and CSANZ clinical guidelines on atrial fibrillation, acute coronary syndromes and heart failure via our Smart Heart Guidelines App. Download for free from the AppStore and GooglePlay.

Position and consensus statements

The Heart Foundation position and consensus statements provide recommendations based on the latest evidence, on specific aspects of cardiovascular care in the Australian context.

Find links to our position and consensus statements, including relevant tools and resources, below.

2021 Coronary artery calcium scoring for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in Australia   

2020 Position statement on cardiac rehabilitation: Face-to-face and telehealth delivery options

2020 Cardiovascular disease and COVID-19: Australian/New Zealand consensus statement  

2020 Cardiovascular disease risk assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged under 35 years

View our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples information and resources for healthcare professionals.

2013 Screening, referral and treatment for depression in patients with coronary heart disease  

Nutrition position statements and nutrition evidence summaries and reviews, on topics such as heart healthy eating patterns, meat, eggs, dairy, salt and alcohol. 

Physical activity guidelines, position statements and resources.

We have also developed information and resources specific to women and heart disease. 

The Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance (ACDPA) brings together five non-government health organisations to prevent chronic disease in Australia. As a member of ACDPA, the Heart Foundation contributes to the development of numerous position statements on topics including obesity and chronic disease, alcohol taxation, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Find out more about the ACDPA and access their position statements.

Helpline (13 11 12)

Our Helpline is a free telephone service providing information, guidance and support to help people improve their heart health. Every call is answered by a qualified healthcare professional and callers can discuss anything related to cardiovascular disease. The Helpline operates from 8.30am to 5.30pm Australian Central Standard Time, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.

Heart Health Network newsletter

The Heart Health Network is the Heart Foundation’s newsletter for healthcare professionals, delivered to your inbox once a month.

Sign up to the newsletter

Health Professional Ambassador Program 

Every year we look for a group of passionate healthcare professionals to take part in our Health Professional Ambassador program. 

The program involves 3-5 full day workshops, depending on your location, and a commitment to deliver a project in your workplace to improve cardiac care.

You’ll develop an understanding of the Heart Foundation’s work, learn about the latest evidence on cardiovascular disease and build your professional networks.

There’s no cost, plus you can earn CPD points! 

Find out more here


_{Last reviewed on 23/07/21}