.jpeg)
Follow your heart: The Heart Foundation launches campaign for key election policies
Media Release - 27 July 2020
The Heart Foundation is calling on Territorians to follow their hearts at this election and support the party with the best policies for your heart health.
The Heart Foundation has four key priorities:
- Reducing smoking by helping people quit and discouraging young people from taking it up (for example, banning smoking and vaping from school grounds).
- Investing in a Walking Strategy to get more people walking more often.
- Banning unhealthy food and drink ads aimed at young people in outdoor spaces
- Improving cardiac care and ensuring everyone can go to rehab services to help them recover after a heart event
The Northern Territory has the highest daily smoking rate in the country, and the second lowest levels of physical activity, with a staggering 83% of adults and 80% of children not meeting exercise guidelines.
Despite its relatively small population, the Territory has the highest aged-standardised rate of heart disease deaths in the nation. This suggests that people die from heart disease in the NT at a much younger age than elsewhere in Australia.
On average, sixteen Territorians are hospitalised for heart disease, heart attack or stroke every day.
Yet there is severe inequality when it comes to cardiac care in the Northern Territory.
“Increasing cardiac rehab offerings is one way of giving Territorians the best chance of recovering from a heart event and preventing readmission to hospital” said Imelda Lynch, the Heart Foundation’s NT CEO.
Describing the election as a critical opportunity to tackle Australia’s single biggest killer, heart disease, Heart Foundation NT Heart Health Manager Sarah George, encouraged all parties to take up the challenge.
“The Heart Foundation is presenting all political parties with clear, comprehensive and straight- forward measures to improve the heart health of every Territorian,” said Sarah George.
Appealing across party lines, Ms George called for an outcome to benefit Territorians.
“Whoever wins the coming election, the people of the Northern Territory deserve a Government that is up for the fight against Australia’s biggest killer, heart disease. These are just the policies to do that,” Ms George said.
Find out information about the Heart Foundation’s policies and the Follow Your Heart campaign.
Media enquiries
Fleur Jacobs, Media Adviser, Heart Foundation
M: 0427 591 638 E: fleur.jacobs@heartfoundation.org.au
Emily Goddard, Media Adviser, Heart Foundation
M: 0432 417 518 E: emily.goddard@heartfoundation.org.au
Time to book a Heart Health Check?
Time to book a Heart Health Check?
Time to book a Heart Health Check?
If you're 45 and over, or 30 and over if you're of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you should book your Heart Health Check today...
Heart Health Check Toolkit
Heart Health Check Toolkit
Together, we can change the future of heart disease
Together, we can change the future of heart disease
Together, we can change the future of heart disease
The power of your ongoing support can help save lives and keep more families together. Help us continue to fund promising heart research projects by donating today. ...
Health Professional Tools
Health Professional Tools
Health Professional Tools
Guidelines, publications and support for the health professional community....
Heart Week 2022
Heart Week 2022
Heart Week 2022
With one Australian having a heart attack or stroke every 4 minutes, you have the power to change this statistic. ...
Spring back to heart-healthy eating with these delicious tips
Spring back to heart-healthy eating with these delicious tips
Spring back to heart-healthy eating with these delicious tips
With spring sprung, now is the time to get back to heart-healthy eating. ...
Lunch recipes
Lunch recipes
Lunch recipes
Search our lunch recipe ideas...
Returning to work after a heart attack
Returning to work after a heart attack
Returning to work after a heart attack
Discover how to plan for your return to work....
Italian recipes
Italian recipes
Italian recipes
Find heart healthy Italian recipes....
Our strategy
Our strategy
Our strategy
Connecting Hearts Strategy 2021-2023...
What is angina?
What is angina?
What is angina?
Angina is a type of chest pain or discomfort that’s a symptom of an underlying heart problem, usually coronary heart disease (CHD)....
COVID-19 info & FAQs
COVID-19 info & FAQs
COVID-19 info & FAQs
Information and FAQs about COVID-19 and heart disease....
Key healthy eating messages for heart attack recovery
Key healthy eating messages for heart attack recovery
Key healthy eating messages for heart attack recovery
Eating healthy foods can help you recover and reduce your risk of more heart problems. ...
WEBINAR | Lipids in the limelight: clinical update on screening and management
WEBINAR | Lipids in the limelight: clinical update on screening and management
One pan Greek salmon bake
One pan Greek salmon bake
One pan Greek salmon bake
Beef recipes
Beef recipes
Beef recipes
Find heart healthy beef recipes....
Lipid management clinical information and resources
Lipid management clinical information and resources
Lipid management resources for health professionals...
Summer Salads Recipe Booklet
Summer Salads Recipe Booklet
Summer Salads Recipe Booklet
From quick and healthy weeknight options, to show-stopping share-plates sure to impress any barbecue guests this summer. Get your free copy now...
Moroccan vegetarian tray bake
Moroccan vegetarian tray bake
Moroccan vegetarian tray bake
WEBINAR | Absolute CVD risk assessment practical update
WEBINAR | Absolute CVD risk assessment practical update
A multidisciplinary panel of experts discuss the practical application of absolute CVD risk assessment through Heart Health Checks....
Salmon primavera spaghetti
Salmon primavera spaghetti
Salmon primavera spaghetti
For professionals: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples identification training
For professionals: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples identification training
Asking the Question of Origin course helps with identification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, in line with standard practice. ...
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment and management
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment and management
Absolute CVD risk assessment is an integrated approach that estimates the cumulative risk of multiple risk factors to predict a heart attack or stroke event in the next five years....
Medical tests for heart disease
Medical tests for heart disease
Medical tests for heart disease
Learn about the common tests your doctor may want you to have to diagnose your heart condition....
Heart stories
Heart stories
Heart stories
Stories of hope from Australian men and women fighting heart disease....
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: Heart Health Projects
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: Heart Health Projects
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: Heart Health Projects
Projects aimed at improving the heart health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples ...
What is a cardiac arrest?
What is a cardiac arrest?
What is a cardiac arrest?
With immediate help a cardiac arrest can be survived. Learn how to save a life....
Salad recipes
Salad recipes
Salad recipes
Search through our tasty salad recipes...
Chest x-ray for heart disease
Chest x-ray for heart disease
Chest x-ray for heart disease
This test can help your doctor determine if there is anything wrong with your heart....