Sustaining What Works: Ensuring CVD Prevention Programs Last to Prevent Heart Disease

Associate Professor Nicole Nathan, The University of Newcastle

Future Leader Fellowship

Years funded: 2026 - 2029

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT Every year, governments invest millions of dollars in heart disease prevention programs in schools, early childhood education (ECEC), workplaces, and sporting clubs. These programs help people build healthy habits—such as eating well, staying active, and avoiding smoking—to lower their risk of heart disease. However, research shows that only 23% of these programs continue beyond two years. When programs stop, money is wasted, communities lose access to important health benefits, and future prevention efforts are weakened.

WHAT I WILL DO I am working to ensure these programs last, so they continue helping people stay healthy for years to come. My research will:

1. Find out what helps programs last by (i) reviewing global research and (ii) surveying schools, ECEC, and sporting clubs across Australia to understand the key factors that influence program sustainment.

2. Learn from past programs by analysing long-term data from large-scale heart disease prevention programs in schools, ECEC, workplaces, and sporting clubs to see why some programs succeed while others fade away.

3. Test ways to improve program sustainment by undertaking research trials in ECEC and secondary schools to identify the best strategies for keeping programs running long-term.

WHAT IMPACT WILL THIS HAVE? For prevention programs to make a real difference and improve heart health, they need to be in place for the long term, not just for a few years. My research will provide practical solutions for policymakers, health professionals, and community groups to help keep effective programs in place. By understanding what makes programs last, we can ensure that more people benefit from long-term health initiatives that lower their risk of heart disease. Sustaining these programs will also maximise government investment, improve community health, and reduce pressure on the healthcare system.

HOW WILL FINDINGS BE SHARED? To make sure these findings lead to real change, I am working closely with policymakers, health professionals, and community members. The research is being co-designed with the people who run and use these programs, so the solutions will be practical and easy to apply. Findings will be shared through policy briefings, government reports, and training programs, as well as in consumer-friendly formats such as plain-language summaries, infographics, and media articles. By embedding these findings into policy and practice, this work will help build stronger, longer-lasting heart disease prevention programs that will protect community health for generations to come.