Members of WA Parliament (MPs) and staff gathered at WA Parliament House in November for a landmark Heart Foundation event aimed at addressing cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in Australia.
The event highlighted recent strides in Australia’s heart health landscape. This includes a $13.7 million investment by the Heart Foundation to support cardiovascular research projects and a new Catalyst Partnership Grant program.
With 10 West Australian lives being claimed by cardiovascular disease each day and costing the WA healthcare system around $1.3 billion every year, WA General Manager of the Heart Foundation explained the importance of investing in vital research.
“In addition to our traditional research grants, this exciting new grant program, open to all sectors and all levels of expertise, has allowed us to explore and pursue big, bold, and scalable ideas that will help improve cardiovascular health now and into the future,” Dr Viola told Business News.
With cardiovascular disease being the most expensive chronic health condition in Australia, Dr Viola highlighted that investing in cardiovascular research was a ‘smart investment’ that would help reduce the burden of the disease on West Australians and the WA economy.
“A 2016 Deloitte review on cardiovascular research in Australia estimated that for every dollar invested, there is a return of around $10 in economic benefit, derived from improved health outcomes that lead to reduced healthcare costs, increased workforce participation, and enhanced productivity,” she explained.
Dr Viola told Business News that in addition to research investment, government and community support are vital in the fight against cardiovascular disease. She emphasised that collaborative efforts across all sectors help drive the policies, programs, and awareness needed to address the broader impact of the disease.
“The WA Parliament Heart Health event offered an opportunity for MPs to explore ways they could support heart health initiatives in their own communities and discuss local policy priorities for tackling cardiovascular disease and associated burden in Western Australia,” she said.
Free blood pressure and ECG checks, facilitated by Perth Cardiovascular Institute, encouraged proactive heart health management, while resources on healthy living were distributed to promote community engagement.
Dr Viola applauded the bipartisan attendance, saying, “The increasing interest from both sides of the political landscape indicates that when we work together, we can make a significant impact on heart health. Tackling heart disease requires collaborative leadership, and events like this showcase the power of such action in driving meaningful change for our communities.”
The presence of over 20 MPs and staff underscored growing momentum for heart health advocacy in WA, making the event a pivotal moment for policy and community action to improve heart health and help keep more families together for longer.
The Heart Foundation is currently seeking potential investors and collaborators with a desire to partner on Catalyst Partnership Grants to make a real difference to heart health in Western Australia and beyond.
Please contact helena.viola@heartfoundation.org.au for more information.
