Partner in focus: David Lloyd, CEO, Heart Foundation

Partner in focus shines a spotlight on an Information Partner’s challenges and what they have learned in their efforts to deliver better health to Australians.

We spoke with David Lloyd, CEO of the Heart Foundation, who explains the Heart Foundation’s vision, challenges and recent innovations.

What is the vision of the Heart Foundation?

The key vision of the Heart Foundation is to work towards an Australia free of heart disease. We acknowledge that this is an ambitious vision and, in reality, is very complicated. There will be a multitude of different responses required, such as early identification of risks, which we have been working on with the 2023 risk guidelines and CVD risk calculator. Our discovery agenda is focusing on the genetic predisposition for heart disease and strong communication strategies, so people learn and implement the fantastic work the Heart Foundation team are doing.

With such a big vision, we believe that even small successes can lead to improvements in the overall heart health and wellbeing of Australians and that is crucial in this fight against heart disease.

Over the years, our team and their work has made a major impact on the survival rates of individuals experiencing a heart attack and those living with heart disease. However, the organisation is determined to continue its efforts until heart disease is completely eradicated. We advocate for increased funding and resources from both governments and industry to address heart health issues effectively. By raising awareness through public health campaigns, accessible information and resources, we strive to educate the community and health professionals about living a heart-healthy lifestyle.

To achieve our vision, we rely on the support and passion of our supporters and generous donors across Australia. They fund the high-impact research, and support emerging and leading heart health researchers. By investing in research, we aim to advance the understanding of heart disease and develop innovative approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

What are some of the challenges you face?

One of the challenges in achieving an Australia free of heart disease is addressing the diverse set of factors involved and the preconceived ideas the Australian public has about these factors. These include tackling racial/ethnic and gender disparities, as well as the persistence of damaging lifestyle habits, the prevalence of overweight and obesity, and other heart disease risk factors. We need to take a multi-faceted approach involving population health initiatives, research and the education of healthcare workers and the Australian public themselves.

A large challenge we face is developing accessible strategies and programs to engage Australians and increase their participation, interest and support in maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle, including focusing on diet, access to affordable healthy food — especially in regional and remote regions — and physical activity.

Addressing rural and remote healthcare access issues is crucial, as these areas are often faced with critical workforce and service shortages. We need to make sure we create programs and initiatives that resonate with individuals from all cultures and all areas of Australia.

Can you explain one of your organisation's recent innovations?

One of the recent innovations of the Heart Foundation is Vision 2050, which is the development of a clear plan for long-term investments in heart health and the battle against heart disease. The vision is to ensure that Australians who turn 50 in 2050 have the lowest rates of heart disease and the least risk of dying from it compared to any previous generation.

This plan is based on the understanding that significant impact and change takes time. Over the past 50 years, incredible advances in cardiovascular disease have been achieved through decades of hard work. These include cutting-edge research, new drug development, advances in surgical procedures and imaging, as well as embedding health behaviour change in the health system. However, most grants and strategies are structures around short-term planning; we wanted to shake this up and focus on the future.

As change and impact takes time, we are giving it the time it needs. We aim to achieve our goals over a generation, rather than focusing on short-term outcomes.

But we understand this vision can’t be achieved alone. Our approach to Vision 2050 will be to think critically, consult widely and build a coalition of support across various sectors, including industry, community, government, and philanthropy.

We recognise the invaluable support of the network the Heart Foundation has gained, and the importance of working together with all the stakeholders who have supported us through the past 60 years. By looking ahead, the Heart Foundation is positioning itself to make a significant difference in reducing heart disease and improving heart health for future generations.

What is it about the partnership with Healthdirect Australia that is most valuable to you?

The partnership between the Heart Foundation and Healthdirect Australia is incredibly valuable for several reasons. The more avenues there are to provide Heart Foundation resources support and information to anyone who needs it will always be beneficial, and Healthdirect Australia is such a respected, trusted source.

We are hoping that with a greater level of exposure and direction to our resources, more people may book heart health checks, take prompt actions for any cardiac symptoms, and aim to try and change some lifestyle factors — all of which may ultimately improve heart health outcomes in Australia.