Directly sourced from
Developing personal skills
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Mass media campaigns to raise awareness of risk factors for CVD.
For example the “pick the tick” campaign.
- School and workplace education programs
- Distribution of Pamphlets
- National heart week promotional activities
- Establishing and maintaining support groups, such as low impact exercise groups for people at risk of CVD.
Heart Foundation of Australia- :
Provides Support and education programs promoting prevention strategies which are available to all people with existing Cardiovascular disease and also to communities at higher risk including Aboriginal People and Torres Strait Islanders and those in rural and remote areas. As well as comprehensive tobacco, physical activity and nutritional programs to educate the public, aiming to reduce the incidence of Cardiovascular disease and obesity.
The open heart association
The Hunter Region Open Heart Association is made up of members who have undergone heart surgery themselves or have been involved as carers, hospital staff. Provides support to ensure the wellbeing of heart patients during their surgery as well as their successful recovery and improved quality of life
National Stroke Foundation- :
Provides programs to Educate the public about the risk factors and signs of stroke and promoting healthy lifestyles. As well as encouraging the development of comprehensive and coordinated services for all stroke survivors and their families
Creating supportive environment
- Healthy canteens
- Labeling of fat and sugar content on food packaging
- Free cholesterol and blood pressure check ups at local shopping centers and in workplaces
- Targeted education for aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare- :
Doctor:
Information on Cardiovascular disease can also be accessed on a local level through individual’s doctor or local hospital
NSW Healthy School Canteens Strategy: This was developed in light of the NSW Government Childhood Obesity Summit in 2002. It involves a mandatory healthy school canteen framework that ensures all Government schools provide a canteen service that offers healthy and nutritious food consistent with the national dietary guidelines. It also grades the nutritional value of foods and categorizes them into sections, with sale of foods in the red range to be strictly limited. This aims to reduce the numbers of obese children and decrease the likelihood of children developing bad eating habits and in turn Cardiovascular disease.
Eat Well NSW: The aim of Eat Well NSW is to provide better health for all people in NSW through effective and focused public health action to promote healthy eating and good nutrition. This aims to create healthier lifestyles for individuals and reduce the rate of obesity and cardiovascular disease in Australia. The public health nutrition priorities identified for action in NSW in 2003-2007 are:
- promoting healthy weight
- promoting increased consumption of vegetables
- and fruit
- promoting breastfeeding
- achieving improved food security
- Achieving effective and sustainable action in public health nutrition.
Strengthening community action
- Free cholesterol and blood pressure check ups at local shopping centers and in workplaces
- Jump rope for heat to raise funds for CVD research and activities
- Community exercise groups
- Collaboration between schools, health services and parents.
Heart Support Australia- :
Provides, in collaboration with medical practitioners, allied health professionals and community organizations, support, education and an organized approach to enhance the quality of life for Australian families affected by Cardiovascular disease and heart conditions.
Jump Rope for Heart: This a Heart Foundation program which encourages school aged children to be physically active as well as raise money for heart research. Jump Rope for Heart is a beneficial initiative in teaching children about the importance of physical activity and heart health in an exciting manner.
Supportive Environments for Physical Activity (SEPA): This is an initiative of the Heart Foundation that aims to focus attention on the factors that either restrain or encourage people to lead healthy, socially engaged and physically active lives. The desired outcome is an environment that supports all individuals of all capacities, to be out and about in their neighborhoods, cities and towns.
Reorienting health services
- GPs offer support and advice to any patient who presents potential risk factors
- Visits to schools workplaces by organizations’ such as the heart foundation and active Australia.
- Increased services targeted groups at risk
- Private health insurance subscribers can receive partial refunds when using alternative therapies.
Heart Foundation of Australia- :
The Heart Foundation's purpose is to improve the heart health of Australians and to reduce disability and death from heart, stroke and blood vessel disease. There mission is to help Australians to have the best Cardiovascular health in the world and is funded almost entirely by donations from Australians.
National Stroke Foundation- http://www.strokefoundation.com.au/
The National Stroke Foundation is aiming to save 110,000 Australians from death and disability over the next 10 years. This be will achieved by using evidence based research and educating the community about stroke, risks, causes and prevention.
World Health Organization- :
This site addresses the epidemic of Cardiovascular diseases on a global level. It provides information and advice on why cardiovascular diseases occur and how they can prevented. As well as detailing a CVD risk management process. Cardiovascular Diseases Program is a key activity within the WHO Department of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion.
National Centre for Monitoring Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes: The National Centre for Monitoring Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes is funded by the Commonwealth Government within the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The Centre was established to focus on monitoring cardiovascular disease, but has since expanded to include diabetes. Monitoring systems cover aspects of prevention, treatment, management and mortality for certain cardiovascular conditions, and its incidence in specific population groups.
Building Healthy public policy
- Food Approval program- Pick the tick
- Clean Air policies
- National physical activity guidelines.
The Heart Foundation’s Tick Program:
A self-funded, public health program administered through the Heart Foundation of Australia. The initiative aims to assist people to make healthier food choices and to encourage manufacturers to reformulate and produce healthier products. Approved foods are lower in saturated fat, sodium and where appropriate, kilojoules and sometimes higher in fiber.
National Heart Week: An annually program event which aims to raise research funds and community awareness about Cardiovascular disease especially heart disease and stroke. Heart Week 2005 focused particularly on increasing community awareness about the risk of cardiovascular disease and what you can do to improve your own heart health.
Healthy School Communities: As part of the Australian Government's Building a Healthy, Active Australia, grants are available to fun programs to help schools, families and children put into practice messages about healthy eating. This education will include the importance of Good nutrition and its contribution to good health and academic achievement. A healthy diet and physical activity are essential to maintaining a healthy body weight for children and reducing the chances of developing heart disease and diabetes later in life.
Eat Smart, Play Smart: The Heart Foundation have created this initiative to encourage the development of healthy eating and physical activity habits in children and to reinforce these habits in adolescents. It aims to stop children from adopting behaviors and risk factors that may lead to heart disease such obesity, physically inactivity and high blood cholesterol.
Active Australia: Active Australia is a collaborative strategy between government departments and the private sector in relation to physical activity. Its main function is to provide a national participation framework for all sport, recreation and everyday physical activities across Australia. Active Australia aims to encourage people of all ages, gender, skill levels and ability to participate in physical activity. This will help to reduce the number of inactive Australians and subsequently reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.