
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
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Join our community of fundraisers who are committed to taking action to fight heart disease....
How we fought heart disease in 2020
How we fought heart disease in 2020
How we fought heart disease in 2020
Everything we do is possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters. ...
Are you at risk of heart disease?
Are you at risk of heart disease?
Are you at risk of heart disease?
There is no single cause for any one heart condition, but there are risk factors that increase your chance of developing one. ...
Heart Foundation Recovery Support and Resources
Heart Foundation Recovery Support and Resources
Heart Foundation Recovery Support and Resources
Heart Foundation programs and resources to support your recovery....
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Join the fight against Australia’s biggest killer by supporting the Heart Foundation. ...
Aboriginal heart health
Aboriginal heart health
Aboriginal heart health
Visit the St Vincents Hospital NSW and Heart Foundation Aboriginal heart health website for more information...
Heart Health Check Toolkit
Heart Health Check Toolkit
Types of physical activity
Types of physical activity
Types of physical activity
Nine out of 10 Australians could reduce the risk of heart disease by walking as little as 15 minutes more each day....
David’s shock heart failure diagnosis was just the start of a tough journey
David’s shock heart failure diagnosis was just the start of a tough journey
David’s shock heart failure diagnosis was just the start of a tough journey
David's heart failure diagnosis led to significant changes in his life....
Women and heart disease
Women and heart disease
Women and heart disease
Information and resources for health professionals....
WEBINAR | The future of CVD risk assessment
WEBINAR | The future of CVD risk assessment
WEBINAR | The future of CVD risk assessment
Should population-based CVD risk assessment models make way for individualised risk prediction techniques?...
Snack recipes
Snack recipes
Snack recipes
Search for healthy snack ideas...
The NSW Cardiac Rehabilitation Working Group
The NSW Cardiac Rehabilitation Working Group
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) clinical resources
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) clinical resources
Resources and clinical information for health professionals...
Our history
Our history
Our history
For more than 60 years the Heart Foundation has been helping improve heart health across the nation....
Sit less, move more
Sit less, move more
Sit less, move more
You may be surprised to know that on average, adults sit for nine hours a day....
Our Annual Reports
Our Annual Reports
Our Annual Reports
Discover our Annual reports from 2013 onwards. ...
Heart Bypass Surgery
Heart Bypass Surgery
Coronary bypass surgery is a common procedure that can dramatically improve the health of your heart. ...
Heart attack at 35: Knowing the signs and symptoms
Heart attack at 35: Knowing the signs and symptoms
Heart attack at 35: Knowing the signs and symptoms
David reflects on how his life changed when he had a heart attack at 35 and how he got back on track....
Get started with more physical activity
Get started with more physical activity
Get started with more physical activity
Finding time for physical activity is one of the best things you can do for your heart...
What is heart disease?
What is heart disease?
What is heart disease?
Heart disease is the broad term for conditions that affect the structure and function of the heart muscle. ...
Atrial fibrillation resources for patients
Atrial fibrillation resources for patients
Keeping your heart healthy
Keeping your heart healthy
Keeping your heart healthy
Keeping your heart healthy is something you can work on every day. ...
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...
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....
Women and heart disease
Women and heart disease
Women and heart disease
Every day, 22 women lose their lives to this condition....
The Heart Foundation Community
The Heart Foundation Community
The Heart Foundation Community
We need your opinion, experience and skills to help us improve the heart health of all Australians. ...
Exercises to do at home
Exercises to do at home
Exercises to do at home
All you need to know about keeping active during COVID-19....
Chicken recipes
Chicken recipes
Chicken recipes
Find heart healthy chicken recipes....
Coronary Artery Calcium Score
Coronary Artery Calcium Score
A Coronary Artery Calcium Score or CT Calcium test can be used to estimate your risk of heart attack or stroke....