Cardiovascular conditions make the greatest contribution to the gap in mortality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.

Better Cardiac Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (Better Cardiac Care) is a national initiative supported by the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council (AHMAC) as part of the Australian Government’s commitment to closing the gap in life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Better Cardiac Care aims to reduce mortality and morbidity from cardiac conditions by increasing access to services, better managing risk factors, and by improving the coordination of care. The project includes five priority areas for intervention and associated measures to monitor progress.

The five key priorities are:

  • Priority 1: Early cardiovascular risk assessment and management
  • Priority 2: Timely diagnosis of heart disease and heart failure
  • Priority 3: Guideline based therapy for acute coronary syndrome
  • Priority 4: Optimisation of health status and provision of ongoing preventative care
  • Priority 5: Strengthen the diagnosis, notification and follow up of rheumatic heart disease (RHD)


Current as at: Monday 26 September 2022
Contact page owner: Centre for Aboriginal Health