First Nations heart health

Barriers to accessing healthcare

First Nations peoples encounter a number of challenges when it comes to accessing quality health care including cost, lack of service availability (especially in regional, remote and low socio-economic areas), long wait times, and lack of culturally safe and responsive health care services and settings.

The Heart Foundation acknowledges the work that the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector (ACCHS) does in providing culturally safe and comprehensive primary health care, including achieving an increase in Indigenous-specific health checks, such as heart health checks for First Nations peoples.⁽³⁾

Culturally appropriate healthcare

The Heart Foundation recognises the need to build strong relationships with First Nations communities and organisations to advocate for, support and deliver, better heart health outcomes.

Culturally appropriate healthcare for First Nations peoples encompasses a broad range of strategies aimed at holistic care, and strengthening and building community capacity.

Holistic healthcare for First Nations peoples must acknowledge that the mind and the body are interconnected with country, as well as addressing the risk factors for CVD, and the importance of physical, social, emotional, cultural and spiritual wellbeing.

There are a number of factors that have been identified as important for First Nation's peoples including cultural identity, family and community connections.⁽⁴⁾

First Nations leadership

The Heart Foundation acknowledges and respects the crucial role of First Nations leadership and Aboriginal community control in addressing the health needs of our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander population. First Nations leadership brings culturally safe and holistic perspectives that reflect unique health needs, integrate cultural practices, historical contexts and place-based solutions. We are proud to have a dedicated First Nations team leading on the Heart Foundation’s work and acknowledge the First Nations organisations and communities that support the delivery of our work to advance equitable and sustainable health outcomes.

First Nations leadership also encompasses the importance of lived experience expertise and shared decision making for achieving improved health outcomes. Assessing and reducing CVD risk with First Nations peoples requires culturally safe shared decision making by health professionals incorporating lived experience expertise (including individuals, families and communities) across the life course. We recognise that local place-based solutions and community led approaches relevant to specific communities and regions are also vital.

Working in partnership and collaboration with First Nations peoples, communities and leaders through community led approaches, shared decision-making, and incorporation of lived experience perspectives, is essential to strengthen health services andimprove health outcomes for First Nations populations.

Heart Health resources for First Nations peoples

First Nations peoples should be aware that the information contained on these webpages may contain images or names of deceased people and may cause distress to certain viewers.

Heart smart mobstyle resources

The Heart smart mobstyle resources are designed for all students to use, but specifically targets Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through the inclusion of culturally relevant resources and learning experiences.

A healthy beginning is critical in preventing heart disease later in life, which is a risk for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Educating children at a young age about the importance of good heart health has a long-term effect and decreases the number of people who will go on to develop cardiovascular disease in adult life.