$4.8M Awarded to AUS HEARTS Project to Address Hypertension in Rural Australia
The AUS HEARTS project has been awarded $4.8 million by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) of the Australian Government to improve the detection and management of hypertension in rural and regional New South Wales. The initiative aims to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke through a standardized, evidence-based approach to blood pressure control.
AUS HEARTS will adapt the World Health Organization’s HEARTS Initiative—already implemented in more than 30 countries—for use in Western NSW, where hypertension rates exceed the national average by 10%. The project emphasizes collaboration with local communities, pharmacies, general practices, and the Royal Flying Doctor Service to deliver tailored, team-based care.
Former SMA President and current Medical Director for SMA’s Hypertension Summit, Dr. Donald DiPette, is among the members of the United States contingent and played an integral role in the development of this initiative. “This is truly an exciting award and program to bring the HEARTS approach to address hypertension in rural Australia, Dr. DiPette said. In addition, it builds upon the present collaboration with the Constellation Regional Collaborative, a partnership between SMA and Constellation Quality Health, with the goal of improving hypertension detection and control in rural South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida,”
“In Australia, one in three adults has hypertension, yet only half are treated effectively,” said Dr. Niamh Chapman, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sydney. “HEARTS provides a simple, scalable approach that empowers clinics to detect, treat, and follow up with patients to ensure their blood pressure is at a safe level.”
The project also plans to launch a national Rural Cardiovascular Health Network to share insights and support broader implementation across Australia’s rural communities.
For additional information about this initiative, please contact Niamh Chapman at Niamh.Chapman@sydney.edu.au.
