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Category: News

Heart Support Australia appoints Helen McLean as inaugural National Program Coordinator

Posted on by OfficeAdmin

Heart Support Australia are proud to announce their new executive team member and inaugural National Program Coordinator Helen McLean.

Helen’s role will involve overseeing and providing educational support for Heart Support Australia’s Peer Support Group programs.

Helen is also currently the president of the Australian Cardiovascular Health & Rehabilitation Association (ACRA) in Western Australia, executive board member and advocacy chair of ACRA as well as a highly regarded registered nurse and midwife.

Heart Support Australia CEO Dr Christian Verdicchio says the appointment aligns with the organisation’s rapid expansion of peer support services across Australia.

“Our peer support programs are at the core of our organisation and for the first time we are proudly supporting Australians living with heart disease in all states and territories through these programs,” Christian says.

“Helen will oversee the peer support group providing support and her extensive experience in cardiology will be pivotal when working with our consumers and key stakeholders to ensure we are appropriately supporting our patients.

“We are thrilled to have her expertise as part of our mission to support Australians living with heart disease,” he concludes.

Helen’s experience has seen her improve cardiac care through co-designing tertiary, secondary and community cardiac rehabilitation and chronic heart failure programs, First Nations heart health programs, and she has developed phone coaching and telehealth care programs. 

Helen says the role will allow her to guide the group leaders through modern models of support.

“The holistic approach I have towards caring for heart patients is person-centred, meaning it is tailored to them and their physical, psychological, emotional, cultural, social and spiritual needs,” she says.

“Heart Support embodies my passion for helping others and ensuring all Australians have access to adequate heart healthcare,” Helen says.

Helen’s Role will commence on January 16.

HSA Opens Peer Support Group in North West Tasmania

Posted on by OfficeAdmin

Heart Support Australia (HSA) has opened a Peer Support Group in north west Tasmania this month, giving post-heart event support for cardiac patients in the area. 

 

The HSA Peer Support Groups are unique communal support programs that offer comfort and guidance to those who have recently undergone a heart event and for those who have experienced heart conditions and rehabilitation.

 

In the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2023 Heart, stroke and vascular disease: Australian facts report, family history, including inherited genes or shared environments of risky health behaviours, is recognised as a risk factor for certain types of cardiovascular diseases in Australians.

 

HSA CEO Dr Christian Verdicchio said that while heart disease has been the leading cause of death for Australians for years, inherited risk factors are often overlooked by people aged 45 and over, who are recommended to get a Heart Health Check each year.

 

“For some people their diagnosis has a shock factor because they are not going for regular check ups with their GP where discussions like family health history and other risk factors can happen,” Christian said.

 

“And when they undergo treatment for a heart condition, they don’t have ongoing support and that can be incredibly isolating.

 

“Our support groups are designed to ensure that our patients are staying on the path to a healthier life by making it known to them that they are not alone because they are interacting with their leader and group members who have gone through similar circumstances,” Christian said.

 

The peer support program initiative derives from a new era of managing heart disease that empowers heart patients with education, improved self-esteem, and larger support networks that result in less of a strain on our health system with fewer hospital stays and trips to the GP.

 

Leading the north west Tasmania Peer Support Group is Sharron Yaxley who knew she was at higher risk of premature heart disease because both her parents had bypass surgeries in their 50s.

 

“I had been under a cardiologist for over 16 years, I was a keen cyclist and the leading female globally with Zwift, a cycling app, for riding over 200,000 kilometres,” Sharron said.

 

“I had a cyclist friend in New Zealand who had a cardiac arrest early last year and told me I needed a scan to check my calcium levels. My cardiologist was hesitant, said I was too fit, but I persisted,” she said.

 

Within four months Sharron was having a triple bypass open heart surgery.

 

“I was told that I was a very lucky girl, sitting on a ticking time bomb and that I would have likely just dropped dead because I was asymptomatic,” she said.

 

Now Sharron is passionate about advocating for the heart health of all people, even those who lead healthy lifestyles and would be seemingly unaffected.

 

“If I had a motto it would be to not judge a book by its cover like people did with my heart health just because you are fit does not mean you cannot have CVD,” she concluded.

 

The north west Tasmania Peer Support Group takes place on the third Wednesday of each month at the Montgomery Room, Carpark Lane, Ulverstone from 1pm.

 

Heart Support Australia encourages people to get involved with the community support session by getting in touch with group leader Sharron Yaxley by calling 0419 876 143 or by emailing: sharron.yaxley@stategrowth.tas.gov.au.

HSA Opens Peer Support Group in Geelong

Posted on by OfficeAdmin

Heart Support Australia (HSA) has opened a Peer Support Group in Geelong this month, giving post-heart event support for cardiac patients in the area. 

The HSA Peer Support Groups are unique communal support programs that offer comfort and guidance to those who have recently undergone a heart event and for those who have experienced heart conditions and rehabilitation.

 

The link between cardiovascular disease and COVID-19, including resulting inflammation of the cardiovascular system from the virus, saw 17 percent more Australians die of ischemic heart disease in the first eight months of 2022 than what is considered “natural range”.

 

HSA CEO Dr Christian Verdicchio said that while heart disease has been the leading cause of death for Australians for years, the COVID-19 outbreak and continued infections in the community have worsened the risk factors, meaning the demand for support systems has never been higher.

 

“Unfortunately, far too often when people are diagnosed with or undergo treatment for a heart condition, they don’t have ongoing support and that can be incredibly isolating.”

 

“Our support groups are designed to ensure that our patients are staying on the path to a healthier life by making it known to them that they are not alone because they are interacting with their leader and group members who have gone through similar circumstances,” Christian said.

 

The peer support program initiative derives from a new era of managing heart disease that empowers heart patients with education, improved self-esteem, and larger support networks that result in less of a strain on our health system with fewer hospital stays and trips to the GP.

 

Leading the Geelong Peer Support Group is Murray Chenery whose heart event journey has been manifested in The Heart In Me a series of 22 “thumbnail” artworks sharing the vivid feelings and emotions of his double bypass heart surgery.

 

“After getting past the question ‘Why me?’ – I felt overwhelmingly lucky – I didn’t have to go through a heart attack… I have an opportunity at this life again because I raised my discomfort with my doctor,” Murray said.

 

 

“A lot of reading information was provided to me on heart and surgical processes at the start, but there was nothing on the feelings and emotions I may experience through heart surgery,” he said.

A week after his lifesaving operation, Murray was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a medical condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein. In Murray’s case, there were three clots in his lower leg, an outcome he believed was from many hours spent as a passenger on airline flights.

Although Murray’s recovery has been good, the mental and emotional journey has been challenging – something he believes people aren’t properly prepared for.

His heart journey has resulted in a revised perspective on what is critical in his life and a changed perspective where helping others is important.

 

“My future could have been very different without the tremendous help of my medical team. I am so appreciative of the way I was helped during the challenging time of my heart event. Giving back to the community is more important than ever before for me,” Murray concluded. 

 

The local community can join Murray at the Geelong Peer Support Group on the third Thursday of each month at the Scott Accounting Group’s offices at Sladen House, Newtown from 10am.

 

Heart Support Australia encourages people to get involved with the community support session by getting in touch with group leader Murray Chenery by calling on 0408 598 180 or by emailing: murray.chenery57@gmail.com

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