Helen McLean is a highly regarded registered nurse/midwife with a wealth of knowledge and skills in cardiovascular care. She improves cardiac care through co-designing tertiary, secondary and community cardiac rehabilitation and chronic heart failure programs, First Nations heart health programs, and has developed new models of care including phone coaching and telehealth programs. 

Helen’s passion is for trauma-informed and person-centred care where she finds out what has happened to you and what matters to you. Helen embraces a holistic approach to care, encompassing physical, psychological, emotional, cultural, social and spiritual wellbeing. She acknowledges that individuals and their loved ones are the experts of themselves. Helen is well-known in cardiac rehabilitation circles and has vast network connections throughout Australia. She enjoys working with others to coordinate cardiac professional developments events and is passionate about improving health care for those that are vulnerable and disadvantaged, striving for equitable accessibility. 

Helen has extensive experience in cardiac rehabilitation and shaping cardiovascular care policy as the current President of the Australian Cardiovascular Health & Rehabilitation Association (ACRA) in Western Australia, Executive Board Member and Advocacy Chair of ACRA nationally, and formerly with the National Heart Foundation within the Equity portfolio.

Helen is now the National Program Coordinator for Heart Support Australia overseeing our peer support groups nationally, and working with our consumers and key stakeholders ensuring our peer support programs are appropriately supporting our patients nationally.