Brainstorming & Blue Sky Thinking: Where HHART Was Born

In alignment with the MRFF Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Mission – Stream 3, the Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity Theme of the South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and the Enhancing Chronic Disease Care Team at the Australian National University (ANU) came together with a shared passion: to explore how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can live free from heart disease and stroke for as long as possible—through culturally secure, best-practice prevention delivered by community and primary health care services.

In July 2023 the ANU team hosted an in-person workshop with nine participants, bringing together SAHMRI to map out the critical components of a new grant application. It was during this creative and collaborative session that the idea for Healthy Heart Actions Right Time (HHART) was born! (see figure below)

HHART is an Indigenous-led research initiative dedicated to bringing together Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community groups and individuals, community controlled primary health care providers, and key stakeholders, to co-design, implement and evaluate evidence-informed models of holistic heart disease prevention incorporating local community and clinical responses to heart health, using culturally secure approaches.

HHART Application Submitted!

In November 2023, the SAHMRI and ANU team worked closely together to successfully submit the HHART application to the NHMRC.

This milestone came after numerous rounds of evidence synthesis, deep discussions, collaborative writing, and careful revision. It was a true team effort—and a major step forward for HHART.

Success! HHART Got the Green Light

In June 2024, we received the exciting news that our HHART grant application was successful! This marks a significant achievement for the team-the beginning of HHART journey ahead.

Since securing the funding, the SAHMRI team had actively engaged with participating services, keeping conversations going and relationships strong. Meanwhile, the ANU team had synthesised evidence to consolidate existing research, inform strategies for the upcoming co-design phase, and draft the ethics application for Phase One.

1st Investigator Meeting

On 19 November 2024, most of our investigators (see below picture)—alongside two participating services—came together for the first official Investigator Meeting.

The session provided an overview of HHART’s background, study design, governance, objectives, expected impact, timeline, and budget.

We also discussed key next steps, including:

• Setting up a multi-institutional agreement between partners
• Preparing the submission of Phase One ethics application
• Planning for recruitment of the study team within services and within research institutes
• And outlining how ongoing communication will be managed moving forward

Phase One Ethics Application

HHART is a three-phase project, with ethics approval sought separately for each phase.

Phase One (01 Feb – 01 Aug 2025) (see Figure below) focuses on co-designing holistic models of CVD preventative care and evaluation frameworks in partnership with two community-controlled services and groups. The Phase One ethics application specifically supports this co-design stage.

HHART Research Team Planning

To ensure the upcoming site visits meet the study’s expectations, the SAHMRI and ANU teams came together in person in February 2025 (see Picture below) for a focused planning session.

The discussion addressed key areas such as project administration, partner and service engagement, and—most importantly—the structure of the co-design workshops. Together, the team developed a socio-ecological framework to guide the co-design phase.

Indigenous Wellbeing Centre (IWC) Co-design Visit

Following a series of online meetings and email consultations with the service, the SAHMRI and ANU research teams conducted co-design visits to the Indigenous Wellbeing Centre (IWC) in Bundaberg, Queensland. From 12 to 14 May 2025, the SAHMRI and ANU teams were on-site at IWC for the first phase of the co-design process (see photo below).

Over a productive three-day visit, five key activities were held:

• A planning meeting with 6 IWC staff, board members, and the research team
• A community co-design session with 23 community members
• A shared lunch with IWC staff and community participants
• A staff-only co-design session with 7 clinical team members
• A final triangulation workshop with both staff and community

Pangula Mannamurna Co-design Visit

Before the official co-design visit, the SAHMRI team undertook a pre-visit consultation with Pangula Mannamurna in Mount Gambier, South Australia. This early engagement helped ensure the visit was thoughtfully planned and aligned with the real needs of the service and its community.

In June 2025 the SAHMRI team returned to Pangula for the co-design visit. Despite challenging weather conditions—a rough landing for the research team’s flight and difficulties for some community members to attend—the team held a valuable and in-depth discussion with the Pangula Mannamurna team.

The SAHMRI team is planning a follow-up visit to continue these important conversations and to host a workshop that brings together both community members and clinic staff.

2nd Investigator Meeting

In June 2025, HHART Investigators and representatives from participating services came together at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) on Kaurna Country (see front page picture and below one).

The gathering opened with an acknowledgment of the Kaurna people, the nations represented, and the contributions of allies. The day featured a series of presentations from the research team and partner organisations, who shared powerful insights into the communities they serve and the unique strengths and contexts of their work.

Together, we reflected on the project’s progress so far, explored lessons from other initiatives—including the Screen Your Way study led by A/Prof Lisa Whop—and discussed next steps for HHART. The meeting also included in-depth planning around project operations and implementation, setting the stage for the next phase of collaborative action.

The Lowitja Conference

From 16–19 June 2025, co-leading investigators Professor Odette Pearson (SAHMRI) and Associate Professor Rosemary Wyber (ANU) co-presented the HHART project at the 4th International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference, held on Kaurna Country in Adelaide (see picture below).

The session received strong interest and positive feedback from attendees, who valued the project’s strengths-based approach—drawing on the insights and capabilities of both communities and primary health care services to deliver best-practice prevention for heart disease.

The conference was a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, build relationships, and strengthen our collective commitment to improving heart health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

For more information on the HHART project please contact ecdc@anu.edu.au