What is
Childhood-onset Heart Disease (CoHD)?
Childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD) is the collective term for the spectrum of heart conditions that affect the heart’s ability to work efficiently.
Heart defects and conditions experienced from birth are known as Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD). Acquired Heart Disease refers to conditions that arise later in childhood, commonly as a result of infections or exposures.
Condition Types
Aortic Valve Disease
Atrial Septal Defect
Atrio-ventricular Septal Defect (AVSD)
Cardiomyopathy
Coarctation of the Aorta
Cyanotic Congenital disease
Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome (HRHS)
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HlHS)
Mitral Valve Disease
Persistent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
Pulmonary Atresia
Pulmonary Valve Disease
Single Ventricle Pathology
Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF)
Pulmonary Stenosis
Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA)
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
What We Do
HeartKids is the only Australian charity dedicated to providing lifelong support, resources, and advocacy for the 250,000 people impacted by childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD). We provide connection and care informed by lived-experience to ensure no one faces this journey alone.
Our Support
CoHD is a lifelong journey, and so is HeartKids’ support. Our teams, many with lived experience, offer emotional and practical care, tailored to milestones like diagnosis, schooling, and adulthood, ensuring families and individuals receive expert guidance at every stage.
Our Impact
For over 40 years, HeartKids has provided much-needed quality services, support and solutions to more than 250,000 Australian children, teenagers and adults impacted by CoHD.
Our Resources
HeartKids provides trusted information and resources about CoHD. Our resource library is a one-stop-shop for all our CoHD resources, including fact sheets, podcasts, videos and more.
How You Can Help
Give to HeartKids
Your heartfelt gift will bring hope and transformation to over 80,000 Australians living with CoHD, and much-needed support to hundreds of families coping with the grief and loss of their child. Discover the ways to give and get involved today.
Community Fundraising
Find your passion and get involved in making a lasting difference in the lives of those impacted by CoHD. Discover our engaging community programs today.Â
Get Your Work Involved
Discover how to get your workplace involved in transforming the lives of those living with CoHD today.Â
Volunteer With Us
We greatly appreciate the gift of your time as we unite to support those living with CoHD. Explore the many ways you can volunteer with HeartKids. Â
Latest News and Stories
Notice of HeartKids Annual General Meeting 2025
The 9th Annual General Meeting of HeartKids Limited will take place on Monday, 24th November 2025 at 5:00 pm (via MS Teams). Members of our HeartKids community are welcome to attend. Agenda Associate Members Can: To join the AGM, please register with martine.musumeci@heartkids.org.au....
Our journey to reconciliation: HeartKids’ Innovate RAP
HeartKids is thrilled to announce that our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan has been formally endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. A Reconciliation Action Plan (or RAP) is a way for an organisation to make a formal commitment towards reconciliation. In developing a RAP, an organisation creates a strategic framework to improve cultural safety, build stronger, more respectful […]...
HeartKids welcomes Nathan Stafford of Nathan’s Lawns and Gardens as a new ambassador
HeartKids is proud to announce Nathan Stafford, the creator and community force behind Nathan’s Lawns and Gardens, as our newest HeartKids Ambassador. Known for his generosity, positivity, and commitment to giving back, Nathan has built a large following of 11 million people worldwide through his engaging social media presence, transforming gardens, and lives, through acts […]...
Standing together for fairer Paid Parental Leave for families in neonatal and cardiac care
HeartKids is proud to stand alongside Miracle Babies Foundation, The University of Melbourne, and fellow Neonatal Critical Care Alliance partners in advocating for extended Paid Parental Leave for families whose babies require long hospital stays after birth. Families navigating neonatal and cardiac care face immense emotional, practical, and financial challenges during these early months. When […]...
Nominations open to join the HeartKids Board
The HeartKids Board is an essential part of our organisation, helping ensure we deliver the best possible support to people impacted by CoHD, in a way that is compliant, transparent, ethical and sustainable. The HeartKids Board is responsible for the overall corporate governance of the organisation, including: The Board is also responsible for approving and […]...
Two Feet & A Heartbeat – walk for heart kids and families
Saturday 18 October to Tuesday 4 November, 2025 Media Release  | August 2025 HeartKids’ annual Two Feet & A Heartbeat walk is back from Saturday 18 October to Tuesday 4 November in 31 locations around Australia. HeartKids is encouraging Aussies to walk 4km in honour of the four lives lost each week to childhood-onset heart disease […]...
Research Update: What It’s Like for Siblings When a Child Is in Intensive Care
HeartKids are eager to keep our community in the loop on research happening right now — and how you can be part of shaping better support for families. In this article, we share the work of Dr Ashleigh E Butler, who is undertaking important research into the impact that admission to a Paediatric Intensive Care […]...
New Program to Strengthen RHD Support and Prevention in WA’s North
HeartKids is proud to receive funding support from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation for Our Hearts, Our Future, a new program focused on strengthening support and prevention of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Western Australia’s Kimberley and Pilbara regions. Through a collaborative, community-lead approach this initiative aims to reduce the impact of RHD in Aboriginal […]...
Meet the Scientist: Decoding Early Heart Development with Osvaldo Contreras
Welcome to the latest in our Meet The Scientist blog series. Our Meet The Scientist blog series aims to bring innovative research on childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD) closer to our community, showcasing the real-world impact for those navigating CoHD. In this edition, you’ll meet Dr. Osvaldo Contreras – Senior Postdoctoral Researcher in cardiovascular research at […]...
Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
The HeartKids resource library is an ever-growing hub of factsheets, videos, podcast episodes and animations, all designed to help you better understand CoHD and its impacts. This week, for NAIDOC Week, we want to share some of our favourite resources developed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander audiences. These resources have been designed to amplify […]...
