What is
Childhood-onset Heart Disease (CoHD)?
Childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD) is the term used to describe the range of heart conditions that impact people from birth or develop during childhood.
Some heart conditions are present from birth and are known as congenital heart disease. Others develop later in childhood and are known as acquired heart disease, often following illness or infection.
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 Australia’s only national organisation dedicated to children, young people and families impacted by childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD), providing information, support, connection and advocacy across every stage of their unique journey.
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 nearly 50 years, HeartKids has ensured that those impacted by childhood-onset heart disease are informed, connected and supported across every life stage. Grounded in lived experience, clinical expertise and meaningful advocacy, HeartKids helps shape research, policy and standards that will improve health outcomes for generations to come.
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 250,000 Australians living with CoHD. 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
Wayne and William’s Two Feet & A Heartbeat story: ABC Breakfast Great Southern
Two Feet & A Heartbeat 2026 News Clipping: Originally posted 17/10/2026 on ABC Breakfast: Great Southern...
Caitlin’s Two Feet & A Heartbeat story Seven Local News: Townsville
Two Feet & A Heartbeat 2026 News Clipping: Originally posted 16/10/2026 on Channel 7 Local News...
It’s all about heart for this brave fighter: The Daily Telegraph
Two Feet & A Heartbeat 2026 News Clipping: Originally posted 19/10/2026 in The Daily Telegraph The 10-year-old, who had open-heart surgery at three days old, joined more than 100 walkers at Dee Why Beach for HeartKids’ Two Feet & A Heartbeat. Emergency surgery fixed her most vital organ as a baby, and now Amelie York […]...
Townsville family rallies for HeartKids walk after losing baby to heart disease
Two Feet & A Heartbeat 2026 News Clipping: Originally posted 17/10/2026 in the Townsville Bulletin and NT NewsLink available here Author: Emma Cam Having faced the loss of one daughter and the fight to save another, one Townsville family is helping support North Queenslanders navigating the challenges of childhood heart disease. After losing their firstborn […]...
Walking for HeartKids: Ocean Grove Voice
Two Feet & A Heartbeat 2026 News Clipping: Originally posted 16/10/2026 in the Ocean Grove Voice HeartKids’ Two Feet & A Heartbeat walk comes to Connewarre, with a local mum sharing her daughter Willow’s story. Greater Geelong community members can support kids living with a heart condition during an upcoming fundraising walk. HeartKids will host […]...
Why Mia’s up for a walk in the park
Two Feet & A Heartbeat 2026 News Clipping: Originally posted 17/10/2026 in the Kalgoorlie Miner and Pilbara News Link here Author: Toby Cann Brave Mia, 6, inspires family to walk for HeartKids A Kalgoorlie-Boulder family whose daughter survived open-heart surgery is calling on the community to join this Sunday’s Two Feet & a Heartbeat walk. […]...
Geelong walk supports families facing childhood heart disease
Two Feet & A Heartbeat 2026 News Clipping: Originally posted 16/10/2026 in the Geelong times A Geelong family whose young daughter underwent life-saving heart surgery as a baby is encouraging locals to support HeartKids by taking part in the annual Two Feet & A Heartbeat community walk. Four-year-old Willow was born prematurely with a congenital […]...
Emilia an inspiration ahead of walk for heart help
Two Feet & A Heartbeat 2026 News Clipping: Originally posted 16/10/2026 in the Geraldton GuardianLink available here Author: Sienna Seychell Diagnosed before birth with a serious heart condition, seven-month-old Emilia Cooper has already had two heart operations. This Sunday, her family will walk to raise awareness of childhood heart disease. At just seven months old, […]...
ABC QLD Two Feet & A Heartbeat Radio Clipping: Kimberly Matheson
Two Feet & A Heartbeat 2026 News Clipping: Originally posted 15/10/2026 on ABC Breakfast: Tropical North...
ABC Breakfast SA Two Feet & A Heartbeat Radio Clipping: CEO Sami Glastonbury
Two Feet & A Heartbeat 2026 News Clipping: Originally posted 14/10/2026 on ABC Breakfast: SA Eyre Peninsula and West Coast, Port Lincoln, North and West SA, Port Pirie...


