The world’s brightest minds tackling rheumatic heart disease (RHD) will assemble in Perth late next year for the second-ever World Heart Federation World Congress on RHD.
The Geneva-based World Heart Federation announced the Congress today, with the news welcomed by the Cook Government, WA Health, National Heart Foundation of Australia, and The Kids Research Institute Australia.
“I am very pleased that Perth will be home to the second Heart Federation World Congress on RHD, following the first World Congress which was held in Abu Dhabi in 2023,” said Medical Research Minister, Stephen Dawson.
“This will be a globally significant event – working together to combat rheumatic heart disease, which disproportionately impacts Aboriginal Westen Australians and disadvantaged people around the world, is such an important endeavour.
“It aligns with Western Australia’s strategic focus on medical research and innovation and our Future Health Research and Innovation Fund Strategy 2025-30.
“It is also timely, given our government’s recent $25 million investment into RHD research.”
The Congress will bring together global researchers, innovators, practitioners, patients, advocates, and leaders to explore practical and effective solutions that will help end rheumatic heart disease.
Rheumatic heart disease is a preventable condition that continues to have a devastating impact on many Western Australians, particularly in Aboriginal communities.
Virtually eradicated in large parts of the world, RHD also continues to have a terrible effect on vulnerable communities in Australia, as well as sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, affecting 55 million people and claiming more than 300,000 lives each year.
RHD is damage to heart valves caused by acute rheumatic fever (ARF). ARF occurs through untreated streptococcal A (Strep A) infections.
In Australia, RHD and ARF have been largely eliminated in most urban population groups but disproportionately affect Aboriginal children and young people as well as populations across the Pacific.
In Australia, more than 11,000 people are on medical registries as living with ARF and RHD. More than 90 per cent of ARF diagnoses continue to be among Aboriginal Australians, most aged between 5 and 14 years.
Complementing the focus on medical research into RHD, the Department of Health is also developing a strategic framework for hospitals and health services to address the disease.
“Rheumatic fever and heart disease are the result of disadvantage. We know how to eradicate it: we just need support to make it happen,” said Heart Foundation chief executive and World Heart Federation vice-president elect, David Lloyd.
“Today’s announcement by the World Heart Federation, along with the support of government and philanthropy to bring this congress to Australia, gives me immense hope that we will continue to make strides towards eradicating RHD.”
The World Heart Federation World Congress on RHD will be hosted in Perth by the Heart Foundation with support from sponsors the Western Australian Government, the Leducq Foundation, the American Heart Association, the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand, Business Events Perth, and Business Events Australia.
“Australia is at the forefront of research into reducing early deaths and suffering from rheumatic heart disease and the Strep A infections that cause it, and this work happens in partnership with First Nations communities that bear the brunt of these diseases in our country,” said The Kids Research Institute Australia executive director, Professor Jonathan Carapeti.
“Bringing this congress to Western Australia provides an opportunity not only to showcase our local and national approaches, but also to learn from others around the world.”
The event will be held from 12 to 14 November 2026 at the Pan Pacific.
