
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
SA leads the way in heartfelt care
Release date: 14/02/25 A South Australian pilot program for families impacted by childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD) is expanding across the nation as an online program in partnership with children’s heart charity, HeartKids. Thanks to a $1 million investment from Malinauskas Labor Government – the first of its kind in Australia – HeartKids has been able […]...
Netball NSW Partners with HeartKids for Premier League Pre-Season
HeartKids is delighted to partner with Netball NSW to officially announce the HeartKids Cup as the official pre-season competition for the organisation’s 2025 Premier League. The event will see all 10 Netball NSW Premier League franchises competing for the HeartKids Cup at Sydney Olympic Park’s Netball Central from Saturday to Sunday, 1-2 March. As well […]...
HeartKids Will Light Up The Sky in a Month-Long ‘Sweethearts For Heartkids’ Campaign to Raise Critical Funding and Awareness for childhood-onset heart disease
MEDIA RELEASE 22 January 2025 Four Young Aussies Lose their Lives each Week to CoHD Australian national charity, HeartKids, is asking Aussies to be a sweetheart for HeartKids this February to help raise awareness and critical funding for kids and their families impacted by childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD), which directly touches the lives of 250,000 […]...
Building a Stronger HeartKids Community: Your Feedback and Our Commitment to ActionÂ
HeartKids’ mission is to provide life-long support, resources and advocacy to individuals and families impacted by childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD). Listening to the voices of our community is essential to ensuring our services meet the unique needs of those we support. Recently, we conducted the HeartKids Community Survey 2024, which provided invaluable insights into your […]...
Heart Foundation and HeartKids unite to help children impacted by heart disease
MEDIA RELEASE 21 January, 2025 Children impacted by heart disease in Australia now have a powerful advocate for improved outcomes, thanks to a landmark partnership between two of the nation’s leading heart charities. Childhood-onset heart disease is a major health issue nationally, with an estimated 2,400 babies born with a form of congenital heart disease […]...
Angel Flight & HeartKids – Reducing Barriers to Care for Remote FamiliesÂ
Accessing life-saving medical care can be a real challenge for families living in rural and regional Australia. HeartKids is dedicated to supporting families with childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD) and understands the challenges they face, especially in rural areas where specialised care is limited. That’s why HeartKids’ partnership with Angel Flight Australia is so vital. Together, […]...
Better Starts
We acknowledge that starting school can be a very significant milestone for children with CoHD and their families. Our Better Starts program focuses on supporting families with children aged 4-6 years through their transition to school. Through monthly online sessions and resource material, our Occupational Therapist will provide practical ideas to support school readiness and […]...
Better Beginnings
Better Beginnings is a national online program that aims to support HeartKids families with children from Birth to 4 years old. The program acknowledges that children with CoHD are at increased risk of developmental delay, particularly those who have had surgery before the age of 1. Often, delays are subtle and can go unnoticed until […]...
Meet the Scientist: From Stem Cells to Heart Valves – Dr. Holly Voges’ Pioneering Research
From Left: Jessica Durrant-Whyte (Research Assistant), Serene Yeow (PHD Student) and Dr. Holly Voges (Senior Researcher) Welcome to our new Meet the Scientist blog series. HeartKids is thrilled to launch this new series which brings innovative research on childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD) closer to our community, showcasing the real-world impact for those navigating CoHD.First up, […]...
Notice of HeartKids Annual General Meeting 2024
The 8th Annual General Meeting of HeartKids Limited will take place on Monday, 2nd December 2024 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....