Mission Statement

East Timor Hearts Fund is Australia's only NGO dedicated to providing life-saving heart surgery in Australia for the people of East Timor, as well as heart-health education, & research projects.

Description

East Timor Hearts Fund is Australias only medical NGO dedicated to providing life-saving heart surgery in Australia for young people from Timor-Leste (East Timor), as well as heart-health education, prevention and research projects. Since 2010 we have transformed more than 80 lives, with life-changing heart surgery in Timor-Leste and Australia. Our patients range in age from just three years old, to their 40s. After their surgery, they can return to school, work and caring responsibilities, contributing to their families, community and country. Our peer-reviewed research shows that Timor-Leste has one of the worlds highest rates of rheumatic heart disease. One in 28 people, and one in 20 girls, is affected. So we are also tackling the root causes of poor heart health, with a locally-delivered preventative penicillin program, community education, health professional training and scholarships in Timor-Leste and Australia and through further research.