Empowering Clinicians, Supporting Patients: ACHH’s Four‑Day Training Program

The ACHH delivered its comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CR) health professional training program online over four days in May 2026, bringing together 60 clinicians from across Australia and beyond for an intensive interactive learning experience.

The program covered core components of cardiac rehabilitation, including post‑cardiac mental health and highlighting the importance of patient‑centred communication, with sessions led by the ACHH team and invited speakers who are national and international experts on CR and related topics.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the program’s practical focus, strong facilitation, and the value of ACHH’s leadership in psychosocially informed cardiac care. Participants praised the program’s smooth, engaging online format and valued the clear, practical insights shared by presenters.

Participants also reported that the training strengthened their confidence, offered fresh ideas for improving cardiac rehabilitation, and provided useful guidance they could apply immediately in everyday practice.

This year’s program was refreshed to incorporate the latest evidence‑based guidelines and international consensus statements on cardiac rehabilitation and mental health, ensuring clinicians received the most up‑to‑date training available. All speakers were experts in their field, with representation from cardiology and cardiac surgery, nursing and general practice, physiotherapy and exercise physiology, psychology and mental health, dietetics and digital health.

Participants engaged in case‑based discussions, skills workshops, and evidence‑informed updates designed to strengthen capability and confidence in supporting cardiac patients through recovery.

Attendees (N=60) included cardiac nurses, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and physicians working in cardiac rehabilitation, some attending from New Zealand and beyond. The online format enabled attendance from regional and rural practitioners, consistent with the Centre’s focus on improving equity in cardiovascular care.