Improving Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates for Women
A groundbreaking initiative titled ‘Don’t Miss A Beat’ will launch on 21st April in Notting Hill, focusing on enhancing women’s heart health by improving survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Victoria. This initiative is crucial as it addresses the significant sex and gender differences that impact women’s survival chances during cardiac emergencies.
The event will start at 9.30am and run until 10.50am at St John Ambulance Victoria, located at 601 Blackburn Road, Notting Hill. It will feature the first-ever release of sex-disaggregated data on cardiac arrests in Victoria. This data is vital for understanding how community response varies between men and women. the initiative introduces the first sex-specific cardiovascular risk professional development course for clinicians, aimed at tailoring medical responses to women’s needs.
Victoria currently boasts the best cardiac arrest survival rate in Australia and ranks among the best globally. However, women’s survival rates lag behind due to differences in risk factors and community response. The ‘Don’t Miss A Beat’ initiative aims to address these disparities by focusing on women’s heart health and ensuring they receive timely and appropriate medical intervention.
Key Figures and New Data
The media event will include a CPR and defibrillation demonstration by St John Ambulance Victoria, using a female manikin to highlight the importance of appropriate training for both genders. This demonstration aims to educate the public and medical professionals on the specific needs of women during cardiac emergencies.
Ms. Sally Hasler, CEO of Women’s Health Victoria, stated, “This is a significant step forward in addressing the unique challenges faced by women in cardiac emergencies. It is crucial that we tailor our response and training to better serve women’s heart health needs.”
The ‘Don’t Miss A Beat’ initiative is supported by Women’s Health Victoria, a statewide organisation that advocates for the health rights of women and gender-diverse individuals. They collaborate with government and healthcare sectors to improve health outcomes and ensure unbiased access to healthcare. Professor Cassandra Szoeke from Monash University’s Centre for Health Research and Implementation and Dr. Shona Sundaraj, Group Medical Director at Medibank, are also involved in the initiative, providing expertise and support to enhance the program’s impact.
Other notable figures involved include A/Professor Ziad Nehme, Director of the Centre for Research and Evaluation at Ambulance Victoria, and Mr. Gordon Botwright, CEO of St John Ambulance Victoria. Their participation highlights the collaborative effort to improve cardiac arrest outcomes for women.
For more information, on-site media contact Carol Nichols from Women’s Health Victoria is available at 0460 787 326.
Last updated: 20 April 2026, 2:16 pm
