Rheumatic Heart Disease Program

The NT Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) Program aims to prevent acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and reduce the burden of RHD in the NT.

Functions include:

  • supporting and providing education and resources to:
    • patients, families and the community
    • health professionals and educators
  • maintaining the NT RHD Register.

ARF and RHD are notifiable diseases in the NT. Read more ARF and RHD for more information on how to notify.

Updates

Date addedTitleLink
22/09/2025 Benzathine Benzylpenicillin (Bicillin L-A) Shortage                                            PDF (264.4 KB)
22/09/2025 Australia Guidance for Lentocilin PDF (362.9 KB)
04/09/2025 Important Tables for new ARF & RHD guidelines Resource library
02/09/2025 Australian Guidance for Benzetacil PDF (280.3 KB)

Videos and Podcasts

Date addedTitleLink
04/09/2025 ARF & RHD Explained – Heart Foundation Short video
02/09/2025 Ted Talk by Dr Josh Francis: Using our eyes and ears to help young hearts 30min video
08/04/2025 Take Heart - Close the Gap – Special edition film 30min video
08/04/2025 Desert Docs Podcast: Social Determinants of health 30min video
Spotify podcast
08/04/2025 Desert Docs Podcast: Rheumatic Heart Disease 30min video
Spotify podcast

For previously listed videos and podcasts, find them on the resources spreadsheet XLSX (4.1 MB).

Recently released resources

The new resources can be found under the related resource tab:

  • Resources for patient, families and community
  • Recourses for Health Professionals and Educators

News

Date addedTitleLink
15/08/2025 This team is trekking to stop a preventable disease that’s hyperendemic in remote Indigenous communities SBS NITV
06/08/2025 Trek tackles heart disease cruelling Indigenous lives NIT

Research

Date addedTitleLink
13/09/2025 Acute rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease in Children Aged Less Than 5 Years in the Northern Territory Between 2010 and 2020 Article

If you have or know someone with ARF or rheumatic heart disease RHD, helpful resources are available below.

You can also ask your local clinic for more information.

For a broader range of resources, including videos, brochures and posters, get the resources spreadsheet XLSX (4.1 MB).

Videos

Watch the following YouTube video about ARF and RHD in English.


Other languages are also available in:

You can also watch the following YouTube videos about:

Flyer, fact sheet and other documents

Support program

Champions4Change is a national program that brings together First Nations people:

  • with ARF and RHD
  • who care or support someone who has ARF or RHD
  • who live and work in communities with ARF or RHD

The program aims to amplify the voices of people with lived experience, helping others understand what is means to live with these conditions.

Read more about the program on the Heart Foundation website.

If you are a health professional or educator, it is important to know about ARF and RHD, and how to treat it.

Find available resources and training below.

For a broader range of resources, including videos, brochures and posters, get the resources spreadsheet XLSX (4.1 MB).

Guidelines, strategy and calculator

Administering injection and pain minimisation video, guide and poster

Reports, fact sheets and flyers

Professional development

You can complete online training about ARF and RHD through RHD Menzies.

To find out more and to register, go to the RHD Menzies website.

Anyone living in the NT that has ARF or RHD are placed on the NT RHD Register.

You can access the register if you're involved in their care or coordination.

When accessing the register, you must follow the data governance framework PDF (545.2 KB).

How to access

Follow the relevant instructions below.

NT Government (NTG) employees

You can access the register through NTG clinical systems.

Read the how to access the RHD register fact sheet PDF (217.9 KB).

Non-government employees

To access the register, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the RHD Register access application on the NT Health library services ePublications website.

Step 2. Submit your application by email to your nearest region below.

Once you have been given access, you can access the NT RHD Register using your login details.

You can also go to the following websites that have many resources available:

Contact

NT RHD Control Program - Top End
RHDtopend.health@nt.gov.au
08 8922 8454

NT RHD Control Program - Central Australia
RHDcentral.health@nt.gov.au
08 8951 6909

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