The team at SCAD Research Australia, together with SCAD Heart Attack Survivors across Australia are proud to attend medical industry events, forums and conferences to share SCAD Stories and raise the profile of SCAD Heart Attacks within the medical community. These have included:

• A huge thanks to SCAD survivors and advocates Kate Bergamsco and Suzanne Bresatz for so generously speaking with local medical professionals about Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection at the 2025 Adelaide Women’s and Children’s Health Update
• Jen O’Neil sharing her SCAD story at the VCCRI 2024 IWD Fundraising Event, and as an ambassador for Heart Research Australia’s Red Feb 2022
• The Heart Foundation’s Women & Heart Forum in 2017 and 2019
• Speaking at the ACRA (Australian Cardiac Rehab) NSW & ACT Conference in 2016,17,18, including a panel of SCAD survivors answering questions at the University of Sydney in 2016. We have also supported ACRA and distributed SCAD information packs at these events, including in 2023.
• Attending the NSW Cardiac Research Network Showcase & Awards Ceremony 2018 as a guest of the National Heart Foundation
• Speaking on SCAD in the NSW Nurses Education Program in 2018
• Jen O’Neil speaking at Gosford Womens Heart Event for the Heart Foundation
• Attending the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute women’s heart lunch 2019 where survivor Liza was interviewed by M.C. Edwina Bartholomew
• Attending & Speaking on behalf of SCAD Heart Attack survivors at the RNS Media Conference where Minister Greg Hunt announced NSW funding

SCAD Research Inc continues to apply for community, government and private grants to fund SCAD communication and to build resources. We have successfully been awarded:

• Awarded a QANTAS Side-by-Side Community Grant for 2026. With thanks to the generous team at QANTAS and SCAD survivor and QANTAS Pilot Dale Bastin, this grant will fund SCAD t-shirts for our 2026 5k SCADaddles for Research.
• We are proudly supported by the IMB Bank Community Foundation, established in 1999 to support the communities IMB Bank calls home – find out more here. We have received a generous 2025 IMB Bank Community Foundation grant to fund the translation of SCAD Resources into different languages.
• Federal Volunteer Grant of $1,934 in 2025 from the Honorary Member for Cook, Mr Simon Kennedy
• Donation of $3k from the News Corp Employee Nominated Grants Program in 2023
• SCAD Survivor Jillian named as the Sunbites Good Fuel Fund local charity hero Aug 2022 with a $25k donation to SCAD Research Inc
• SCAD Research Inc board member Jo awarded $3k grant for SCAD Research from AMP in 2022 as part of their Unsung Hero Program
• Women & Heart Disease Grant from the Heart Foundation to create and run SCAD awareness video in NSW.
• Community Underwriting Insurance $2k grant to run SCAD video in other states across Australia
• AMP Foundation grant for $5k in both 2020 and 2021 which has funded this website, SCAD branded merchandise, event signage & Fundraising kits
• IMB Community Foundation grant for $10k to fund SCAD Resource kits for patients and medical professionals including patient brochures

The SCAD Video has now been seen by over 176.9k people via social media and online advertising .

If you would like a SCAD Survivor or member of SCAD Research Inc. to share their experience or educate your team or organisation about SCAD Heart Attacks, please email us here.

SCAD Research Inc Australia is led by Founder & President Sarah Ford, with Ian Naylor GAICD as Secretary, Sidney Ford as Treasurer and management committee of Jillian Coe (SCAD Survivor), Jen O’Neill (SCAD Survivor), Lynne Daniels (SCAD Survivor), Nadene Hall (SCAD Survivor) Mark Green who lost his beautiful wife Ro to a SCAD heart attack, Leisa Healy, Tito Machado, Dr Caroline Ford, Tanya Machado. We’d also like to acknowledge our Founding Members Jo, Rachael and Neil who continue to provide support.

With Members from across Australia, SCAD Research Inc is supported by local co-ordinators who run our major fundraisers – 5k SCADaddles for Research: Laarni (Cairns), Leanne (Brisbane), Jen (Central Coast), Alison (Melbourne), Sarah (Cronulla), Ian (Sydney), Nadene (Camden), Moonbi and Jo (Canberra), Rachael (Nowra), Jill (Hobart), Lynne (Launceston), who are all SCAD Heart Attack Survivors, Angela (Adelaide) a long time supporter and member of our Grants committee and Michelle (Sunshine Coast), long time supporter and Cardiac Nurse.

If you are interested in getting involved in any way, we would love you to join us. Please contact us here.

About IMB Bank Community Foundation
Established in 1880, IMB Bank is proudly customer-owned, and has been helping members achieve their financial goals for over 145 years. The IMB Bank Community Foundation was established in 1999 to support the communities IMB Bank calls home. Since inception, the Foundation has supported more than 1,100 grassroots community projects with over $13m in funding, helping to build better, brighter communities. Find out more at imb.com.au

To get in touch with SCAD Research Australia email here.

Join the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute SCAD Study via email here.

Join the Mayo Clinic SCAD Study via email here

Contact the Australian Cardiovascular Health & Rehabilitation Association  on +612 9431 8653

Our sister charity SCAD Research Inc U.S. http://scadresearch.org/

If you or someone you know experience any heart attack symptoms call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you’re in Australia, dial 911 in the U.S. or your local emergency number.