North West New South Wales
Your postcode
shouldn't determine your prognosis.
Rural Hearts brings specialist cardiology outreach to the communities of North Western NSW — closing the distance between rural Australians and the cardiac care they deserve.
Now open
Now open for referrals
We're accepting referrals from GPs and other health professionals across North Western NSW.
Send referrals to
referrals@ruralhearts.netWhat to include
- Presenting complaint and reason for referral
- Relevant medical history
- Current medications and known allergies
- Recent investigations — ECG, echocardiogram, stress test, Holter monitor, angiography
- Recent relevant pathology results
- Patient contact details
Our vision
Care that travels, so patients don't have to
We envision a future where every Australian, regardless of postcode, has timely access to equitable, affordable and high-quality cardiovascular care.
Our mission is to improve cardiovascular health outcomes across rural and remote Australia by bringing specialist cardiac care closer to home. Through regular outreach clinics, telehealth, cardiovascular screening, early diagnosis, disease prevention and health promotion, we aim to reduce barriers to specialist care and ensure regional communities receive the same standard of cardiovascular healthcare as their metropolitan counterparts.
We are committed to building healthier communities through collaboration with local healthcare providers, education for clinicians and patients, and the development of sustainable regional healthcare partnerships. Alongside clinical care, we support medical research, public health initiatives, clinical registries and the responsible use of health data to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment for future generations.
As our organisation grows, we aspire to expand beyond cardiology by developing integrated specialist outreach services that strengthen regional healthcare systems and bring lasting benefits to the communities we serve.
Every donation, grant and partnership directly supports this mission — helping us deliver specialist services, invest in research and education, and create a future where access to life-saving cardiovascular care is determined by need, not geography.
Above all, we believe your postcode should never determine your prognosis.
Where we work
The Moree Plains region
The Moree Plains region sits in the heart of North West New South Wales and is one of Australia's most productive agricultural districts. The region contributes more than $2.3 billion annually to the Australian economy through agriculture, producing wheat, cotton, sorghum and around 90% of Australia's pecans. It is a vital hub for agribusiness, supporting thousands of jobs across farming, transport, banking, aviation and professional services.
Despite its importance, the region faces significant healthcare challenges. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death locally, yet residents often experience long travel distances, workforce shortages and limited access to specialist cardiac services. Moree is approximately 500 km from the nearest hospital providing 24-hour interventional cardiology services, and declining access to visiting specialists has further widened the gap in healthcare equity.
Our outreach service exists to help bridge this gap by bringing specialist cardiac care directly to the community — ensuring rural Australians can receive high-quality cardiovascular assessment and management closer to home, while reducing unnecessary travel, delays in treatment and poorer health outcomes.
Our story
About us
Dr Alice Pearlman
Founder
Founded by Dr Alice Pearlman, Rural Hearts is deeply rooted in the communities it serves. Alice is a specialist cardiologist who trained at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney before undertaking further fellowship training at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. Having grown up on a broadacre farming property north of Moree, she combines specialist cardiovascular expertise with a firsthand understanding of rural life, the resilience of regional communities, and the unique challenges people face in accessing timely, equitable healthcare.
That local connection is reflected in the governance of Rural Hearts. Our Board brings together people with strong ties to the region, including local community members, healthcare professionals and others with expertise and experience relevant to our mission. Their collective knowledge helps ensure our priorities are shaped by the needs of the communities we serve, and that our services remain practical, sustainable and responsive to the realities of healthcare in rural and remote Australia.
Rural Hearts is dedicated to delivering sustainable, equitable and high-quality cardiovascular care while strengthening local healthcare capacity through education, collaboration and partnership. Our aim is to ensure people living in regional and remote communities can access the specialist services they need, without unnecessary travel, cost or delay.
We believe access to quality healthcare should be determined by clinical need, not geography or financial circumstance. By bringing specialist care closer to home, we aim to reduce the significant personal and financial costs associated with travelling long distances for healthcare — including transport and accommodation expenses, time away from work and family, and disruption to everyday life. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, accessing care away from home may also mean leaving Country, community and important cultural and support networks.
Remaining true to the principles underpinning Medicare and Australia's commitment to universal healthcare, we believe every Australian should have access to high-quality specialist cardiovascular care based on need, regardless of where they live or what they can afford.
Through genuine partnership with local communities, clinicians and healthcare organisations, Rural Hearts seeks not only to bring specialist care closer to home, but to build local capability and create a sustainable model of cardiovascular care for regional Australia.
Get involved
Partner with us
We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the individuals, community organisations, professional groups and businesses who have supported Rural Hearts during its establishment. Their early support is helping us turn an ambitious idea into a sustainable service for rural and remote communities.
Rural Hearts is currently applying for charitable status and seeking grants, partnerships and other sources of funding to support our establishment and the long-term sustainability of our work. There are many ways to help — through funding, sponsorship, professional expertise, equipment, partnerships, advocacy, or simply connecting us with others who share our vision.
Get in touch
info@ruralhearts.netIf you'd like to support Rural Hearts, or have an idea about how your organisation could contribute, we'd love to hear from you.