Information for health professionals and the wider sector is gradually moving. Until mid-2026, information will either be here, or on our other website — tewhatuora.govt.nz.
Acute rheumatic fever resources for health professionals and patients
Resources to support with the prevention and management of rheumatic fever for health professionals and their patients.
Clinical guidelines
Clinical guidelines on the prevention, diagnosis and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.
Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease guidelines
E-learning courses for health professionals
Two e-learning courses are available at Ko Awatea Learn or healthLearn.
Rheumatic fever course
This course is aimed at health professionals who work with whānau and tamariki who are at higher risk of developing rheumatic fever. It is for:
- primary care nurses
- public health nurses
- district nurses
- community health workers.
Acute rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease and oral health course
This module highlights why oral health is critical for cardiac safety. It shows how every health professional can contribute to improved health outcomes for rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease patients.
Information for patients
My Rheumatic Fever/Rheumatic Heart Disease Journey
You can give this booklet to patients and their whānau to support them after being diagnosed with rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease. This booklet is intended to be completed together with the team of health professionals and whānau.
It comes in 4 languages — English, Te Reo Māori, Samoan and Tongan.
My rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease journey — KidsHealthexternal link
Warfarin management guide for rheumatic heart disease
This guidance booklet is for patients who need warfarin to prevent blood clots after a valve replacement due to rheumatic fever. It includes guidance on:
- how to take warfarin
- how they will be monitored
- things to watch out for.
The guide comes in 4 languages — English, Te Reo Māori, Samoan and Tongan.
Warfarin management guide for rheumatic heart disease — KidsHealthexternal link
Warfarin patient information
A short, 3-step patient guide to taking warfarin. It comes in 4 languages — English, Te Reo Māori, Samoan and Tongan.
Warfarin patient information — KidsHealthexternal link
Rheumatic fever co-design initiative resources
The co-design initiative bought Māori, Samoan and Tongan communities in Auckland together to identify ways to better prevent and manage rheumatic fever. The initiative has produced a range of resources to support health professionals and whānau.
Background to the rheumatic fever co-design initiativeexternal link
Te Tīma Māori rheumatic fever co-design resources
Kiriata (videos) — Ko tō Manawa, ko tōku Manawa (Your heart, my heart)
These 3 kiriata are made specifically for tamariki Māori. They are centred around the whakapapa pūrākau of Papatūānuku and Ranginui, and how their tamariki brought light to a world of darkness. This is a metaphor for how tamariki can do the same with rheumatic fever.
The kiriata use te reo Māori, karakia, waiata and positive messaging to provide tamariki and their whānau with the knowledge they need to be safe from rheumatic fever.
Video 1: Te putanga i te pōuriuri — Navigating the darkness
In video 1, our guides Hinehui and Māreikura help us understand what rheumatic fever is.
Navigating the darknessexternal link
Video 2: Kia haumaru tā tātou noho — Protecting our world
Video 2 explains why sore throats are a problem and what to do if you get one.
Protecting our worldexternal link
Video 3: Kia kotahi mai rā — United in the light
Video 3 has a focus on our collective responsibility and the need to look out for one another.
He Kōrero Whakamana – rheumatic fever language guidelines
The language guidelines are a resource to support media and health professionals when talking to whānau Māori about rheumatic fever in a way that upholds mana. It provides alternatives to the negative words and phrases that are often used, to help remove the stigma around this condition.
He Kōrero Whakamana – Rheumatic Fever Language Guidelines
This list has been taken from the full guidelines document.
Try to avoid using this negative language and using the positive alternative below it.
Rheumatic fever is a third world condition.
- Rheumatic fever is a complex condition that unfortunately discriminates against some people.
Rheumatic fever is a condition of poverty.
- Inequities in society create the conditions for poverty, which increase the risks of rheumatic fever.
Rheumatic fever is a Māori condition.
- It’s a big challenge for us as Māori, especially for our tamariki and rangatahi.
Families living in low socioeconomic areas are likely to get rheumatic fever.
- Despite experiencing inequities, we Māori can draw on a range of approaches to protect ourselves against rheumatic fever.
Where you live determines whether or not you will get rheumatic fever.
- Māori have effective ways of sharing knowledge across generations and can do so with rheumatic fever.
- Preventing rheumatic takes a collective team effort – it is not the fault of an individual.
Rheumatic fever is preventable if parents take their children to the doctor.
- We can redesign our health, social and housing systems to overcome the causes of rheumatic fever.
Māori are genetically predisposed to getting rheumatic fever.
- There are things we can all do to keep our hearts strong and healthy.
- The good news is there are ways we can prevent it.
Rheumatic fever is caused by whānau ignoring sore throats.
- Early checking of sore throats is a great way to reduce the risks of rheumatic fever.
- By looking out for each other, we can make a real difference.
Samoa Team rheumatic fever co-design resources
Three case study videos have been created showing prototypes (trial versions) of community solutions to preventing and managing rheumatic fever. The solutions were designed and tested by:
- Samoan patients, young people and families
- health professionals.
This work was supported by the Samoa rheumatic fever co-design initiative team.
The prototypes are being used as examples of good practice to support health professionals to engage effectively with people affected by rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.
Case Study 1: Creating meaningful community partnerships — Ōtara Scorpions Rugby League Club
This case study shows how a community partnership with the Ōtara Scorpions Rugby League was created to design and provide a successful community-based rheumatic fever prevention and management health service.
Case Study 1: Ōtara Scorpions Rugby League Clubexternal link
Case Study 2: Developing young people and their capacity to create change in the rheumatic fever system — youth talanoa night
A case study showing how young Samoans living with rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease designed and hosted their own information sharing event with other young people. This case study shows how young people can effectively raise awareness and support prevention efforts in the community. The wellbeing of the young designers was supported throughout the process.
Case Study 2: Youth Talanoa Nightexternal link
Case Study 3: Soālaupule capability build
Soālaupule is a Samoan shared decision-making process that enables collective agreement on actions and outcomes. The approach supports health professionals to improve their engagement and communication with Samoans.
Case Study 3: Soālaupule capability buildexternal link
Soālaupule family meeting guide
The Soālaupule family meeting guide is designed for health professionals to support them to communicate and engage effectively with Samoan patients and their families. The guide explains an inclusive decision-making process (Soālaupule) between patients and their families, and health professionals. The Soālaupule meeting process applies the Fa’asamoa way (Samoan way) of doing things and power dynamics are shared.
This guide is the final version.
Soālaupule family meeting guide
Soālaupule capability building workshop
The Soālaupule capability building workshop is a learning module for health professionals that explains and demonstrates Soālaupule. It shows the value of applying Samoan principles of dialogue, consensus building, and power sharing in health.
The guide gives practical advice on the Soālaupule approach to:
- decision making
- resource allocation
- engaging families in determining the most appropriate support and care for people with rheumatic fever.
Soālaupule capability building workshopexternal linkPDF
Soālapule podcast — Goodfellow Unitexternal link
Soālapule course — Goodfellow Unitexternal link
Rheumatic fever infographic and glossary
This bilingual infographic and glossary is designed for health professionals to use when having conversations with Samoan patients and their families about rheumatic fever. The resource helps to bridge a language barrier between a Samoan patient and a health professional. This is the final version of this resource.
Lomipeau Tongan rheumatic fever co-design resources
Tool for non-Tongan clinicians
This tool is for non-Tongan clinicians to support with providing affirming care to Kāinga Tonga (Tongan patients and their extended families). The tool is based on stories from kāinga. It was developed with Tongan clinicians and tested with GPs, nurses and other health professionals.
Tools for non-Tongan clinicians
Lomipeau posters
The posters were created as a way to share knowledge with Kāinga Tonga. They use quotes from kāinga who have experienced rheumatic fever to support others and show that they are not alone.