In a world-first medical milestone, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney successfully implanted Australia’s first BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart, offering new hope to people with end-stage heart failure. The patient, implanted with the titanium, single-part BiVACOR device, was the first in the world to walk out of hospital with it and live independently at home — until he later received a successful heart transplant more than 100 days later.

This groundbreaking achievement is the result of decades-long collaboration between key partners within the Precinct — notably the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, with significant philanthropic support from the St Vincent’s Curran Foundation.

The procedure highlights how strong partnerships between clinicians, researchers, and philanthropic supporters can drive innovation.

This success builds on a legacy of cardiac firsts here, from the nation’s first heart transplant conducted in 1968, to other modern-day breakthroughs including the heart-in-a-box. Heart-in-a-box extends the life of donor hearts, improving the outcomes for patients, and dramatically expanding the available pool of heart donors. As of 2025, 130 heart-in-a-box enabled transplants have been performed at St Vincent’s Hospital representing a 30 per cent increase over the last 10 years. Seed funding for the heart-in-a-box was provided by the St Vincent’s Clinic Research Foundation.

As Australia, and the world, faces rising rates of heart failure, this united effort across the Precinct exemplifies how partnership, innovation and care can change lives — and shape the future of cardiac treatment for all.