We spend a lot of time inside our homes and many of us may be unaware of the allergens and pollutants we live with. In fact, our Homes, Health and Asthma Report shows that 3 in 10 people get worse allergy and asthma symptoms while at home. With the cost of living stretching everyone’s dollar, it’s no surprise that cost is a major barrier to making homes healthier. This is why we ran the 2023 Asthma Australia Healthy Homes Competition, giving away over $10,000 worth of appliances and products to improve home health for two lucky people – a person who is renting and a home owner. We’d lik ..read more

  Your inhaler sends your asthma medicines straight into your lungs. So it’s no surprise that keeping it clean should be a big part of your asthma management routine. Types of inhalers need to be cleaned in their own ways. Your puffer or inhaler will come with a guide in the package. It’s always best to check the insert for any instructions. Here is a guide for the main types of puffers or inhalers. If you aren’t sure which sort of puffer or inhaler you have, ask your pharmacist. Puffers A puffer is what some people call a ‘pressurised metered dose inhaler’ or pMDI for short. This is one ..read more

  When Julie’s son Matthew died at age 34 due to asthma in April 2013, she hoped no other family would have to go through the same experience. By championing Matty’s legacy and raising much-needed money for asthma education and research, Julie and her family hope to save others.    It all started with one question: “Do you think we could do something to honour Matty’s memory?” With that, Julie and her family started the Matty34 Legacy.  “Matty was a keen sportsman and was very involved with the baseball community both in Bendigo and Melbourne. We raise funds for Asthma Australia & awa ..read more

  Making a safe and healthy environment for students and staff is a top priority for any school. One piece of the puzzle often overlooked is indoor air quality. Air pollution can lead to asthma flare-ups, allergic reactions and respiratory infections. In this blog, we’ll explore some steps schools can take to maintain clean air and promote the well-being of everyone on campus.  Controlling Sources of Pollution: Dust, mold and allergens contribute to unhealthy air, and in turn cause asthma flare-ups. Regular cleaning routines, the use of low-chemical products and quick profession ..read more

  The manufacturer of Ventolin (salbutamol) nebules, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), has informed us that they are anticipating a temporary supply outage of Ventolin nebules 2.5mg/2.5mL.   There are no temporary supply outage issues with Ventolin puffers/inhalers or Ventolin nebules 5mg/2.5mL. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Which medicine is affected?    Ventolin nebules 2.5mg/2.5mL.  How long will the supply outage last?  Expected until Thursday 1 August 2024.   What is this medicine used for?  Sometimes used to treat asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive P ..read more

  As we approach the end of 2023, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank you all for being a part of our Asthma Australia community.   We exist because people’s lives are still restricted by asthma. In Australia, 2.7 million people live with asthma. With social and environmental factors fuelling the prevalence and burden of asthma, we know we can and must do better to ensure everyone can access appropriate services.    Throughout the year, we have continued to focus on delivering positive outcomes and making a difference in the lives of people with asthma:  ..read more

  A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single pedal stroke. Meet Shane Landers, an adventurous soul with a heart of gold, who is embarking on an extraordinary quest to make a difference in the lives of children with asthma.   “Shane’s Lap of Australia for Kids with Asthma by Bicycle” is not just a physical journey, but a mission to raise awareness and funds for Asthma Australia’s vital programs and services.   Shane’s passion for cycling has taken him on various adventures. But this time, he is determined to push the boundaries and give back to the community. In ..read more

  Asthma Australia is proud to support the careers of our future asthma researchers! This includes Dr Ryan Mackle, who is currently completing his PhD project. Ryan’s project is trialling a virtual model of care for children living in rural NSW who present to the emergency department for their asthma. It hopes to connect children and their families to the right care, regardless of where they live. “This Asthma Australia Scholarship gives me the invaluable opportunity to embark on research early in my paediatric respiratory career. I hope that through this PhD I can continue to make an ong ..read more

  I have had asthma since I was a toddler and am now a mum of three kids with asthma. I was admitted to hospital in 2021 after a serious asthma attack. It caught me by surprise because the triggers and presentation of symptoms were different than usual. At the hospital they recommended I speak to Asthma Australia and sent a referral. I spoke to the Asthma Educators at Asthma Australia and had one or two follow-up calls as well. During those phone calls I learnt new information about asthma, medications, and asthma management. There were still things I didn’t know about asthma and things t ..read more

  I had COVID in January 2022 and was diagnosed with post-COVID asthma and struggled to get my symptoms under control. My 2022 was full of hospital visits, ambulances and continuous doctors’ appointments. I think the longest time between attacks across the year was only 3 weeks. I called 1800 ASTHMA several times over the year when I had questions. They would also send me follow-up information on email, call me back, and I get the newsletters and use the website to find information. Being able to call 1800 ASTHMA made a big difference. Firstly, I discovered I was not taking my inhalers co ..read more