Helping Kids to Breathe Better – World Asthma Day 2025 

Tuesday 6 May 2025 is World Asthma Day where we aim to increase awareness of asthma and promote evidence-based care and scientific research. 

This year’s theme ‘Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL!’ recognises the fact that many people with asthma are not using the preventer medications that can keep them healthy. 

We know that many kids in Australia end up in hospital because they are not using the right medication or lack access to the education they need to look after their asthma. That’s why Healthy Cities Australia has partnered with Asthma Australia to create the Breathe Better Illawarra program. 

On Thursday 17 April Breathe Better Illawarra hosted our first School Holiday Workshop for Families Living with Asthma at Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre. Local families came together for a day of fun and learning about how to care for asthma better. 

Illawarra Shoalhaven is fortunate to have a unique Community Asthma Service staffed by specialist nurses who can support families to better manage their asthma. Nurses from the Service attended our workshop to provide information and answer questions about asthma. One participant told us, “I actually learnt so much about asthma I didn’t know before and am really glad I came.” 

Asthma Nurses provide education to participants 

We know that with the right medication and support, kids with asthma can live healthy, active lives. That’s why we invited our friends at Milk Crate Circus to the workshop, to work with kids on their circus and movements skills. The kids had a ball while their grown ups studied hard next door to learn more about how to support them with their asthma. 

Learning circus skills with Milk Crate Circus 

For families living with asthma, communication and teamwork help ensure everyone is on the same page. Asthma education nurses explained the importance of Asthma Action Plans for families, and how they can help everyone to stay on the same page when looking after the person with asthma when they are well, experiencing a flare-up or severe asthma, or in an emergency. 

Families and Healthy Cities Australia working together to develop teamwork and communication 

The workshop was also an opportunity for Healthy Cities staff to learn from families about their experience living with asthma and the barriers to accessing support. Participants shared concerns about inconsistent messages received from different health professionals and the need to maintain lines of communication with schools. Healthy Cities Australia is listening to this feedback and working with COORDINARE South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network and University of Wollongong to develop education and quality improvement initiatives for local healthcare practitioners to improve asthma management and patient education. 

For Support 

Asthma Australia’s Asthma Educators provide free information for people with living with asthma. Call 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462) or visit the Asthma Australia website to Book a Call

The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Community Asthma Service is your local source for free education and care for people living with asthma and their parents/carers. Ask your doctor for a referral or make an appointment directly yourself by calling 1300 792 755. 

To stay in touch with Breathe Better Illawarra and hear about future workshops, contact Alexander Brown at Healthy Cities Australia at alexander@healthycities.org.au or call 4283 8111 

Remember that with the right treatment and support, most people with asthma can live full and active lives and prevent unnecessary hospital visits. Make an appointment with your doctor or reach out to one of the services above to start breathing better!