March 25, 2025
Program
Breathe Better Illawarra
We are happy to be working with Healthy Cities to drive systems change that enable people with asthma to Breathe Better.
Nigel Cooper, Director – Programs and Partnerships, Asthma Australia
Overview
Breathe Better Illawarra is a community-based asthma awareness program that seeks to reduce preventable hospitalisations and improve outcomes for people with asthma through community education, partnership, and advocacy.
Did you know that 2.8 million people in Australia are living with asthma? It is one of our most chronic diseases, with 1,005 emergency department presentations and 254 hospitalisations attributed to asthma in 2021 – 2022 in the Illawarra Shoalhaven alone. The sad fact is that most of these hospitalisations are preventable. Healthy Cities is working to help people with asthma stay out of hospital and live happier, healthier lives.
Aim
To reduce preventable hospitalisations and emergency department presentations in people with asthma in the Wollongong area.
Objectives
- Increase community awareness about asthma and its management
- Raise awareness about correct medication use
- Provide information about local asthma services
- Reduce environmental exposures to asthma triggers
- Reduce preventable hospitalisations of people with asthma
- Advocate for better care for people with asthma
Whats involved
Breathe Better Illawarra is a partnership between Healthy Cities and Asthma Australia. We want to reduce asthma-related hospitalisations in Wollongong by improving how people self-manage their symptoms. We also work on the social and environmental determinants of health that contribute to people with asthma ending up in hospital.
How it works
Breathe Better Illawarra shares health promotion messaging through community events and in the media. We offer information sessions to schools and community groups where we share information about asthma management and direct people to appropriate clinical resources. Breathe Better Illawarra works with healthcare professionals to understand the barriers to self-management and design programs to help people with asthma stay healthy and enjoy life. We also advocate for better asthma care and for improvements to the urban environment that can reduce exposure to asthma triggers.
