More than 1 in 10 Australians live with asthma—that's 2.8 million people. In the Illawarra alone, over 250 people are hospitalized each year, impacting not just those with the condition but their families and communities.

In this informative episode of Community Matters, Nicky talks with Alexander Brown, Asthma Program Coordinator with Healthy Cities Australia, about a partnership that's working to change these numbers. Breathe Better Illawarra brings together Healthy Cities Australia and Asthma Australia to build an "Asthma Smart Community" - moving beyond reactive management to prevention..

Since July 2024, the program has been working with schools, families, and the broader community, with a particular focus on children. In partnership with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District's Community Asthma Education Service, they're running self-management workshops that help people move beyond reactive treatment to understand and prevent asthma flare-ups before they happen.

Alexander shares practical information about free resources including Asthma Australia's free first aid course and 1800 helpline, and dives into a critical but often overlooked issue: indoor air quality. With over 12% of Australia's asthma burden linked to indoor gas appliances, transitioning to electric alternatives or improving ventilation with rangehoods will significantly reduce flare-ups for those in homes still using gas for heating and cooking.

The conversation also explores housing standards, particularly for renters. Alexander discusses Victoria's new requirements for landlords to electrify appliances at end-of-life replacement, and his advocacy through the NSW parliamentary inquiry into indoor air quality and updates to Wollongong City Council's Development Control Plan to bring these standards to the Illawarra and beyond.

Discover how your community can breathe easier on this educational episode of Community Matters.

Links and Resources:

· Healthy Cities Australia Breathe Better Website – get in touch with Alexander and find out about asthma courses and events - Breathe Better Illawarra | Healthy Cities Australia

· Asthma Australia First Aid course (a great course for anyone who works with children) - Asthma First Aid Instructions by Asthma Australia

· 1800 Asthma – book a call with an asthma educator for advice - Book Asthma Support with 1800 Asthma Call Service

· Find out more and contribute to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into indoor air quality - Clean indoor air

Acknowledgement of Country

Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.

We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.

We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people.

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/