Attack asthma this autumn, attend free workshops

As the seasons change, the cooler weather can be challenging for people with asthma. Cold air, variations in humidity, and increased exposure to viruses like the flu are all triggers common in the cooler months that can bring on asthma symptoms.

Asthma is one of the most common health conditions in Australia, affecting 2.8 million people.

There were 18,502 people in the Wollongong LGA living with asthma according to the 2021 Census. What’s more, we know that asthma can be a major reason people have to use the Emergency Department, with people living in the Illawarra Shoalhaven attending Emergency Departments for asthma on 1,110 occasions in 2024. That can lead to a night in hospital, like it did for 271 Illawarra Shoalhaven residents in financial year 2022–2023.

While we are lucky to have such great hospitals here in the Illawarra, we know that most of these hospital visits are potentially preventable when people with asthma have access to the right treatment and support.

People often forget that asthma is not just symptoms like coughing and wheezing, it is a long-term disease that needs to be looked after all the time.

When someone with asthma is exposed to an asthma trigger, their airways can react by swelling and squeezing tight, producing asthma symptoms. This can happen even if they have gone a long time without symptoms, so it’s important to stay on top of.

Asthma Australia’s Attack Asthma campaign encourages families to take a proactive approach to their child’s asthma. The first step is having an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan and maintaining good control of their asthma so that they are less vulnerable to flare-ups.

It’s even more important to update your Asthma Action Plan now because last year the National Asthma Council introduced major changes to the Australian Asthma Handbook, the guidelines for how healthcare professionals can best treat asthma in the community. If you haven’t had a review with your doctor in the past 12 months, you might be missing out on the latest treatments that can help you breathe better and protect you from dangerous flare-ups.

The Asthma Australia website is a great source for all the resources you need to better look after asthma. You can download a physical copy of an Asthma Action Plan for your doctor can fill in, and complete the Asthma Control Questionnaire to see how good your asthma control is.

Asthma Australia also offers a free telephone information service provided by their Asthma Educators. Call 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462) or visit the Asthma Australia website to speak with an asthma educator.

Healthy Cities Australia is supporting Asthma Australia’s work by partnering with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District’s Community Asthma Service to provide free community workshops that help families living with asthma to gain a better understanding of the condition and look after it at home.

The next Give Me Space! workshops will be held at Unanderra Community Centre on Thursday, 16 April from 11am until 3pm.

The workshop is a great opportunity for families to connect with specialist Asthma Nurses, who provide information and answer questions.

Caregivers have told us how much they benefited from attending the workshops, saying things like: “It was very informative, comfortable to ask questions and I was able to attend while the kids enjoyed activities.”

There will be plenty of fun for the whole family, with Milk Crate Circus attending to work with the children. Participants receive a delicious lunch and snacks, a $40 shopping voucher for each adult who attends, and a free spacer device for each child with asthma.

Visit our registration page to secure your place.