The Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon. Mark Butler, MP, will today launch the National Asthma Council Australia’s (NAC) updated Australian Asthma Handbook at a webinar for health professionals.
The updated Australian Asthma Handbook outlines important new recommendations that encourage health professionals to stop prescribing or advising treatment with as-needed short-acting beta2 agonists (SABA) alone to manage asthma in adults and adolescents.
The revised NAC Australian Asthma Handbook now recommends anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR) only therapy and maintenance-and-reliever therapy (MART) for adults and adolescents (aged over 12).
Clinical Associate Professor Debbie Rigby, pharmacist and Clinical Executive Lead, NAC, said inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are now indicated for all adults and adolescents with asthma.
“The updated NAC Australian Asthma Handbook guidelines released today state that all adults and adolescents with asthma need ICS as part of their treatment to reduce inflammation and prevent exacerbations.
“SABA-only treatment is associated with a higher risk of severe asthma exacerbations compared with AIR-only or with maintenance treatment with a low dose of ICS.
“For patients not using maintenance ICS-containing inhalers, low-dose budesonide-formoterol taken as needed markedly reduces the risk of severe exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids, compared with SABA taken as needed,” she said.
Minister Butler said the 2.8 million Australians living with asthma all depend on their healthcare teams to make informed decisions - guided by the latest clinical advice and practical tools – to deliver the best care and treatment possible.
"The updated Australian Asthma Handbook will support primary health professionals to better diagnose, treat and manage their patients with the condition.
“It is the latest part of a national push to improve how asthma and related respiratory conditions are managed, helping those living with asthma to breathe easier and live well,” said Minister Butler.
The launch of the updated NAC Australian Asthma Handbook and website follows extensive research and review of national and international evidence, led by a multidisciplinary network of expert primary care and specialist contributors on the NAC’s Guidelines Committee.
Professor Nick Zwar, Chair of the NAC Guidelines Committee, said the most critical take-home message for health professionals is to prescribe anti-inflammatory treatment from day one when it comes to asthma in adults and adolescents.
“The common approach was starting patients with mild asthma on SABA as needed however this did not treat the underlying inflammation. Starting patients on the new recommendation for low-dose budesonide-formoterol as needed offers a more evidence-based approach to asthma management and reflects the biology of the condition.
“Patients sometimes initially think that an anti-inflammatory reliever doesn’t work as well as their SABA puffer, and we need to help them understand that it is working – the quick action of the long-acting beta-agonist gives relief from symptoms, and also, they are getting an anti-inflammatory effect from the low-dose corticosteroid.
“The new recommendations give a patient just as good a response and treatment effect in terms of reducing the risk of having future exacerbations and needing to use oral prednisolone and they are very similar in terms of day to day symptom control.
Professor Zwar added that when prescribing AIR or MART treatment, every patient should be given a written asthma action plan.
“This clearly outlines what the person is supposed to do and how much medication they should be using and when they should be concerned.
“If the patient takes action early and they are using a low dose anti-inflammatory medication, it means that the asthma attack is controlled more quickly and they are using less reliever medication.
“We also encourage all health professionals to advise patients to carry their anti-inflammatory reliever at all times and use it when they experience difficulty breathing, or before exercise, if needed,” he said.
Dr Anita Muñoz, Chair Victoria Faculty, RACGP and Practice Owner, congratulated the National Asthma Council Australia on the launch of the updated asthma guidelines and encouraged all RACGP members to take time to review the new recommendations.
“Many Australians are managing their own asthma just with blue puffers that they buy over the counter at the pharmacy, but that is no longer recommended and encourages risky over-reliance.
“We encourage people with asthma to see their GP to discuss how the new recommendations may affect them and make sure they update their written asthma action plan,” said Dr Muñoz.
The NAC is encouraging all health professionals to review the new Asthma Treatment Guidelines section on the updated website.
Summary of key changes for adults and adolescents with asthma:
Initial treatment for most (AIR-only)
MART (maintenance-and-reliever therapy)
The Australian Asthma Handbook, published by the National Asthma Council, provides the national guidelines for asthma management in Australia leading the provision of evidence-based, practical advice for asthma management in primary care.
The revised 2025 edition also includes changes for improved diagnosis and management of asthma in infants and children.
Gain expert insights into the key changes to the NAC Australian Asthma Handbook at the ‘Reshaping asthma management’ webinar on Tuesday 16 Sept 2025 07:00 PM AEST.
The webinar recording, which also includes CPD point attainment, will also be available after the event.
For further information or an interview with a NAC spokesperson, please contact:
Donna Le Page, Le Page PR
Mobile: 0429 825 703 or Email: [email protected]
The National Asthma Council Australia is a collaboration of four member organisations (APNA, ASCIA, PSA and RACGP) and the national trusted authority for asthma knowledge. We set and disseminate the standards for asthma care through our responsive and evidence-based asthma guidelines - the Australian Asthma Handbook and resources for primary health care professionals. Our Sensitive Choice program empowers consumers to identify asthma and allergy-aware products and services.
