National Asthma Strategy 2018

The National Asthma Strategy 2018 (the Strategy) aims to outline Australia’s national response to asthma and inform how existing limited health care resources can be better coordinated and targeted across all levels of government. It identifies the most effective and appropriate interventions to reduce the impact of asthma in the community and continue to be an international leader in asthma prevention, management and research. 

Overcoming the many barriers to improving asthma diagnosis and management requires a multi-sectoral response that has the person with asthma and their caregivers at the centre. This Strategy provides guidance for collaborative efforts by governments and other parts of the community, including people with asthma, health care professionals, non-government organisations, researchers, families, carers, communities and industry, to improve asthma control and patient quality of life and reduce asthma morbidity and its associated costs and further reduce asthma mortality. The goal of the Strategy is to reduce the health, social and economic impacts of asthma with a targeted and comprehensive approach to optimise asthma diagnosis and management, including within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population and other priority populations. To achieve this, the Strategy outlines five high-level objectives with potential areas for action. While the Strategy is not an action plan and does not mandate any specific activities, it does include potential initiatives that may be considered by governments and health organisations in planning any future action relating to asthma and other chronic respiratory conditions.

The five objectives of this Strategy are:

1. Support effective self-management practices.
2. Develop the health professional workforce.
3. Enhance asthma care and management.
4. Create supportive community environments.
5. Promote research, evidence and data.

The National Asthma Council Australia led the development of this Strategy, in partnership with Asthma Australia, and with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health. This Strategy has been informed by the expert advice of the National Asthma Strategy Advisory Group and consultations with key stakeholders and the community. This Strategy was developed in consultation with state and territory jurisdictions via the Community Care and Population Health Principal Committee, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Standing Committee, the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council) and the Council of Australian Governments.