The Turnbull Government will provide more than $8 million in funding to support thousands of asthma patients in Australia.
Asthma can be fatal, causing around 400 deaths each year and asthma attacks cause around 40,000 hospitalisations every year.
More than 2.5 million Australians are affected by asthma and it is one of the most common chronic conditions among children.
Asthma Australia will receive $7.6 million to continue two training programs.
Asthma Australia’s Asthma Child and Adolescent Program delivers asthma information and emergency training for staff in preschools and schools and supports self-management for adolescents while its Community Support Program delivers community training education workshops and information online.
National Asthma Council will receive $525,000 to boost its support for GPs and nurses.
This program provides training in best practice response to asthma and linked chronic respiratory conditions to primary care health practitioners, including GPs, practice nurses and Indigenous health workers.
This additional funding means that the National Asthma Council is now receiving $1.26 million to support the conduct of the program over three years.
Australia has high incidence of asthma compared to other similar countries. People living in remote or lower socio-economic areas have higher rates and are more likely to have severe and life threatening asthma.
In January I announced $1 million for the National Asthma Strategy, which will provide a roadmap for more effective treatment and better care for patients.
(ENDS)