It’s time to prepare for the winter season. Are you ready?

Dear Friend,

It has been an unbelievable start to the year with many people asking if we can reboot and start the year again. Through all of this, we have been so fortunate to receive generous support and encouragement from our supporters and community without whom, we could not have adapted and pushed through this forever evolving and challenging time. To each of you, we say thank you.

Like everyone else, we have had to change the way we operate, implementing the same social distancing rules while also meeting the increased calls for our assistance. Our face to face clinics remain closed for the foreseeable future, but our Respiratory Health Nurses and Educators are all working from home and eager to support you in whatever way they can. The easiest way to get in touch is through our COVID-19 Helpline on 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462) which is officially launching today on World Asthma Day.

Now is also the time to be updating your Asthma Action Plan, reviewing medications and if you haven’t already, getting the flu vaccination so you are as well as you can be before winter.

It is with sincere gratitude that I thank everyone who supported our Emergency Appeal which has in turn, led to additional funding support to further bolster our service capacity. Because of all of you, we are able to expand our services and support more people right across Western Australia during this time when so many of our community are finding it tough.

Please know that you are in our thoughts at this challenging time and reach out if we can be of assistance.

With gratitude and best wishes,

Donna Rendell
Chief Executive Officer, Asthma WA

Our COVID-19 Helpline is supporting people right across WA

It’s World Asthma Day and we are launching our telephone helpline for people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), many of whom have increased concerns about the effects of COVID-19 on their health and the upcoming winter season.

Our team works closely with General Practitioners and Primary Health Care Providers to provide ongoing and up-to-date support to people living with respiratory conditions in Western Australia, with the aim to help them be as healthy as possible before winter sets in.

If you or someone you know has asthma or COPD, we encourage you to contact our team of experienced Respiratory Health Nurses and Educators so you may be prepared for the coming months.

Our team can help you with:

understanding your asthma/COPD
understanding how to take your medications
identifying your triggers
advice on how to reduce your risk of catching COVID-19 or the influenza virus
asthma and COPD education for individuals

Our COVID-19 Helpline is available Monday to Friday on 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462).

This service was made possible thanks to the generous support of the WA Primary Health Alliance.

Why get the flu shot when you are social distancing?

Social distancing and other measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 should have the same effect of limiting the spread of the influenza virus this year.

You might think that this means it’s less important for you to have the influenza vaccination. In fact, the opposite is true. This year more than ever before we need people to be vaccinated against the influenza virus to provide the greatest protection to the community.

Having the flu shot is a great way you, your family, friends and co-workers can play a part in easing the potential strain on our health care system.

As we all begin to celebrate the beginning of 'flattening the curve' and look forward to a time where restrictions might be lifted, it is important to remember what this means - we have slowed the spread of COVID-19 but we have not eliminated it all together. People will still be infected by COVID-19, but our health system will be in a better position to cope with any demand, which we hope will mean fewer deaths.

Adding influenza into the mix puts unnecessary pressure on our health system so it’s important we work together to avoid a repeat of 2019, which saw the highest reported cases of influenza in 20 years in Australia.

Play your part. Get vaccinated now.

More information about the influenza vaccination and frequently asked questions are available on our website. Our team of Respiratory Health Nurses and Educators are also here to address any concerns you might have about the influenza vaccination and provide further support and information on your asthma and COPD management. Call our COVID-19 Helpline on 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462).

Have you joined the Asthma Alert community yet?

How many times have you walked outside your home or office to smell smoke in the air? It may be isolated to your local area or it may be widespread.

It can be hard to predict smoke with the changes in weather patterns so it’s important that we work together to keep each other informed.

Through the Asthma Alert community, we encourage people to support one another and share information about smoke in their area, as we aim to reduce the risk of a life-threatening asthma emergency. You don’t have to have asthma to be a member or help keep our community safe.

If smoke is a trigger for you or someone you care for, we encourage you to join the Asthma Alert Facebook group today and share it with your family and friends so they can be prepared for smoke events too.

The group will also provide tips on how to manage your asthma, what to do in an asthma emergency along with alerts shared from Emergency WA regarding new smoke events in WA

Join the Asthma Alert community

Learn more

COVID-19 Emergency Appeal - Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who supported our COVID-19 Emergency Appeal. Because of you, all of our Respiratory Health Nurses and Educators are set up safely at home with all the necessary infrastructure and technology they need.

Your prompt response to our call for support meant there was no interruption to our service delivery and we were able to manage the increased demand for assistance from people with asthma and COPD right across our state, when they needed it most.

Thank you also to NAB in WA who doubled your donations which could not have come at a better time.

There is still time to make a tax-deductible donation to Asthma WA. Your gift will make a world of difference to our dedicated team and the people we support each day.

Donate and support Asthma WA's important services

See Your GP

When was the last time you saw your GP? If you have put your regular health checks on hold during the pandemic, now’s the time to pop back in to see your GP. By delaying your visit to your GP, you may be putting yourself at greater risk of delayed diagnosis or care for serious health problems.

So please, pick up the phone and call your GP to find out how you can keep safe while still looking after your own health.

Will you hang up your Fairy Lights?

Fairy Lights for our Frontline is a collective effort, led by local charities and powered by you.

In light of the incredible work done by our frontline workers, let's illuminate our streets from May 8th to say thank you. String up your lights, and together we can brighten up the night for our hard working frontline staff and community services.

How to take part

Flick on your fairy lights from 8th of May 2020
Post onto your social media with the hashtag #frontlinefairylights
Share with friends and family to spread the love and light

Find out more about how you can get involved and celebrate the amazing work of our frontline workers.

Find out how you can support this initiative

Brighten Mum's Day this Sunday

Looking for a great way to brighten Mum's Day this Sunday? Entertainment (formerly Entertainment Books) are offering a BONUS $10 or $20 BIG W eGift Card with an extra 2 months Membership FREE on Single and Multi City Membership as well as giving you up to 6 months to activate it. Support Asthma WA and local businesses while giving your Mum the gift of Entertainment this Mother's Day.

Dates for your calendar

Tuesday 5 May - World Asthma Day
Friday 8 May - Fairy Lights for Our Frontline
Sunday 10 May - Mother's Day
Tuesday 12 May - International Nurses Day
Tuesday 26 May - National Sorry Day
Wednesday 27 May - National Reconciliation Week begins
30 May - 1 June - WA Day long weekend