The resources on this page have been co-developed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people manage their asthma. We acknowledge the expertise of all groups who have developed these resources.
Patient Education
- How to use a puffer and spacer: An infographic developed by the the Menzies School of Health Research, Queensland Indigenous Outreach Care Program (2013). Provides step-by-step instructions on how to use a puffer with a spacer to get as much medicine as possible into the lungs. For more information please visit: Menzies School of Health Research.
- Lung Health App for Indigenous families/children : An interactive lung health education tool for Indigenous children and families, with interactive images, audio and quizzes.
About the App: The Lung Health App was developed by the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin, supported by funding from Asthma Australia. The App can be used with or without ‘voice-over’ in English or one of seven local Indigenous languages from the Northern Territory Tiwi, Murrinh Patha, Yolngu Matha, Kriol, Ptijantatjara, Western Arrente and Warlpiri. The app was evaluated with 80 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers from Darwin and Queensland, and it was found that knowledge of asthma significantly improved after using the asthma app. Carers found the language option novel and were overwhelmingly positive about the content and images used (Evaluation publication can be viewed here: Versteegh et al. 2022). For more information please visit: Menzies School of Health Research and Asthma Australia.
- Asthma in Adults flip chart: Available as a pdf file here, or flipcharts can be ordered here.
About the Flipchart: The Asthma flipchart is a project of the Queensland Health Statewide Respiratory Clinical Network, through its Indigenous Respiratory Outreach Care (IROC) Program, the Asthma Foundation Northern Territory and Menzies School of Health Research. This flipchart was developed in consultation with: Asthma Work Group, Queensland Health Statewide Respiratory Clinical Network, Menzies, School of Health Research – Child Health Division, Asthma Foundation Queensland, Asthma Foundation Northern Territory.
- COVID and Influenza education Resource package. Developed by NSW Health (2023), includes posters, social media tiles and videos sharing information about Influenza, COVID-19 and vaccination.
- Asthma Resources to help children. Developed by the Perth Children’s Hospital Keeping our Mob healthy, a suite of culturally appropriate and accessible child health factsheets on respiratory health.
About these Factsheets: The Keeping our Mob Healthy resources were developed as part of a collaborative initiative to improve the relevance of health information and condition self-management resources for Aboriginal families at Perth’s Children’s Hospital and Adolescent Health services. Aboriginal Liason Officers, Social workers, an Aboriginal Health Worker, Aboriginal artist, consumers, clinicians and other WA stakeholders were involved in factsheet design and feedback. The full suite of 130 Keeping our Mob Healthy Healthy fact sheets can be found here.
Australian Asthma Handbook (National Asthma Council, Australia) : Asthma in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Cultural considerations, and considerations for diagnosis, assessment and management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Cultural Awareness and Safety
- A guide for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients: From the Bronchiectasis Toolbox, includes a discussion on cultural safety, understanding relationships and family involvement, and communicating respectfully.
- Cultural awareness training resources: From Australian Indigenous HealthInfonet.
Remote and Rural Health Care Manuals - with asthma information for adults
The Minymaku Kutju Tjukurpa Women’s Business Manual contains evidence-based protocols to help manage the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in remote Australia. The production of a manual for women’s business respects the wishes of Aboriginal women to keep women’s health private and separate from other health problems. The manual contains information that Aboriginal women regard as sensitive and private.
Originally produced by Congress Alukura under its umbrella organisation, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, one of the largest and oldest Aboriginal community-controlled health services in the Northern Territory. Congress Alukura is a health service for the Aboriginal women of Central Australia, providing a community-controlled women’s health and maternity care service and aiming to support the Grandmother’s Law in health and birthing. Cultural guidance and advice is provided by the Alukura Cultural Advisory Council.
The CARPA STM is a tool to support evidence-based practice in remote and rural practice, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services. Written in a brief, easy to read style, the CARPA STM helps practitioners deal with a range of health, social and work conditions unique to the context of rural or remote Australian communities.
Produced through a collaboration between the Central Australian Rural Practitioners Association, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, CRANAplus and Flinders University.
The Medicines Book is designed to be used by clinicians, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners who may not be able to access or read other common medicine reference books, and want to share information on medicines with patients who have low levels of English literacy.
Produced through a collaboration between the Central Australian Rural Practitioners Association, CentralAustralian Aboriginal Congress, CRANAplus and Flinders University.
RACGP Resources
- National guide to a preventive health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Third edition
- and associated Evidence Base contains the collection of evidence underpinning the guide and recommendations.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet Resources
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet provides a wide variety of knowledge exchange resources about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health which are updated regularly. The HealthInfoNet team is based within Edith Cowan University (ECU), Western Australia, within Kurongkurl Katitjin, the ECU Centre for Indigenous Australian Education and Research. Core funding is provided by the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care.
Mental Health Support
- 13YARN: A 24-hour crisis counselling service available over the telephone or online, specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Call 13YARN or 13 92 76 or visit the website here.
Page artwork by Carissa Paglino, a proud Wanaruah woman.
Acknowledgement of Country
The Asthma in Pregnancy Toolkit acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.