Respiratory disease is Australia's third biggest killer — and a leading cause of disability and reduced quality of life. Asthma affects approximately 2.7 million Australians. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is underdiagnosed and undertreated. Sleep apnoea affects approximately 9% of adults. Air pollution drives respiratory disease in cities and communities near industry. Grant funding supports research, community management programmes, pulmonary rehabilitation, and advocacy for better air quality across Australia.
Asthma
COPD
Sleep apnoea
Other respiratory conditions
NHMRC
Research grants for respiratory disease — asthma, COPD, and other conditions.
Department of Health
National Asthma Strategy — poorly funded but provides policy framework.
MBS
Spirometry and asthma management plans — inadequately incentivised in GP billing.
Lung Foundation Australia
Actually a charity — but funds significant research and patient programmes.
Occupational exposures (Safe Work Australia)
Silicosis and occupational lung disease — growing policy priority.
Lung Foundation Australia
Primary respiratory health charity — asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer:
- Research grants
- Pulmonary rehabilitation programmes
- Breathe Easy community groups
- Patient support
- Silicosis and occupational lung disease advocacy
National Asthma Council Australia
Asthma Australia
Cystic Fibrosis Australia
CF research and patient support.
Heart Foundation
Cardiovascular-respiratory intersection.
Asthma management
COPD management
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Highly evidence-based intervention for COPD and other respiratory conditions:
- Group exercise programmes
- Education (self-management, energy conservation)
- Breathe Easy groups (Lung Foundation community groups)
- Rural and telehealth pulmonary rehabilitation
Air quality
Occupational lung disease
A growing and serious priority:
- Silicosis (engineered stone benchtops — major health crisis)
- Asbestosis and mesothelioma (ongoing legacy)
- Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (Queensland — significant re-emergence)
- Occupational exposure surveillance
Indigenous respiratory health
Indigenous Australians have significantly worse respiratory outcomes:
- Bronchiectasis in children (linked to childhood respiratory infections)
- Very high COPD rates
- Higher asthma hospitalisation
- Remote area respiratory services
- Culturally appropriate self-management support
Sleep apnoea
Cystic fibrosis
Silicosis from engineered stone (kitchen benchtop) cutting is an emerging occupational health crisis in Australia:
- Young tradies developing severe silicosis after working with silica-containing engineered stone
- Australia is banning engineered stone — a world-first
- Workers already affected need medical monitoring, compensation, and support
- Research into treatment and slowing progression
Grant applications addressing silicosis monitoring, worker support, and prevention are timely and well-aligned with current policy.
Prevention ROI
Preventable asthma hospitalisations cost the health system hundreds of millions annually. Asthma management programmes (action plans, education, spacers) reduce hospitalisations at very low cost.
COPD underdiagnosis
Approximately 2 million Australians with COPD are undiagnosed — they're not accessing pulmonary rehabilitation or management that would reduce hospitalisation and improve quality of life. Early detection and management programmes are high-impact.
Silicosis urgency
The silicosis crisis in engineered stone workers is a current, active public health emergency — applications addressing worker identification, monitoring, and support are timely.
Air quality and climate
Wildfire smoke events are increasing with climate change — respiratory health and air quality programmes have an increasingly compelling climate health framing.
Tahua's grants management platform supports health funders and respiratory disease organisations — with programme participant tracking, clinical outcome measurement, community reach data, and the reporting tools that help respiratory health funders demonstrate their investment in better breathing outcomes for Australians.