New Quick Reference Guides Released to Improve Asthma Care in Australia
23 Jun 2026
National Asthma Council Australia has published two updated tools: a 20-page quick reference guide and a 27-page inhaler technique resource for people with asthma and COPD. The aim is to support clinicians in applying the latest national asthma guidelines in everyday practice.
The tools are based on updates to the Australian Asthma Handbook, released in September last year, and are designed to help manage the estimated 2.8 million Australians living with asthma.
A key change highlighted in the guide is the move away from short-acting beta agonist (SABA)-only treatment for adolescents and adults, including the commonly used “blue puffers”.
Instead, the guide promotes a step-by-step, control-based approach to asthma care, including treatment options such as anti-inflammatory reliever therapy (AIR-only) and maintenance-and-reliever therapy (MART), with clear dosing tables for clinicians.
The inhaler technique resource includes detailed illustrations, photos, and checklists for different inhaler types used in asthma and COPD care. It emphasises that correct technique is essential for medicines to reach the lungs effectively and improve symptom control.
Experts involved in the development of the guide said many patients are still not using their inhalers correctly, and often their technique is not regularly checked in clinical practice.
They also encourage healthcare professionals to actively demonstrate and check inhaler use, using methods such as “watch, don’t just ask” and “show, don’t just tell” to improve patient outcomes.
Clinical leaders say the updated guides are designed to save time for busy GPs by bringing all key information into one easy reference, instead of searching through longer guideline documents.
The resources are available online for download and can be used by GPs, nurses, and pharmacists to support better asthma management across primary care.
New Quick Reference Guides Released to Improve Asthma Care in Australia
Source: National Asthma Council Australia and updates to the Australian Asthma Handbook