Thanks to the generous support of Telethon, Respiratory Care WA launched its first-ever children’s respiratory specialist clinic in Australind, providing free vital lung health care and accurate asthma diagnoses to families across the South West.
Over two days (19 and 20 June 2025) the clinic supported eleven local families, providing free in-depth consultations and lung function testing delivered by a team of expert respiratory specialists, scientists, and nurses.
“Every year in Australia, more than 13,500 children under the age of 15 are hospitalised due to asthma,” said Dr Stephen Oo, Paediatric Respiratory Physician at Respiratory Care WA.
“Many of these cases could be prevented with early diagnosis, proper management, and better understanding of the condition. We’re incredibly grateful to Telethon for helping us bring this life-changing care to regional families at no cost.”
Respiratory Care WA is a not-for-profit organisation providing community-based respiratory services, including lung function testing, patient education and asthma management. These services play a crucial role in reducing avoidable hospital visits and improving long-term outcomes for children.
Already this year, the organisation has delivered more than 400 paediatric lung function tests, but demand continues to rise.
“We’re seeing a surge in the number of children needing help managing their asthma,” said Rael Rivers, Acting CEO of Respiratory Care WA.
“Telethon’s support has helped us launch our Children’s Respiratory Specialist Hubs — but as demand continues to grow, we’ll need to expand these services to reach more families who are still searching for answers and in need of a clear diagnosis. as our Children’s Respiratory Hubs are only partially funded.”
As part of its ongoing commitment to regional respiratory care, Respiratory Care WA is planning another Children’s Respiratory Clinic in Australind later this year. Families interested in attending are encouraged to speak with their GP to arrange a referral.
“Places are limited, and the waitlist is already growing,” Ms Rivers says. “We encourage families to reach out to their GP as soon as possible.”
While the Children’s Respiratory Clinics are made possible by generous funders like Telethon, community support remains vital to reaching more families. Respiratory Care WA is asking the WA community to consider making a donation to this year’s tax appeal.
All donations over two dollars are tax-deductible and will directly support the delivery of free children’s respiratory care across Western Australia.
Video credit: Originally aired on 7News Regional WA – Wednesday 18 June 2025.
