For almost 13 years, I've had the privilege of taking respiratory health education and diagnosis beyond clinic walls and into communities across Western Australia.
I still remember my very first day working on my own. I found myself standing in front of more than 150 teachers, delivering an asthma education session. Looking back now, it was the beginning of a journey that has taken me into schools, Aboriginal Medical Services, community centres, prisons, seniors’ groups, health expos and remote communities hundreds of kilometres from Perth.
Melanie Preen, Community Outreach Coordinator
The people are what matter most
What has kept me passionate about this work all these years is the people.
Every conversation teaches me something new. I’ve met parents trying to keep their child safe from asthma flare-ups, older Australians managing chronic lung conditions, and First Nations families generously sharing their stories, knowledge and culture. Many have told me how grateful they are to have someone there to listen and help them and their mob with respiratory health concerns.
”These connections remind me that respiratory conditions don't discriminate. They affect people from every walk of life, yet access to support is not always equal."
Learning to speak so people feel heard
One experience that has stayed with me was my very first yarning session. Afterward, community members shared feedback about the language I was using. They encouraged me to speak more simply and avoid complicated medical terminology.
It was a lesson I’ve carried with me ever since. Health information only works if people can understand it.
From that day forward, I focused on making respiratory education practical, relatable and accessible. Whether I’m speaking with a teacher, a grandparent, a parent or a community elder, my goal is always the same: to ensure people feel confident, informed and empowered to manage their respiratory health.
Reaching those who might otherwise miss out
Outreach is about meeting people where they are.
Sometimes that means visiting a school to help staff recognise the signs of an asthma emergency. Sometimes it means sitting down with a family in a regional community to discuss asthma management. Other times it means supporting someone in a correctional facility or travelling hundreds of kilometres to reach communities with limited access to respiratory health services.
For many years, outreach programs allowed us to bring respiratory health education directly into schools, correctional facilities and communities across Western Australia.
Today, funding for much of this work is no longer available, making it increasingly difficult to reach the people who rely on these services.
That means fewer opportunities to support teachers caring for children with asthma, fewer visits to correctional facilities where respiratory conditions are often under-managed, and fewer chances to connect with people who may otherwise struggle to access reliable respiratory health information.
Yet the need for support has not disappeared.
”Today, funding for much of this work is no longer available, making it increasingly difficult to reach the people who rely on these services."
Why community outreach matters
I’ve seen firsthand the difference outreach can make.
A teacher who knows how to respond during an asthma emergency. A parent who feels confident managing their child’s condition. A person living with chronic lung disease who finally understands how to better manage their symptoms.
”These moments may seem small, but they can change lives."
Without funding, fewer people will have access to this education and support. Communities that already face barriers to healthcare will become even more isolated, and opportunities to prevent avoidable respiratory emergencies will be lost.
That’s why community support is so important. Donations, philanthropy and partnerships help bridge the gap, ensuring this vital outreach work can continue reaching the people who need it most.
Because everyone deserves access to respiratory health education and support, no matter where they live.
Your support makes this possible
This work is only possible because of the generosity of our community.
Your donation helps us continue reaching people across Western Australia whether they’re in a metropolitan school, a regional town, a remote community or somewhere in between.
It helps ensure that no matter where someone lives, they can access the respiratory health education and support they need.
