Asthma Community Connector

A community-led asthma program helps Southern Yorke Peninsula residents ‘Breathe Better on Yorkes’.

Country SA PHN funded Asthma Australia to develop a whole of community integrated model of asthma self-management known as the Asthma Smart Community to help people in the region ‘breathe better’ and tackle high rates of asthma in the area.

Asthma Australia drew on the expertise and success of a similar community driven and led asthma project funded by Country SA PHN in the Mid-North of South Australia at Peterborough, Jamestown, and Orroroo, to design this project for the Southern Yorke Peninsula. Initial feedback from people with asthma in the Mid-North was that they were mainly managing alone, feeling like they had to hide their condition, were ‘allergic to their jobs’ and wanted better information about managing their asthma. Asthma Australia tailored the Southern Yorke Peninsula project to specifically suit the community experience, effectively localising the service.

To localise the project, Asthma Australia focused on community and stakeholder engagement to learn about the community and individual needs. They employed several strategies to achieve this aim including: Connected with local healthcare professionals (including Director of Nursing and Emergency Department staff of Yorketown hospital), community leaders, people with asthma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and health professionals.

Connected with the Yorke and North Local Health Network (YNLHN), Country SA PHN Community Collaborations Manager, Brenton Chappell, and the Practice Support team who assisted with introductions to Primary Health Care staff, Local Health Cluster members and General Practitioners respectively.

Created a local steering committee comprised of local representatives from the YNLHN, General Practices, pharmacies, the Yorke Peninsula Council, the Aboriginal Health Service, the Southern Community Hub, the local community transport service, and consumers.

Provided local primary health care professionals with evidence-based asthma information through events and educational activities.

Hosted community events and education sessions introducing the Mid-North Local Project Support (LPS) and Asthma Community Connector (ACC).

Promoted the project and recruited local champions to become the Southern Yorke Peninsula LPS and ACC.

Sponsored local sporting clubs, installing signage for football season.

Produced a Know the Community Report.

(Left to Right) Tim, Alyssa, Brian, Kerry and Lorraine at the Point Pearce Nunga Lunch

“I am so excited to know I am actually making a difference to people’s lives. This is what the project is all about!”

Participant story

“We woke to Lilly having an asthma attack which led to us having to call an ambulance and Lilly spending the rest of the night in the Yorketown hospital. This was the first attack we have ever experienced, and it was truly terrifying,” Lilly’s mum Cara said.

“We are excited to have this new asthma project coming to us here on Yorkes. This is going to be such a beneficial service for anyone living with asthma to gain more information and awareness and can hopefully give us the tools to be better prepared in case this should ever happen again.”

“We have been really excited to be able to take the learnings from the Mid North project to the Yorke Peninsula,” said Asthma Australia’s SA Projects and Partnerships Manager, Janine Phillips.

“This area was chosen as it is similar but has higher Indigenous and elderly populations, greater isolation, and higher asthma statistics.

We have been surprised and encouraged by the immediate and high levels of engagement with the project as people with breathing issues and other community members embrace our message of ‘Breathe Better on Yorkes.’”

One of the keys to the success of the Mid-North Asthma Smart Community project, replicated for the Southern Yorke Peninsula project, was the appointment of an Asthma Community Connector - a local support and contact point for people with breathing issues. Kerry Goldsworthy, a local with a long history of severe asthma, is the Southern Yorke Peninsula Asthma Community Connector. Kerry understands and shares many of the experiences people with asthma have.

As such, Kerry wants to help the community build an ‘Asthma Smart Community’, where people don’t have to hide their condition and are confident to manage it. Kerry listens to the community and provides information, education, and resources, including ‘Breathe Better on Yorkes’ t-shirts which have been successful in starting conversations and raising awareness.

“I am so excited to know I am actually making a difference to people’s lives,” said Kerry. “I’ve supported several people, who tell me that since their visits they feel much better, have asked their doctor for and been given an Asthma Action Plan and been referred to a specialist.

This is what the project is all about!”

“Employing a person with asthma as the local face of Asthma Australia is key to the project success, and we found just the right person, in Kerry as the Asthma Community Connector,” said Janine.

“She’s already connected with more than 40 people; including having regular visits to Point Pearce Community Health service.”

Kerry operates out of offices in Minlaton and Yorketown and covers the area south of Maitland and Ardrossan.