01 May 2026
The National Asthma Council (NAC) updated the Australian Asthma Handbook in September 2025, with important changes to asthma management for adults and adolescents (aged 12 and over).
Key change
- The updated guidelines recommend stopping the use of as‑needed short‑acting beta₂ agonists (SABA) alone for asthma management.
What’s recommended now
- Anti‑inflammatory reliever (AIR)–only therapy, or
- Maintenance‑and‑reliever therapy (MART)
These approaches focus on treating underlying airway inflammation, not just relieving symptoms, to improve asthma control and reduce risk.
Resources to support implementation
- New accompanying resources to help with translation into practice: Suite of information sheets launched on five key asthma – National Asthma Council Australia
- Free CPD webinar to support implementation of the updated guidelines, Reshaping Asthma Management, on Thursday 14 May at 7.00 pm. Find further event details and register: Reshaping Asthma Management – National Asthma Council Australia
