Lung Foundation Australia

Lung Foundation Australia
Name	Lung Foundation Australia
Founded	1990
Type	Non-profit
Headquarters	Australia
Focus	Respiratory health

Lung Foundation Australia is an Australian non-profit organisation dedicated to improving respiratory health, supporting people affected by lung disease, and funding research into conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer. The organisation works with clinicians, researchers, patient groups, and policy makers to influence health policy, deliver patient services, and promote public awareness across Australia.

History

The organisation was established in 1990 amid rising concern about smoking-related disease and the burden of respiratory illness, drawing support from clinical networks such as the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, research institutes including the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and advocacy groups like the Cancer Council Australia and the Heart Foundation. Early milestones included partnerships with tertiary hospitals such as the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and collaborations with international bodies like the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society. Over time it expanded services to address emerging priorities highlighted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, and state health departments in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia.

Mission and Activities

The organisation’s mission centers on improving lung health through research, education, support, and advocacy, working alongside clinical networks including the Australasian Sleep Association, the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, and specialist centres such as the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Its activities span patient support services linked to cancer centres like Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, respiratory clinics at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and community programs coordinated with groups such as Cancer Council Victoria and Kidney Health Australia. Strategic priorities have been influenced by national documents from the National Health and Medical Research Council and inquiries such as parliamentary reviews of health services.

Programs and Services

Programs include patient helplines connected to hospital services at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney and Monash Health, peer-support networks modelled with organisations such as Cystic Fibrosis Australia and the Australian Lung Cancer Trials Group, and education initiatives run in partnership with universities including the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Queensland. Services also address prevention through smoking cessation collaborations with campaigns from Quit Victoria and public screening awareness tied to imaging centres and specialists associated with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia.

Research Funding and Partnerships

The organisation funds and coordinates research grants, fellowships, and collaborative projects with institutions such as the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, the Children's Hospital at Westmead, the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. It partners with national funding bodies like the Medical Research Future Fund and the National Health and Medical Research Council, and engages in multicentre trials with networks including the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group and the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance. International collaborations have involved the World Health Organization, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, and investigators affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Imperial College London.

Advocacy and Policy

Advocacy work targets legislative and policy instruments such as tobacco control laws modelled on measures adopted by New Zealand, air quality regulations influenced by cases in California, and health service planning informed by reports from the Productivity Commission (Australia). The organisation provides submissions to parliamentary inquiries, collaborates with patient advocacy coalitions including the Consumer Health Forum of Australia, and engages with state and federal health ministries. Campaigns have aligned with international awareness dates promoted by the World Health Organization and partnerships with disease-specific coalitions such as Lung Cancer Europe.

Governance and Funding

Governance is overseen by a board of directors drawn from clinical, academic, and corporate sectors, with reporting practices reflecting standards from bodies like the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and guidance from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on governance. Funding sources include philanthropic donations from foundations such as the Ian Potter Foundation, corporate partnerships with healthcare companies, fundraising events similar in profile to those run by the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation, and competitive grant income from the National Health and Medical Research Council and state-based health research funds.

Public Awareness and Education

Public education campaigns have focused on early detection and symptom recognition for conditions like lung cancer and pulmonary fibrosis, aligning messaging with evidence from organisations such as the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer and patient resources developed in consultation with groups including Cancer Council Australia and Cystic Fibrosis Australia. Outreach uses media partnerships with outlets headquartered in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, and works with professional education providers linked to institutions such as the University of New South Wales and the Monash University Faculty of Medicine to deliver continuing professional development for clinicians.

Category:Medical and health organisations based in Australia Category:Respiratory disease organizations