About us
Aiming for Asthma Improvement in Children (AAIC) is a NSW state-wide program coordinated and delivered by Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick.
The aim of the program is to facilitate continuity and consistency of care for the child with asthma through collaboration with NSW Ministry of Health, peak asthma consumer and health professional organisations, other health professionals, education departments, childcare organisations, and families/carers. The four pillars of the AAIC program are:
- A = Asthma Research,
- A = Advocacy,
- I = Innovative Asthma Educational Models, and
- C = Consultancy
What we do
AAIC promotes and initiates evidenced based research and provides expert consultancy in peadiatric asthma. It is recognised as a leader in the development and delivery of asthma education training and free resources for parents/carers, health professionals, school, childcare staff and multicultural groups.
- See our range of resources such as asthma device and asthma first aid videos factsheets for parents and carers.
- Register for a free Asthma Education session via Eventbrite. Sessions are held monthly. ACECQA approved asthma management training for children's services are available by Eventbrite
- Anaphylaxis courses for school and children's services professionals are provided by Anaphylaxis Education.
Browse learning opportunities
Training and resources
Email: schn-sch-aaic@health.nsw.gov.au
Paediatric Asthma Clinical Nurse Consultants:
- Nicole: 02 9382 1521
- Melinda: 02 9382 8376
Asthma eBook
Download our FREE Asthma and your child eBook from the Apple Books!
This eBook is an easy and convenient way for parents to learn more about managing asthma. The eBook is a multimedia interactive digital resource and includes asthma management information, galleries, and instructional videos and scenarios.
Download the Apple® iBook® application and ensure you have the most recent iOS (iOSX El Capitan®) update on your device before downloading the eBook.
The eBook has been developed by asthma clinicians from the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network and John Hunter Children's Hospital.
Download the Asthma and your Child resource as a pdf
Factsheets
Individual fact sheets on asthma are also available and include:
NSW Health Schools and Child Services Action Plan for Asthma Flare-Up
This is a NSW Health recommended form specifically designed to be used within schools, childcare, and Out of School Hours Care. The form, which provides asthma first aid instructions for the child, is to be completed by the child’s doctor or nurse practitioner and returned to the school/children’s service.
This resource provides an overview of children's asthma and management in the children's service setting.
We provide asthma management training approved by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)
Training is currently offered via a real time interactive learning platform, conducted by qualified Clinical Nurse Consultants who have extensive knowledge in the health and safety requirements of the children’s services sector. The course is suitable for childcare staff, crèche staff, volunteers, OSHC, and preschool staff and an ACECQA approved certificate of participation is provided.
School Staff Asthma Education
School staff can access quality asthma management training through our Self-directed and self-paced learning via the Asthma First Aid Management in Schools eBook - FREE TO DOWNLOAD from Apple Books
Asthma e-Book - A training resource for school staff
Download our FREE Asthma first-aid management in schools eBook from Apple Books!
The eBook is an easy and convenient way for staff to do their school asthma management training. On completion, staff can request a training certificate for their Professional Development portfolio.
The eBook is a multimedia interactive digital resource and includes asthma management information, picture galleries, instructional videos and scenarios, interactive quizzes, videos depicting children having a real life asthma flare-up.
Use it to upskill in emergency asthma first aid management and learn to recognise an acute asthma flare-up.
You will need to download the Apple® iBook® application and ensure you have the most recent iOS (iOSX El Capitan®) update on your device before downloading the eBook.
Additionally Asthma Australia is a consumer organisation providing a wide range of school education options, information and resources.
Asthma Australia
Website: https://asthma.org.au/
Phone: 1800 278 462
School Staff Asthma Resources
The resources below contain useful checklists and records for managing asthma in the school setting, including asthma first aid information for school staff, asthma first aid resources, and parent/carer resources.
- Useful Checklists and Records
- National Asthma Council Australia "Kids' First Aid for Asthma" poster
- Schools and Child Services Action Plan for Asthma Flare-Up
- School Parent Asthma Information
- Asthma information for School staff
- Instructions for Asthma First Aid Kit
Talk to us about your needs
Email us at schn-sch-aaic@health.nsw.gov.au or contact our Paediatric Asthma Clinical Nurse Consultants:
- Nicole: 02 9382 1521
- Melinda: 02 9382 8376
Journal of Asthma (Peer-reviewed publication)
The article "Role of technology in improving knowledge and confidence in asthma management in school staff" is available online with Taylor and Francis.
Asthma Care from Home project
Asthma is the most common reason for children visiting emergency departments or being admitted to the hospital. However, most of these hospital visits are preventable if ongoing care and support are available in the community. Unfortunately, the current asthma care for children in Australia is still inadequate, particularly after children are discharged from hospital. To improve the care for children with asthma following discharge from hospital, we have developed a model of care called Asthma Care From Home, which will help link a child’s asthma care between hospital, primary care provider/GP and school/childcare, and provide individualised home-based follow up services through the use of digital technology to ensure that children receive adequate asthma care after they are discharged from the hospital.
Our goal for this study is to test and assess the effectiveness of this virtually enabled model of care on asthma management for children aged 5-12 years with asthma across four large rural NSW local health districts (LHDs) including Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, Northern NSW LHD, Southern NSW LHD, and Western NSW LHD
Funding partner: Transitional research grant- NSW Ministry of Health
For more information Email us at schn-sch-aaic@health.nsw.gov.au