The Australian Lung Foundation (ALF)

The Australian Lung Foundation (Lung Foundation) is the leading charity dedicated to supporting people affected by lung disease in Australia.

The Lung Foundation was established in 1990 by a group of thoracic physicians concerned about the chronic shortage of funds for research work in respiratory medicine and the impact of lung disease on our community. The Lung Foundation is a registered charity with its National Secretariat located in Brisbane. We receive no on-going Government funding to support our core activities and therefore we rely on financial sponsorship and support from individuals, businesses and industry, donations and bequests, as well as our own fundraising events and initiatives.

Vision and Goals

To ensure lung health is a priority for all in Australia.

We strive to achieve this through provision of:

• Leadership

• Advocacy

• Information

• Support for Research

• Patient and Carer Support

• Education and Training

and working with and through other organisations.

Programs

The Lung Foundation delivers programs to assist in reducing the impact of lung disease with a focus on the following key areas of activity: 

• LungNet Information and Support Centre

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

• Lungs in Action

• Lung Cancer

• Interstitial and Orphan (rare) Lung Diseases

• Respiratory Infectious Diseases

• Chronic Cough

• Multi-centre Clinical Trials Network

• Indigenous Lung Health

Many of these programs are informed by multi-disciplinary consultative groups, comprised of key opinion leaders in the field of respiratory medicine who provide clinical advice and strategic guidance. The groups also include lung disease advocates who provide a patient’s perspective.

LungNet Information and Support Centre

Underpinning the work of the foundation is the LungNet Information and Support Centre (the Centre), which can be contacted free-call on 1800 654 301 and via email, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . A Lung Care Nurse works within the Centre and offers confidential telephone support, information and advice. Some of the services provided by the Centre are:

Educational Resources: The Lung Foundation publishes disease-specific patient information resources on a range of lung conditions, as well as brochures addressing treatment options.

Newsletter: LungNet News is a free quarterly publication which provides articles related to lung health, and keeps readers informed about the work of the Lung Foundation. It also offers advertising opportunities to our partners.

Patient Support Groups: Located in all States and Territories, Support Groups exist to assist patients with self-management techniques and provide an avenue for social activities and mutual support.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program Details: Provided by health professionals, pulmonary rehabilitation programs consist of exercise and education. They aim to encourage physical fitness, improve quality of life and increase the ability of patients to cope with their lung condition. The Centre maintains a list of programs and contact details.

Education Days: Held annually in most States, LungNet Education Days provide an opportunity
for patients to hear first-hand from health professionals about the latest developments in lung health.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

The Lung Foundation has a national, collaborative program to tackle COPD. The program aims to reduce the impact of COPD in Australia by:

• Developing training and clinical resources to support health professionals in the diagnosis and best practice management of COPD
• Promoting self-management of COPD
• Developing programs and resources to educate and support those with COPD and their carers
• Raising funds to support research into COPD
• Advocating at all levels of government on behalf of those with COPD
• Raising community awareness and understanding of COPD
• Reinforcing the importance of early detection of COPD

Lungs in Action

Lungs in Action is a low cost exercise maintenance program in the community for people who have completed a pulmonary rehabilitation program. It aims to extend the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation by providing a safe environment in which those with chronic lung disease can maintain physical and social activities.

Lung Cancer

The Lung Foundation runs a Lung Cancer National Program consisting of a multidisciplinary group of lung cancer specialists, nurses, health professionals and consumers. The program aims to advance research, professional development, public awareness and education in the area of lung cancer. This collaborative program advocates to government on issues pertinent to lung cancer. Initiatives include:

Kylie Johnston Lung Cancer Network

The Kylie Johnston Lung Cancer Network provides support, hope and understanding to Australian lung cancer patients, their families and carers. This is achieved through the distribution of Lung Foundation educational resources, telephone support groups, and a dedicated website, www.kjlcn.org.au which also includes an online patient forum.

The Australasian Lung cancer Trials Group (ALTG)

The ALTG is Australia and New Zealand’s lung and thoracic cancer clinical research group. This multi-disciplinary group of Investigators (researchers) is dedicated to reducing the incidence, morbidity and mortality of lung and thoracic cancer. The group also aims to improve the quality of life of lung and thoracic cancer patients through the coordination and facilitation of high quality clinical research. For more information please visit: www.altg.com.au

Interstitial and Orphan (rare) Lung Diseases

The Pulmonary Interstitial Vascular Organisational Taskforce (PIVOT) Consultative Group consists of key opinion leaders with an interest in interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary vascular diseases such as pulmonary arterial hypertension, and “orphan” (rare) lung diseases. The group aims to raise awareness of these conditions amongst both health professionals and the wider community.

Respiratory Infectious Diseases

The Respiratory Infectious Diseases (RID) Consultative Group aims to improve prevention, management and community awareness of respiratory infectious diseases such as influenza, pneumonia and tuberculosis through resources such as the RID Case Statement and patient educational materials.

Chronic Cough

The Cough In Children and Adults: Diagnosis and Assessment (CICADA) Consultative Group assists in improving the prevention, management and community awareness of cough.

Multi-centre Clinical Trials Network

The Multi-centre Clinical Trials Network (MCTN) enables research companies to source fully-qualified Investigators and assists with finding suitable patients to participate in clinical trials. Investigators and patients can register their interest in participating in clinical trials via the website: www.mctn.com.au

Indigenous Lung Health

The Lung Foundation has developed a training program to improve lung health management of rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. This program supports rural and remote health service professional development through locally delivered lung health training. The training focuses on building links and collaborative partnerships across disciplines and sectors to enable a more flexible and responsive approach to meeting the healthcare needs of rural and remote communities.

Research Awards

The Australian Lung Foundation offers a range of Awards to facilitate and encourage research into lung disease. To date, more than $2.5 million has been awarded.

How can you help?

Become a Financial Member
Financial membership of The Australian Lung Foundation, Australia’s leading charity supporting those affected by lung disease, gives you the opportunity to actively assist us in meeting our vision and goals.

Make a Donation
A donation to the Lung Foundation will assist us to achieve our vision and goals. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Make a Bequest
A bequest of any size to the Lung Foundation is an investment in the future – a very positive and personal commitment by you, which will help us to maintain and expand our lung health programs.

Hold a Fundraiser
If you would like to hold a fundraiser on behalf of the Lung Foundation, please let us know. We have lots of tips and tricks to help you along the way.

Corporate support
There are many ways in which the corporate sector can contribute to our fundraising efforts. We invite companies to take this journey with us, by working together to develop a partnership that meets your corporate social responsibility objectives and our vision and goals.

A printed brochure of this fact sheet is available free of charge for members of the community.  To order a copy contact 1800 654 301 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Content last updated 2011