Asthma Action Plan in Australia: What It Is and How to Get One
About one in nine Australians has asthma, which puts the country among the highest prevalence rates in the world (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2026). Despite that, the majority of Australians with asthma don't have a current written asthma action plan, and that gap is one of the clearest, most fixable problems in respiratory care (National Asthma Council Australia, 2026).
An asthma action plan is a short, written document that tells you what to do day-to-day, what to do when symptoms creep up, and what to do in an emergency. It's written by your GP, signed and dated, and tailored to you. It usually fits on one page. The whole point is that you don't have to figure out what to do mid-flare-up. The decision has been made in advance.
The plain-English version is this. Asthma is a long-term condition where the airways are sensitive and prone to narrowing. Most of the time, with the right preventer treatment, life looks normal. But triggers, viruses, allergens, exercise, smoke, weather changes, can tip the airways into a flare. A written plan turns "what should I do?" into "follow the plan." It also makes it easier for schools, childcare centres, workplaces, and family members to help when needed.
This guide walks through what's in a plan, the four zones, what reliever and preventer mean at the class level, when to see a GP, and how Abby Health can help you get a plan written or updated.
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A standard plan is built around four colour-coded zones. Most Australian GPs use the National Asthma Council template or a close variation.
Zone 1: Well controlled (green). No symptoms most days. No need for a reliever more than twice a week (not counting before exercise). Sleep isn't disturbed by asthma. Activity isn't limited. The plan in this zone is your usual preventer routine, plus a reliever for occasional use.
Zone 2: Getting worse / mild flare (yellow). Coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath more often. Reliever needed more than twice a week. Symptoms waking you at night. The plan describes what to step up: usually more frequent preventer, or an additional preventer step, plus when to book a GP review.
Zone 3: Severe flare (orange). Symptoms not relieved by usual reliever doses. Reliever needed every few hours. Difficulty speaking in full sentences. The plan describes how to use reliever in a flare (commonly four puffs at a time through a spacer, repeated as instructed), and when to seek same-day medical care.
Zone 4: Emergency (red). Severe shortness of breath. Reliever not helping. Lips turning blue. Can't speak in full sentences. Drowsy or confused. The plan tells you to call 000 immediately and what to do while waiting.
Two clarifying points. First, the doses, frequencies, and step-ups in each zone are personalised. They're written by your GP based on your medications, history, and pattern of flares. Second, the plan also includes the basics: your name, your usual medications, known triggers, allergies, and emergency contacts. It's a working document, not a generic handout.
Asthma medication falls into broad categories, and understanding the difference between reliever and preventer is the single most useful concept in asthma care. We'll discuss these at the class level only. The specific choice for you is between you and your GP.
Reliever medications. These are short-acting bronchodilators. They open the airways quickly, usually within minutes, and are used for acute symptoms or before exercise. Relievers don't treat the underlying inflammation, so using them more than twice a week (outside of pre-exercise use) is a sign that asthma isn't well controlled, and a flag to see a GP.
Preventer medications. These are typically inhaled corticosteroids, sometimes combined with a long-acting bronchodilator. They reduce the underlying inflammation in the airways and are taken every day, even when you feel fine. Preventers are the foundation of long-term asthma control, and the most common reason for a flare is that the preventer has been missed, run out, or never been started in the first place.
Combination inhalers. These contain both a preventer and a long-acting bronchodilator in one device, taken daily. Some are also used as part of a flexible "anti-inflammatory reliever" approach, depending on the regimen your GP recommends.
Add-on therapies. For more severe asthma, additional treatments at the class level (oral corticosteroids in short courses, biologic medications under specialist care, allergy-targeted treatments) may be added. These are individualised and managed jointly with a respiratory specialist where indicated.
The point of a written plan is that it tells you, in your own words and with your own medications, what to take, how often, and when to step up. It also tells you when "step up" isn't enough and you need to see a doctor or call an ambulance.
Some asthma reviews are routine. Some are urgent. The first is the more important one for most people, because regular review prevents the urgent.
Book a routine appointment if:
- You have asthma and don't have a current written action plan
- Your plan is more than twelve months old
- You've changed inhalers, doses, or had any new diagnosis
- Your child is starting school, childcare, or sport, and the plan needs updating for the new setting
- You've had any flare in the past few months, even a mild one
- You're using your reliever more than twice a week (outside of pre-exercise use)
- You're not sure whether your asthma is well controlled
Book a same-day appointment, or seek urgent care, if:
- A flare isn't responding to your usual reliever
- You're using reliever every few hours
- You're waking at night with symptoms more than once a week
- You've needed oral steroids in the past for asthma and feel like a flare is coming on
Call 000 if:
- Severe shortness of breath, lips turning blue, can't speak in full sentences, drowsy or confused
- Reliever isn't helping and a severe flare is escalating
Two contexts that often prompt a review: school and childcare requirements, and bushfire season. Many schools and childcare centres ask for an updated plan each year. And every Australian summer brings smoke, heat, and pollen that can destabilise asthma; getting a plan updated in late spring is a sensible habit, especially for anyone who lives in a region prone to bushfire smoke.
For most Australians with asthma, a GP is the right starting and ending point of care. A consult typically includes:
A control review. How often are you using your reliever? Any night waking? Any limitation on activity? Any flares? These four questions are the workhorse of asthma assessment and they tell the GP a lot about whether your current treatment is working.
A medication review. Are you on the right preventer? Are you actually taking it? Inhaler technique gets a check. (A surprising amount of poor asthma control is poor technique, not the wrong medication.) Spacers are recommended for almost everyone using a metered-dose inhaler.
Trigger and lifestyle review. Smoking, vaping, allergens, weight, exercise, occupational exposures, mental health (anxiety and asthma feed each other). All of this gets a look.
A written action plan. Updated for your current treatment, with the four zones and your specific instructions. Signed, dated, and shared with you.
A prescription where needed. If your inhaler is running low or needs changing, a GP can prescribe. Repeat scripts can be issued through an online appointment in many cases. To collect medications, see online prescriptions.
Investigations if indicated. Spirometry, allergy testing, or a chest X-ray may be ordered if the picture isn't clear. For some patients, blood tests through pathology are part of the workup. A GP will arrange the right ones.
Referral when needed. Most asthma is managed in general practice. A respiratory specialist is involved when asthma is severe, atypical, or not responding to standard treatment.
Online appointments for asthma care
Abby Health is an online-first clinic where Australian GPs see asthma patients seven days a week, including writing and updating asthma action plans, reviewing inhaler technique, and issuing prescriptions where appropriate. The format suits routine asthma care well: a written plan can be discussed, drafted, and emailed within a single appointment.
Continuity is built in. Your asthma history, current medications, and previous plan are visible to the next Abby GP you see, so you don't repeat your story. Abby AI, our medical AI, supports the doctor by surfacing your record before the consult, never replacing clinical judgment.
For situations that genuinely need in-person care (spirometry that hasn't been done recently, a physical examination during a moderate flare, certain paediatric situations), a GP will tell you and help you arrange it. To schedule an appointment, see the booking page.
Abby Health is bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card. Strict eligibility criteria apply.
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The information reflects guidance available as of the "last updated" date shown above. Medical knowledge evolves, and individual circumstances vary — always discuss decisions about your care with a qualified clinician.
In an emergency, call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department. Abby Health is not an emergency service. For mental health crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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