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Asthma Australia urges Brisbane residents to prepare early and keep asthma well controlled ahead of the 2025 Grass Pollen Season
Asthma Australia is reminding Brisbane residents to prepare early and ensure their asthma is well controlled, with forecasts indicating the 2025 grass pollen season could swing either way depending on rainfall.
South-east Queensland has stayed relatively dry through winter and early spring, though forecasts now suggest a higher chance of rain heading into November and December, according to AirHealth’s latest outlook.
Professor Nicholas Osborne, from The University of Queensland, said vegetation health around Brisbane is similar to last year, but the season could change rapidly depending on the rain.
“Right now, the season could go either way,” Professor Osborne said. “Vegetation health is steady, but if the forecast rain arrives, we could see a rapid response and a much more active pollen season later in the year.”
Dr Edwin Lampugnani, from the AirRater Service said recent rainfall had improved soil moisture across parts of south-east Queensland, but the overall outlook remains finely balanced. “If the forecast rain arrives in November, grasses will respond quickly, leading to higher pollen levels through late spring and summer,” Dr Lampugnani said. “But if dry conditions persist, Brisbane’s season will likely stay mild and similar to last year.”
Satellite imagery shows vegetation greenness around Brisbane and the coastal plains remains close to 2024 levels, indicating modest grass growth so far this spring. Northern and western parts of Queensland have seen wetter conditions, but the south-east has stayed relatively dry. A few significant rain events could rapidly “green up” the landscape, fuelling grass flowering and increasing pollen release later in the year.
Dr Lampugnani added, “The AirRater app, operated by AirHealth in partnership with the University of Queensland, provides daily pollen, air quality, and symptom tracking to help people better manage their conditions. People can use it to track daily pollen forecasts and receive push notifications ahead of high-risk days.”
Asthma Australia Director Nigel Cooper said “Now is the time for people with asthma or hay fever to act — check your asthma control with your GP, there are also asthma control questionnaires online at Asthma Australia.”
“Use your preventer as recommended and make sure you have an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan, which formalises how to manage asthma and what to do if symptoms worsen,” he said.
People with asthma should take their reliever out with them as symptoms can flare when they are exposed to triggers like grass pollen. Anti-inflammatory relievers containing both a preventer and reliever medicine in one device and are now recommended in place of the blue reliever alone.
It also important for children who are at school to have an up-to-date asthma action plan and that staff know what to do in an asthma emergency. The latest asthma guidelines recommend against relying only on a blue reliever inhaler.
How to prepare
With conditions finely balanced, experts are reminding people with asthma or hay fever to stay alert and take preventive steps. Asthma Australia recommends the following steps:
- Determine your risk and check your asthma control: Book a review with your GP, ensure your preventer is used at least daily as prescribed, and have an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan that sets out exactly what to do if symptoms worsen.
- Keep your reliever close by.
- Manage hay fever: Take recommended treatments to reduce sensitivity to pollen, including nasal steroid sprays.
- Stay informed daily: AirRater offers real-time forecasts and symptom tracking, helping people monitor exposure to pollen and air pollution.
- Be prepared during storms: On high pollen and storm days, stay indoors where possible, close windows and doors, and keep your reliever inhaler handy.
- For resources and support, visit asthma.org.au or call 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462) to speak with an Asthma Educator.
- Do you know your asthma score? Head to Asthma Control & Management at Asthma Australia and take the Asthma Control Questionnaire.
For more information:
Contact Trinity Frederick, 0413 99 22 82
ABOUT ASTHMA AUSTRALIA
Asthma Australia is the nation’s peak body representing nearly 2.8 million Australians living with asthma. We’ve been here since 1962 and even though a lot has changed since then, asthma continues to claim a life each day and is the number one health condition burdening Aussie children. Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the airways, restricting airflow and can be fatal. There is no cure, but most people with asthma can experience good control.
ABOUT AIRHEALTH
AirHealth is a health-focused organisation dedicated to improving public health by monitoring air quality and environmental allergens. It operates the AirRater Service (https://airrater.org/) which provides pollen and air quality forecast information and forecasts to help individuals manage their allergies and respiratory conditions. Through collaborations with leading academic institutions and the use of advanced machine learning techniques, AirHealth is committed to empowering individuals to make informed health decisions in response to environmental factors. For more information, visit: https://AirHealthLab.com
