Indoor and outdoor air pollution: Kids, lungs and climate
On-demand recorded 8 Sep 2026
Air pollution is a major and growing threat to human health, contributing to respiratory disease, adverse childhood health outcomes, and climate change. This webinar will explore the key sources of both outdoor and indoor air pollution, including traffic emissions, bushfire smoke, gas appliances, wood heaters, and other common household exposures.
Presenters will examine the impacts of air pollution on lung health across the lifespan, with a particular focus on children and young people, who are especially vulnerable to its effects.
The session will also discuss the interconnected relationship between air quality, climate change, and health. Practical strategies to reduce patient exposure will be reviewed, alongside an update on environmentally sustainable respiratory care, including low-carbon inhaler prescribing. The webinar will also mark the RACGP's support for the Idle Off campaign.
Learning outcomes
- Recognise the health effects of indoor and outdoor air pollution across the lifespan, with particular consideration of respiratory health and the vulnerability of children and young people.
- Incorporate evidence-based approaches into general practice to minimise the health impacts of air pollution, including exposure reduction advice, sustainable prescribing practices, and support for community-level prevention initiatives.
Facilitator
Dr Nicole Sleeman
Chair, RACGP Specific Interests Climate and Environmental Medicine
Dr Nicole Sleeman is a passionate about the connection between human health, equity, and the health of planetary ecosystems. Nicole has been involved for almost a decade with Doctors for the Environment Australia and the broader climate and health movement, contributing to advocacy, education, and policy initiatives that advance healthier communities and sustainability within healthcare. She holds postgraduate qualifications in Public and Environmentally Sustainable Health and Climate Change and Health
Speakers
Dr Tim Jones
Chair, RACGP Specific Interests Child and Young Person's Health
Dr Tim Jones is a Tasmanian GP, rural generalist and supervisor with an interest in child and infant health. He is passionate about supporting parents and families in a holistic manner. Tim the Chair of Specific Interests, Child and Young Person’s Health at the RACGP. Tim works clinically at Lauderdale Medical Centre and as a senior medical educator with the RACGP and with Emerging Minds.
Dr Kerry Hancock
Chair RACGP Specific Interests Respiratory Medicine
Dr Kerry Hancock is a GP with over 38 years experience in clinical practice with most of that time as a principal of a self-established practice in Adelaide.
Dr Hancock’s active participation with respiratory organisations, government health services, research activities, and the RACGP has enabled her to be involved in the development of national primary care-focused respiratory management guidelines, educational activities, and the development and promulgation of tools to assist GPs, practice nurses and pharmacists in the management of their patients with respiratory and related disorders.
She is Chair RACGP Specific Interests Respiratory Medicine, Chair Lung Foundation Australia (LFA) Primary Care Clinical Council, member LFA Clinical and Research Council and COPD Clinical Advisory Committee, Honorary Fellow Allergy and Lung Health Unit Melbourne School of Population and Global Health The University of Melbourne, previous Principal Medical Officer and Board member / Director Asthma Foundation SA and previous Chair GP Asthma Group National Asthma Council.
Dr Seung Baek
Chair of Doctors for the Environment Australia, Victoria
Dr Clare Walter
Sustainable Health & Environment Network, Deakin University and co-founder of IdleOff in Australia
Dr Clare Walter is a public health researcher at Deakin University. After working as an oncology pharmacist, working in lung cancer and palliative care, Clare became increasingly struck by the rise in lung cancer among people who had never smoked, just as diesel exhaust was classified as a carcinogen. She stepped away from treating illness to focus on preventing it. After more than a decade of research and PhD on air pollution health impacts and policy barriers in Australia, Clare is now working on real-world implementation: Turning evidence into real-world change and building momentum for healthier environments.
Prof Louis Irving
Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Physician
Professor Louis Irving is an Australian-based health professional. Louis is trained as a Respiratory & Sleep Medicine Physician and practices in Melbourne.