Australia was one of the highest consumers of asbestos globally and today has one of the highest incidences of mesothelioma in the world. Over the past 40 years, recorded cases have continued to rise, with more than 4,000 Australians now dying each year from asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer – approximately three times the national road toll.
Recent data from the Australian Mesothelioma Registry (2025) highlights a critical shift in exposure patterns, with more than 90% of diagnosed cases linked to possible or probable asbestos exposure, and 94% of respondents reporting non-occupational exposure. This is most commonly associated with home renovations, maintenance and environmental exposure in properties built or renovated before 1990.
With an estimated one in three Australian homes still containing asbestos, and millions of tonnes of asbestos-containing materials remaining in the built environment, the risk of exposure remains widespread. Experts warn that without sustained awareness and education, asbestos-related disease rates will continue to rise as legacy asbestos is disturbed.
To address this ongoing public health challenge, Advocacy Australia delivers the annual national Asbestos Awareness Month campaign each November. In addition, we undertake asbestos awareness initiatives throughout the year, including targeted communications during natural disasters such as floods and bushfires, and provide expert commentary during asbestos-related incidents and public health alerts.
A key component of our community engagement is Betty – The Asbestos Education House, a purpose-built mobile model home that travels to communities across Australia, helping people identify where asbestos may be found and understand how to manage it safely. Through partnerships with local councils, government agencies and community organisations, we deliver essential, practical education directly to Australians where they live and work.
Underpinned by a commitment to prevention, our work aims to increase awareness of the dangers of asbestos and provide practical, evidence-based guidance to help Australians identify, manage and safely handle asbestos-containing materials. Education remains the most effective way to prevent exposure and ultimately save lives.
OBJECTIVES
Advocacy Australia and its Asbestos Education Committee were established with the primary public health objective being to save lives by preventing asbestos-related diseases in Australia. This is achieved through:
- Delivering and continuously improving the National Asbestos Awareness Month campaign.
- Maintaining and updating asbestosawareness.com.au as a central, authoritative education platform.
- Developing new, accessible asbestos safety resources for national use.
- Deploying Betty the Asbestos Education House to metropolitan, regional and rural communities.
- Reinforcing that asbestos remains widespread with legacy asbestos posing an ongoing health risk.
- Educating homeowners, renovators and tradies to recognise likely asbestos locations in pre-1990 homes.
- Promoting safe, informed decision-making before renovation, maintenance, demolition or clean-up.
- Encouraging compliant identification, testing, removal and disposal with licensed professionals.
- Providing free practical tools and guidance to prevent exposure.
- Supporting long-term prevention through sustained awareness and policy engagement.
For more information visit asbestosawareness.com.au.
