Lung Health and Living Well program helping people like Jenny and Kay breathe better

The Lung Health and Living Well Program at Cockburn Integrated Health – a rapidly growing service supporting people living with chronic respiratory conditions – has reached a significant milestone celebrating 18 months of operation.

Delivered by South Metropolitan Health Service Community Physiotherapy Services (CPS) and funded by Curtin University for 2 years through a Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) grant, the program is coordinated by a CPS Senior Physiotherapist with support from 4th‑year physiotherapy students from Curtin University.

Co designed by Curtin University, consumers, CPS and Fiona Stanley Hospital, the program offers pulmonary rehabilitation, personalised exercise advice, education, and ongoing support tailored to individuals with diagnosed respiratory conditions.

With over 40 people enrolled in the program, participants such as Kay and Jenny have reported improvements in exercise capacity, breathlessness management, and overall quality of life since attending the program.

Kay, 78, who has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), explains how she can now walk around the house without holding onto any furniture.

"Last year I was admitted to Fiona Stanley Hospital six times due to my COPD. Since starting this program, I have not been admitted since," Kay explained.

Having attended twice a week for eight weeks, Kay looks forward to attending the program.

"I get up, have coffee, breakfast, and come to the group, it's an outing for me. When I first started the program I could only complete 3 walking laps in 20 minutes, I can now complete 7 laps – that's 700 metres!

"My biggest improvement since attending the program has been my attitude. I can now walk further, do more, and am more confident. I can walk around the shops easier, I don't get as breathless and have more confidence helping my husband around the house.

"The program is the right mix of exercise, education and social connection. Everyone learns something, and the staff and students are so encouraging."

For Jenny, also 78, who has been attending the program for three months says she has learnt much more about her chronic lung condition, Bronchiectasis.

"I can walk further, feel stronger and have learnt things I didn't know about my lung condition," Jenny said.

Now attending the program just once a week, Jenny can walk continuously for 20 minutes, something she could not do three months ago.

"The program is worthwhile because of the many benefits it gives people like us living with a chronic respiratory condition, and not to mention the opportunity it gives us to talk to other people who have the same or a similar condition as you."

Since its launch in 2025, the program continues to steadily expand in response to strong referrer engagement and overwhelmingly positive participant feedback.

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