CANBERRA & ONLINE | WEDNESDAY 28TH OCTOBER 2026
What is the economic case for improving indoor air quality?
Indoor air quality is one of Australia’s most overlooked public health challenges and is increasingly recognised as a critical accessibility and inclusion issue. Alongside these benefits, improving indoor air quality also delivers economic gains, with studies linking increased ventilation to fewer missed workdays and improved productivity. This combination of public health, inclusion and economic benefits underscores why Australia urgently needs a national indoor air quality strategy.
The Safer shared air: Indoor air, health & productivity conference is the Safer Air Project’s third annual Parliament House event. The full day conference will explore indoor air quality as a silent driver of chronic disease, the economic opportunities that exist, and how we can translate the evidence into world-leading, national reform.
The event brings together people with lived experience, advocates, policymakers, clinicians, scientists, workplace health and safety experts, and built environment and industry leaders to examine the health and economic costs of poor indoor air quality, and the case for safer shared air.
What to expect…
A stellar line-up of speakers emceed by Jason Gale (Senior editor and biosecurity correspondent, Bloomberg)
Lived experience perspectives from community advocates, including voices from patient organisations
Public health and illness prevention, and the science behind how indoor air quality impacts health
How indoor air quality can improve productivity, cognition and workforce participation
Policy discussion on what a national indoor air quality strategy could look like (and why we need one)
Details
Date: Wednesday, 28th October 2026
Location: Parliament House, Canberra and Online
Program: Announced soon!
Featured speakers
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Mark Brooke
LUNG FOUNDATION AUSTRALIA
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Jason Gale
BLOOMBERG
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A/Prof Rebecca Haddock
ASTHMA AUSTRALIA
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Dr Bronwyn King AO
AIR CLUB
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Dist Prof Lidia Morawska
THRIVE
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Plum Stone
THE SAFER AIR PROJECT
Supporting organisations
Event supporters
Annual supporting partners
Tickets
Select from a range of ticket types, with discounted early bird prices available for a limited time.
Early bird registration ends: 28 July 2026
In-person registration closes: 20 October 2026
Online registration closes: At the conclusion of the conference
Ticket types
| Type | Early bird | General admission |
| Corporate | $350 | $385 |
| Academic | $250 | $275 |
| Full-time student | $150 | $165 |
| Community member | N/A | Free or make a donation |
| Online | N/A | Free or make a donation |
This is a Safer Air event
We’re committed to ensuring that our events are as accessible and inclusive as possible, including for attendees who are immunocompromised or have chronic health conditions. With this in mind, we have chosen a venue with excellent ventilation as this helps reduce airborne contaminants and lower the risk of airborne virus transmission - additional portable air filters will also be in use. Respirator-style masks will be provided at the registration desk – if you would like to wear a mask, you are warmly encouraged to do so.