The Department is building a new National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry (the Registry) to help respond to the recent re-emergence of silicosis.

Silicosis is a group of occupational lung diseases caused by breathing in silica dust. Safe work practices had reduced the prevalence of the disease; however, it has re-emerged in Australia over the last decade, particularly among stonemasons and others working with engineered stone.

The Registry will capture information on occupational respiratory diseases in Australia, including incidence and prevalence, causative exposures and respiratory health data. Respiratory and occupational physicians will be required to notify diagnoses of silicosis via the Registry, and may also provide voluntary notification of other occupational respiratory diseases to help identify emerging workplace risks.

The Registry will begin operation in late 2022. AHA has been appointed to operate the Registry on behalf of the department.

AHA’s role as the Registry operator will see us:

• Advising the Department on the build of the Registry portal
• Collecting, reviewing, and analysing Registry data
• Administering a voluntary patient questionnaire
• Analysing Registry data and operational performance
• Producing quarterly and annual reports
• Supporting approved research projects to access Registry data
• Creating and maintaining web content such as user guides and FAQs.