Silicosis Support Hub – Empowering Australians in a National Health Crisis

Australia faces a preventable but escalating health crisis from silica dust exposure in construction, mining and manufacturing. Over 600,000 workers have been exposed, with diagnoses rising among younger workers. The challenge was to build a national platform that cut through fear, misinformation and fragmented systems, while remaining specificity to each jurisdiction. It needed to serve culturally and linguistically diverse users and those with low health literacy. Designed for three groups — exposed workers, diagnosed patients, and their families — the platform had to deliver trust, clinical and legal rigour, accessibility, and emotional relevance.

Responding to a national health crisis, the Hub prioritises 'plain-speaking' content and action-led design to guide users through their next steps. The site personalises journeys for people at risk, diagnosed, or supporting others. Key features include a multimedia curriculum, a custom risk assessment tool, location-specific guidance and real stories. It was shaped by structured research and curriculum design, expert and stakeholder interviews and expert validation. Video content was central to building trust and accessibility, along with subtitles and language translation throughout the site. The final platform is mobile-first, emotionally attuned and built to empower users to take timely, informed action.

Launched in March 2025, the Hub is already demonstrating meaningful impact. It is growing visibility online, being used by clinicians in consults, shared by legal professionals and referenced by patient support groups. Patient feedback confirms it supports calm and clearer next steps, while clinicians praise the risk tool and plain-language content. The Hub has provided evidence and insight that supported federal policy conversation and NSW government's Silicosis Taskforce. The Hub is will continue to improve health literacy, equity and timely access to care, setting a new precedent for future health platforms helping people take meaningful action with clarity and compassion.

The Hub was designed for people in a distressing and high-stakes healthcare moment — receiving a diagnosis of a life-limiting, irreversible lung disease. Many are young, CALD, and navigating grief, fear, and confusion. In some states, they have only six months post-diagnosis to make compensation claims — or miss out entirely on any financial support. This project responds with dignity and clarity to shift users from fear to understanding; from paralysis to action. Co-designed with patients, clinicians, advocates and legal experts, the platform delivers structured, human-centred support across the full journey — from risk awareness to diagnosis, care, compensation, and connection. Design features include: *Action-led structure (Learn, Take Action, Connect) guides users without overwhelm *Risk assessment tool generates personalised risk category, clear action steps and a GP-ready report. *State-specific compensation/legal content. *Multimedia curriculum delivers information in multiple formats and emotional tones. *Mobile-first UI uses familiar design patterns to enhance accessibility. *Plain language and multilingual translation ensure inclusivity. *Search-informed content and structure closes knowledge gaps and maximises visibility Every element was designed to deliver clarity, reduce distress, and equip people with tools to act, meeting them compassionately where they are. It is healthcare design not just for information, but for agency.