Purified Air Australia: What’s Lurking in Your Classroom Air?
The Hidden Factor Behind Attendance and Achievement
When we think about what drives student success, we tend to focus on teachers, curriculum, or technology. Yet one of the most important factors shaping every lesson is often overlooked: the air students and staff breathe.
Children spend nearly 1,000 hours each year in classrooms, but research shows indoor air is often two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. The Parliamentary Research Report on Indoor Air Quality (July 2025) makes clear that schools with high occupancy and limited ventilation are particularly vulnerable. These findings are frightening and entirely preventable.
The health and learning connection
Poor air quality does not just cause discomfort. It directly impacts student learning and staff wellbeing. The PAA open letter to schools and aged care providers highlights everyday symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, coughing, and asthma flare-ups. These issues contribute to higher absenteeism, lower concentration, and greater staff stress, all of which reduce classroom effectiveness.
The parliamentary report also links improved IAQ to better student outcomes. Cleaner air supports sharper concentration, stronger memory, and reduced behavioural disruption. In other words, air quality is a teaching and learning issue, not just a facilities one.
Global action, local lag
Internationally, governments are investing heavily in IAQ. The United States has committed more than $122 billion to improve ventilation and air purification in schools, while European countries have introduced minimum ventilation standards. Australia, despite having some of the highest rates of asthma and allergies in the world, still lacks consistent standards for classrooms.
The parliamentary report recommends schools be prioritised for IAQ action. With rising community expectations following COVID-19 and growing recognition of links between air quality and student performance, the urgency cannot be ignored.
A practical path forward
Some schools hesitate to act because they assume solutions require costly HVAC upgrades. But as the Purified Air Australia advertorial shows, affordable air purification systems can remove up to 99.7 per cent of airborne pollutants, require only low-cost filter changes, and integrate easily into classrooms. Early pilots in learning centres have already reported fewer sick days, improved attendance, and higher family confidence.
Why schools should act now
• Protect student health by reducing exposure to asthma and allergy triggers.
• Support staff wellbeing with healthier, more comfortable workplaces.
• Boost academic outcomes through improved focus and reduced absences.
• Stay ahead of expectations as IAQ gains policy and parent attention.The takeaway
Indoor air quality is no longer invisible. It is measurable, actionable, and central to creating safe, supportive learning environments. Schools that act now will protect health, improve learning outcomes, and demonstrate leadership in an issue set to define the future of education.
At Purified Air Australia, we provide schools with clear information and practical solutions to address IAQ challenges. From assessments to tailored purification systems, we make healthier air achievable and affordable.
Contact Purified Air Australia today to book your IAQ consultation and start creating healthier classrooms.
1300 571 671
sales@purifiedairaustralia.com.au
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