It was an Australian national (New South Wales based and registered) mesothelioma cancer, and other asbestos related diseases victim support and patient related advocacy organisation, offering and providing support in all Australian states and territories.

[5] The foundation was named after Bernard Douglas (Bernie) Banton AM, an Australian social justice campaigner.

Bernie rose to national prominence through being the face of the legal and political campaign to secure compensation for the many victims of asbestos-related conditions, which they contracted after either working for the company James Hardie or being exposed to James Hardie Industries' products.

Bernie himself suffered from asbestosis, Asbestos Related Pleural Disease (ARPD)[6] and then finally peritoneal mesothelioma.

Both the 2009 book Killer Company by Matt Peacock and the 2012 docu-drama mini-series, Devil's Dust screened by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation portray Banton's fight against James Hardie.