National Allergy Strategy launches free online training for food service
17 July 2017:
In response to engagement with key stakeholders in the food service industry, a free online training course has been launched by the National Allergy Strategy, a partnership between Australia’s peak allergy bodies, the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA).
The All about Allergens online training available via a National Allergy Strategy website - www.foodallergytraining.org.au - provides access to training that is fast, easy and free. The comprehensive program provides need to know information relevant for those in the food service industry and is presented using videos and interactive activities.
The All about Allergens online course contains five units. Each unit include video information and interactive activities. The final unit includes a final quiz, which on successful completion, allows participants to print a certificate.
The course addresses the following information:
- Food allergen risks for allergic consumers
- The most common food allergens
- Safe food preparation for allergic customers
- Safe food storage for allergic customers
- Communicating about allergy causing foods with other staff
- Communicating about allergy causing foods with suppliers
- Communicating about allergy causing foods with customers
- What to do if a customer has an allergic reaction
- Useful websites for more information
At launch function from left to right: David Curley, Mikayla Caldon, Kirsten Grinter, Sandra Vale, Maria Said, Alex Herbert, A/P Richard Loh
250K – an information hub for teens and young adults with severe allergies
26 June 2017:
The new website - ‘250K – A hub for the 250,000 young Australians living with severe allergies’ www.250K.org.au - aims to provide age-appropriate information and resources to assist young people who are living with severe allergies, and to help them to feel more connected with other teens and young adults going through similar experiences in a fun but informative way.
With a fun and cutting-edge look and feel, the new 250K website was designed by young people for young people. It has a strong focus on interactivity and functions more like an App, allowing young people to share information with their friends in novel ways, such as using avatars. Importantly, it allows young people to share their thoughts on a range of topics anonymously. The 250K website is also supported by a slide set that schools will be able to access to help increase awareness about severe allergies.
This project has received funding from the Australian Government.
National Allergy Strategy receives further funding from the Australian government
26 June 2017:
The National Allergy Strategy will receive $1 million over the next two years to implement a national allergy prevention program. The funding announcement was made by Minister Gillespie at the launch of the National Allergy Strategy Youth Project resource launch, a project also funded by the Australian government.
Implementation of the ASCIA guidelines for infant feeding and allergy prevention will help reduce the development of food allergy. Preventing the development of food allergy will not only greatly improve the quality of life of individuals and their families, but it will assist in reducing the burden on state and federal governments, individuals with allergy and the Australian community.
Drug allergy project update
26 April 2017
The drug allergy scoping work is almost complete.
A report of the consultation undertaken to date has been submitted to the Australian Department of Health.
Engagement with key stakeholders such as the Australian Digital Health Agency will continue until the project completion in June 2017.
Food service project update
17 July 2017
In response to engagement with key stakeholders in the food service industry, a free online training course has been launched by the National Allergy Strategy, a partnership between Australia’s peak allergy bodies, the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA).
The All about Allergens online training available via a National Allergy Strategy website - www.foodallergytraining.org.au - provides access to training that is fast, easy and free. The comprehensive program provides need to know information relevant for those in the food service industry and is presented using videos and interactive activities.
The All about Allergens online course contains five units.
- Unit 1: A visit from the Environmental Health Officer
- Unit 2: Avoiding cross contamination
- Unit 3: Menus and labels
- Unit 4: Talking to customers
- Unit 5: When something goes wrong
Each unit include video information and interactive activities. The final unit includes a final quiz, which on successful completion, allows participants to print a certificate.
A free downloadable booklet which supports the online training is also available as well as links to other credible websites.
A community education website (a quick go to hub for top line information on management) has also been developed for people with food allergy and their carers – www.foodallergyeducation.org.au
