13 March 2020: 

The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) has developed information and guidance regarding COVID-19. 

The information is available on the ASCIA website at

www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/info-updates/ascia-information-about-covid-19

www.allergy.org.au/patients/immunodeficiencies

5 March 2020: 

The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) through the National Allergy Strategy is collaborating with the Australian Digital Health Agency to provide information to clinical immunology/allergy specialists about using My Health Record to improve patient care.

This new Fact sheet for clinical immunology/allergy specialists developed by the National Allergy Strategy includes information about:

• what’s in it for you and your patients;
• benefits for clinical immunology/allergy specialists; and
• safety and security of patient information.

MHR Fact Sheet for Clinical Immunology/Allergy specialists208.13 KB 

Additional resources designed to support your use of My Health Record in clinical practice are being developed as part of this project and will be released once complete. 

26 February 2020: 

Understanding how to register and upload to My Health Record can be challenging. Join Professor Steven Boyages as he interviews Carey Doolan from the Australian Digital Health Agency to provide practical advice to help you register and upload to My Health Record. To register for this webinar on 4^th March 2020, 6-7pm AEDT go to here.

For information about how the National Allergy Strategy is working with the Australian Digital Health Agency to improve the quality of patient allergy information in My Health Record go to NAS - Digital Health Agency

19 November 2019: 

The National Allergy Strategy was pleased to be invited to speak at the public hearing of the parliamentary inquiry into allergy and anaphylaxis, in Sydney on the 19th November 2019. ASCIA and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia were also invited to speak at the hearing. 

We would once again, like to acknowledge Mr Trent Zimmerman and Minister Hunt for their support of Australians living with allergic diseases by conducting this inquiry.

Pictured from: left Dr Preeti Joshi, Ms Karen Wong (back) Ms Maria Said, Mr Trent Zimmerman, Dr Mike Freelander, Ms Sandra Vale, Dr Brynn Wainstein, Ms Jody Aiken and Ms Jill Smith  

Parliamentary inquiry into allergies and anaphylaxis -

12 November 2019:

The National Allergy Strategy would like to acknowledge Mr Trent Zimmerman and Minister Greg Hunt for conducting a federal parliamentary inquiry into allergies and anaphylaxis.

The National Allergy Strategy has made a submission to the parliamentary inquiry into allergies and anaphylaxis. 

Download here: NAS Allergy Parliamentary Inquiry Submission490.12 KB

For further information about the parliamentary inquiry and how to make a submission, please access the following link: About the inquiry

12 September 2019: 

It is our pleasure to inform you that Mr Trent Zimmerman has announced a parliamentary inquiry into allergic diseases. The parliamentary inquiry will be undertaken by the Standing Committee on Health and will provide the opportunity for a thorough investigation into the many issues regarding the management of allergic diseases in Australia.

The National Allergy Strategy would like to acknowledge both Mr Trent Zimmerman and Minister Greg Hunt for their commitment to undertake the parliamentary inquiry and for their ongoing support of Australians living with allergic diseases.

Further information is available from:

• Inquiry into allergies and anaphylaxis media release:
  New Parliamentary Inquiry: Allergies and anaphylaxis under the microscope 153.69 KB
  Allergies and anaphylaxis under the microscope (online version)
• Inquiry into allergies and anaphylaxis terms of reference: 
  Terms of Reference - Inquiry into allergies and anaphylaxis

30 July 2019

A free, potentially life-saving online food allergy training program for cooks and chefs, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, has today been launched by the National Allergy Strategy, a partnership between the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA).

Developed in conjunction with chefs and cooks with experience in commercial kitchens, “All About Allergens: The next step for cooks and chefs” focuses on food preparation, handling and storage, and highlights the importance of effective communication between the kitchen and other staff and consumers with food allergy.

Two courses – one for general food service and another for camp providers – have been developed to provide information relevant to the specific settings. The first All about Allergens course should be completed before undertaking the new course for cooks and chefs.

The free online courses aim to provide practical information for cooks and chefs. The National Allergy Strategy has engaged with key stakeholders, including conducting a focus group with chefs, to ensure that resources are developed that will help make managing food allergies easier for food service providers.

24 June 2019: 

Today the National Allergy Strategy has launched the national roll out of the Food Allergy Prevention Project funded by the Australian Government. The project aims to implement the ASCIA guidelines for infant feeding and allergy prevention.

The Nip Allergies in the Bub website  (www.preventallergies.org.au) has been developed as part of the Food Allergy Prevention Project and this website along with other resources have been piloted over the past year in Western Australia. Feedback about the resources has been collected and improvements made to the resources where required.

Alongside the online resources, face to face education of general practitioners, child maternal health nurses and pharmacists has been provided to inform and support health professionals. In preparation for the national roll-out, education sessions for general practitioners have been provided in most states.