24 September 2020: 

Today, the Minister for Health, the Honourable Greg Hunt MP, launched the National Allergy Strategy’s “All about Allergens for Hospitals” online training courses. The courses will support Australian hospitals to put effective food allergen management policies and practices into place to provide appropriate food to patients with food allergies. 

A hospital, like any other food service, needs to ensure they meet the needs of patients with food allergies. However, food allergen management in hospitals is unique as many different staff are involved in providing food to patients.

The All about Allergens for Hospitals online training has been funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and is available free of charge, along with other National Allergy Strategy food service training courses, from the Food Allergy Training website.

The “All about Allergens for Hospitals” training provides practical information about managing food allergens in the kitchen and ensuring the right meal goes to the right patient on the ward. There are four specific versions available depending on staff roles and responsibilities:

• Kitchen managers and supervisors
• Kitchen staff
• Ward managers and nurses
• Ward support staff

See the courses online in the "All about Allergens for Hospitals" category.

These resources have been developed with the support of the National Allergy Strategy food allergy management in healthcare project working group as well as the many key stakeholders who contributed through the consultation process. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all involved in the development of these important resources. 

Visit the National Allergy Strategy website to read the full media release.

Launch Meeting

Minister for Health, the Honourable Greg Hunt MP

Dr Katie Allen MP

Megan Cooper, parent of child with severe allergy - speaker at the launch

Launch Attendees

Today is World Eczema Day which is dedicated to improving awareness and understanding of eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis).

Eczema can impact significantly on the quality of life for both the person with eczema and their carer.

The National Allergy Strategy recently developed new information about managing eczema for our 250K youth project. To support this information, a new video animation has been created, firstly for our 250K young adult website, and a teen version will be available soon.

The National Allergy Strategy has also developed information sheets to help people with eczema understand how to use bleach baths and wet dressings.

Surveys for parents and staff working in schools and ECEC

The National Allergy Strategy is developing minimum standards for the prevention and management of anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions) in schools and childcare.

To help us to develop these standards, we would like parents/guardians who have a child with severe allergies enrolled in a school and/or childcare service and staff who work in school or childcare, to complete a national online survey about how severe allergies should be managed in these settings.

The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and all information collected will be anonymous – we will not be able to identify you or the name of the school and/or childcare service where your child attends.

Please take the time to complete the survey and help guide the development of the minimum standards. Please also share this information with friends and colleagues.

The surveys can be accessed from the National Allergy Strategy website

The surveys close at midnight on Friday 25 September 2020. 

23 June 2020:

In this Webinar recording Dr Kathy Rainbird (Australian Digital Health Agency) and Dr William Smith (Clinical immunology/allergy specialist) explain how clinical immunology/allergy specialists can make the most of My Health Record in their clinical practice.

The Webinar took place on 16 June 2020 as part of a National Allergy Strategy Project to encourage more specialists to use My Health Record.

Go to Health Professionals - Webinar – An overview of My Health Record for Clinical immunology/allergy specialists

15 June 2020: 

The National Allergy Strategy welcomes the Walking the allergy tightrope report tabled today by Trent Zimmerman, chair of the committee which conducted a parliamentary inquiry into allergies and anaphylaxis. The National Allergy Strategy also acknowledges the support provided by the Hon Greg Hunt, Minister for Health in progressing the inquiry.

Walking the allergy tightrope - Addressing the rise of allergies and anaphylaxis in Australia1.15 MB

“We would like to thank the parliamentary inquiry committee for what has been a very thorough and considered inquiry into the impact of allergic diseases,” said Dr Preeti Joshi, Co-chair of the National Allergy Strategy. “It was clear from the way the hearings were conducted that this Committee wanted to identify and understand all the important issues,” Dr Joshi said.

The National Allergy Strategy specifically welcomes recommendations regarding the establishment of an anaphylaxis register, additional allergy research, consideration of a healthcare card for allergic consumers, national standardisation of emergency department discharge after anaphylaxis admissions, minimum standards for allergy training for health professionals, improved training for food service, improved access to food and drug challenges, and improvement and expediating of food labelling.

It is also encouraging that the Committee recognises the importance of the National Allergy Strategy, Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) and Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), as key organisations providing expertise and support to the community. We hope that ongoing sufficient funding will continue to support the important work each organisation undertakes.

“The National Allergy Strategy, is a partnership between the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, the peak medical and patient support organisations for Australia and this is a key strength of the Strategy,” Ms Said, Co-chair of the National Allergy Strategy stated. “We are able to put consumers at the centre of everything we do with the support of the peak medical body and other key stakeholder organisations,” she said.

In 2015, the National Allergy Strategy was launched with the support of key stakeholder organisations who worked together to develop a blueprint for what needed improving and how it could be achieved. The recommendations tabled today address many of the key issues that the National Allergy Strategy believes are important to improving the management of allergic diseases in Australia.

25 March 2020: 

Healthdirect Australia have asked the National Allergy Strategy to share the COVID‑19 Symptom Checker they have developed for people that are unwell and think they may have COVID‑19. 

As medical staff, testing clinics and the National Coronavirus Helpline are overwhelmed with enquiries, the symptom checker can help alleviate pressure. 

The COVID‑19 Symptom Checker provides people with advice on whether medical help is required and what they should do next, such as calling ahead before a visit to a GP or emergency department. 

Access to the COVID‑19 Symptom Checker is available from the National Allergy Strategy website: www.nationalallergystrategy.org.au

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.