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About ASCIA

This webpage includes the following information about ASCIA:

ASCIA's Purpose 
ASCIA was established in 1990 as the peak professional body for clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand. ASCIA is a Company limited by guarantee (ACN 608 798 241; ABN 45 615 521 452) and is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). 

ASCIA's purpose is to advance the science and practice of allergy and clinical immunology, by promoting the highest standard of medical practice, training, education and research. The aim (social purpose) is to improve the quality of life and health of people with allergic conditions, immune deficiencies and other immune diseases.

ASCIA works towards achieving its purpose by focusing on strategic areas and goals listed below. Details about priorities within these focus areas for 2024-2028 are on the ASCIA website

  1. Member Services - Goal: Promote the highest standards of allergy and immunology training, practice and care through providing  online ASCIA resources, communications, advocacy and allergy/clinical immunology research grants for ASCIA members. 
  2. Professional Development - Goal: Provide professional development opportunities including education and training in allergy and clinical immunology for ASCIA members, other health professionals, patients, carers and community.
  3. Collaborations - Goal: Work together with patient/carer, professional and research groups to increase the profile of allergy and clinical immunology and improve health outcomes.  

All of the three strategic focus areas listed above depend on utilising the clinical and academic expertise of ASCIA members and project management by ASCIA staff, working together with contractors.

A new ASCIA Strategic Plan 2024-2028 has been developed, based on ASCIA's Purpose,  Strategic Focus Areas and Goals listed above, and is available at https://www.allergy.org.au/ascia-reports

ASCIA is a member society of the World Allergy Organisation (WAO) and the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (APAAACI). ASCIA is affiliated with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) as a Specialty Society.

The ASCIA Constitution and By Laws are available at https://www.allergy.org.au/members/constitution

ASCIA acknowledges and pays respect to past, present and emerging traditional custodians and elders of the lands on which we live and work, and recognises the continuing connection to land, sea and culture of all first nations people.

ASCIA Staff and Contractors

ASCIA relies on the highly valued work from employees, contractors and the voluntary contributions of ASCIA members.

ASCIA staff and contractors are listed at www.allergy.org.au/members/committees#d

The ASCIA employment and contracting policy is available here:

pdfASCIA Policy Employment and Contracting 202240.29 KB

ASCIA Code of Conduct

ASCIA relies on the highly valued work from employees, contractors and the voluntary contributions of members (including ASCIA Council, committee and working party members) to achieve its purpose.

In the course of doing this work, ASCIA is committed to providing a positive, professional and safe environment, where ASCIA employees, contractors and members are valued and behave towards each other with respect.

The ASCIA Code of Conduct has been updated in June 2024 to comply with new legislation.

pdfASCIA Code of Conduct June 2024118.81 KB

ASCIA Members

ASCIA members are health professionals who work in the areas of allergy, clinical immunology and immunopathology. As at March 2025, there are 799 ASCIA members, comprising:

  • 304 Full ASCIA members (38%) including 287 clinical immunology/allergy specialists who are listed on the ASCIA website allergy.org.au/patients/locate-a-specialist
  • 80 Associate (Trainee) members (10%) who are completing their advanced training to become clinical immunology/allergy specialists.
  • 154 Associate (Medical) members (19%), who are medical practitioners who manage some patients with allergic conditions, but are not clinical immunology/allergy specialists. These include paediatricians and GPs with additional training in allergy. 
  • 193 Associate (Other Health Professional) members (24%), including 126 nurses and 51 dietitians.
  • 43 Associate (Scientist/Researcher) members (6%).
  • 25 Retired ASCIA members (3%).

Current ASCIA members are listed on www.allergy.org.au/members/directory (members section of the ASCIA website).

Membership applications are available from the ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au/members/apply and applications are reviewed at quarterly ASCIA Council meetings, held in early March, June, September and December.

ASCIA Initiatives and Priorities 

For details about ASCIA initiatives and priorities go to www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/ascia-initiatives 

ASCIA Committees and Working Parties

ASCIA committee chairs are represented on ASCIA Council. In addition there are several ASCIA working parties and collaborations, which are not all represented on ASCIA Council.

Further information is available at www.allergy.org.au/members/committees 

Terms of Reference for ASCIA committees and working parties is available at www.allergy.org.au/members/committees/terms-of-reference

For qualifications of ASCIA members go to www.allergy.org.au/patients/locate-a-specialist 

ASCIA Sponsorship 

ASCIA provides education, training and professional development opportunities, which are accessed by:

ASCIA educational activities are dependent mainly on income from ASCIA Annual Conferences, ASCIA annual membership fees, educational grants from governments for specific projects and unrestricted educational grants from industry.

For information about ASCIA sponsorship go to www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/sponsors 

ASCIA Conferences and Meetings 

ASCIA Annual Conferences are usually held in early September, with locations rotating between Australian states and New Zealand on approximately a six year cycle. Further information is available here.  

In addition there are more regular educational dinner meetings for ASCIA members which are organised by local ASCIA area representatives. Further information is available here.

ASCIA Newsletters

ASCIA members receive a monthly e-newsletter and emails about  information that is specific for ASCIA members, as part of their membership entitlements.

A community version of the ASCIA e-newsletter is available for health professionals who are not ASCIA members, the media, industry and the community, to provide news about allergy and other immune diseases. You can subscribe and access past issues at www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/updates 

Subscriber details remain confidential and you can unsubscribe at any time. To review our privacy information go to www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/disclaimer-and-privacy#privacy  

Webpage updated April 2025