Initiatives, Projects and Collaborations

2018: Summary of priorities

1. ASCIA Annual Conference

www.ascia2018.com 4-8 September, National Convention Centre Canberra

2. Redesign of ASCIA website

The ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au has been redesigned in 2018 is to improve accessibility to world leading ASCIA resources. 

3. ASCIA Education Project 2018-2020

This project aims to increase the use of ASCIA resources by health professionals, to improve patient care. For more information download the Prospectus ASCIA Education Project_2018-2020 Prospectus191.6 KB 

4. ASCIA Proposal – National Immunodeficiency Strategy 

ASCIA Proposal – National Immunodeficiency Strategy72.55 KB

5. Expansion of AIFA research grants and awareness programs

In 2018 AIFA continues to expand fundraising and awareness for allergy and immunology research www.allergyimmunology.org.au  

6. National Allergy Strategy projects

In 2018 ASCIA continues to promote the National Allergy Strategy www.nationalallergystrategy.org.au 250K www.250k.org.au and All about Allergens www.foodallergytraining.org.au projects, whilst working together on the new food allergy prevention project https://preventallergies.org.au/

2018 Initiatives, Projects and Collaborations

Continuing Professional Development / Meetings

• ASCIA 2018 Conference held in conjunction with the CFAR Symposium, Medical Associates and Nurses Days, Autoimmunity Update, Dietitians Course and GP Allergy Update (4-8 September 2018)
• ASCIA SCIg (subcutaneous immunoglobulin) resources workshop (May 2018)
• ASCIA TAPID (transplantation and primary immunodeficiency) project monthly teleconferences
• ASCIA TAPID face to face meeting (May 2018)
• ASCIA WA Immunology Day (June 2018)

Website / Communications

• Redesign of ASCIA website 
• Review and updating of ASCIA website health professional information including etraining courses 
• Increased frequency of ASCIA member e-newsletters, relevant news items on ASCIA website homepage and social media
  
• Expansion of ASCIA community e-news update 
  
• Increased number of submissions

Food Allergy / Anaphylaxis projects 

• New ASCIA food allergen challenge register https://facregister.ascia.org.au.
• New ASCIA parent information FAQ - How to introduce solid foods for allergy prevention www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-prevention/ascia-how-to-introduce-solid-foods-to-babies
• New ASCIA patient information – Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) for food allergy www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-treatment/oral-immunotherapy-for-food-allergy
• Updated and new ASCIA Action Plans for Anaphylaxis and Allergic Reactions www.allergy.org.au/anaphylaxis  
• Updated ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training courses www.allergy.org.au/anaphylaxis 
• New ASCIA allergy prevention e-training for health professionals https://etraininghp.ascia.org.au/food-allergy-prevention
• New ASCIA website quick link to food allergy information www.allergy.org.au/foodallergy 
• Development of new ASCIA - DAA course for dietitians - in final stage of development 
• Updated ASCIA cow’s milk allergy patient information - under review
• Updated ASCIA food allergy clinical updates - under review  
• Updated ASCIA food allergy e-training courses - under review  
• New anaphylaxis emergency medication bag nametags and wallet cards - to be printed 

Respiratory / Insect Allergy projects

• Updated tick allergy information www.allergy.org.au/patients/insect-allergy-bites-and-stings/tick-allergy
• Updated webpages on allergen immunotherapy www.allergy.org.au/members/allergen-immunotherapy-information 
• New ASCIA website quick link to respiratory allergy information on new ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au/allergic-rhinitis
• Updated ASCIA allergen immunotherapy etraining - under review
• Updated ASCIA allergen immunotherapy practical guide - under review

Drug (Medication) Allergy projects

• New ASCIA website quick link to drug allergy information on new ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au/drug-allergy
• New ASCIA penicillin allergy e-training for health professionals - in final stage of development
• New ASCIA drug allergy (cephalosporin) consensus statement for clinical immunology/allergy specialists - under review

Skin projects

• New Guide for eczema management www.allergy.org.au/hp/papers/ascia-guide-to-eczema-management
• New ASCIA website quick link to eczema information on new ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au/patients/skin-allergy
• National Allergy Strategy/ASCIA paediatric atopic dermatitis (eczema) e-training for health professionals https://etraininghp.ascia.org.au/atopic-dermatitis
• Updated ASCIA chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) Guidelines - under review

Primary Immunodeficiency (PID) / Autoimmunity projects

• New SCIg travel plan and IRT transfer care plan  www.allergy.org.au/immunodeficiency
• Updated general SCIg information, SCIg position statement, information on how to set up a SCIg service and Guidelines for standardised IVIg infusion rates  www.allergy.org.au/immunodeficiency
• New ASCIA TAPID project publication 
• New ASCIA immunodeficiency register - in final stage of development
• New ASCIA PID newborn screening position statement - under review

Research

• AIFA campaigns for research fundraising and raising awareness, including World Allergy Week 2018  www.allergyimmunology.org.au/support-aifa/worldallergyweek 
• AIFA grant program www.allergyimmunology.org.au/grants 

Content updated October 2018