2018: Priorities

1. ASCIA 2018 Conference

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

2. Redesign of ASCIA website

The main objective of redesigning the ASCIA website in 2018 is to improve accessibility to world leading ASCIA online resources and e-training courses. 

3. ASCIA Education Project 2018-2020

This project aims to expand influence and reach by promoting increased use of ASCIA resources by health professionals, to improve patient care. 

For more information download the Prospectus here

ASCIA Education Project_2018-2020 Prospectus299.68 KB

4. Expansion of AIFA research grants and awareness programs

In 2018 AIFA will focus on expanding both fundraising and awareness raising initiatives to increase their impact on allergy and immunology research. The AIFA website will also be redesigned to improve accessibility.

5. National Allergy Strategy projects

In 2018 ASCIA will be involved in the National Allergy Strategy Infant feeding and food allergy prevention project.  ASCIA will also continue to promote 250K www.250k.org.au and All about Allergens www.foodallergytraining.org.au

2017: Initiatives, Projects and Collaborations

For a summary of 2017 highlights go to www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/highlights

For detailed information see below.

2017: Continuing Professional Development / Meetings

• ASCIA 2017 Conference held in conjunction with the ASCIA-ANZAAG Drug Hypersensitivity/Allergy Symposium, CFAR Symposium, Nurse and Dietitian Updates and Dietitians Workshop (13-15 September 2017)
• National Allergy Strategy allergy prevention project meeting (17 March 2017)
• ASCIA SCIg (subcutaneous immunoglobulin) resources workshop (19 May 2017)
• ASCIA TAPID (transplantation and primary immunodeficiency) project monthly teleconferences
• ASCIA TAPID face to face meeting (20-21 May 2017)
• ASCIA WA Immunology Day (10 June 2017)
• ASCIA Advanced Training Meetings - Environmental Allergy and Private Practice (29-30 July 2017)

2017: Website / Communications

• Comprehensive review and updating of ASCIA website, including information for patients, consumers and carers www.allergy.org.au/patients/information 
• Increased frequency of ASCIA member e-newsletters, relevant news items on ASCIA website homepage and social media www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/info-updates
  
• Expansion of ASCIA community e-news update www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/updates
• New World Allergy Week awareness raising campaign on ASCIA and AIFA websites and social media www.allergyimmunology.org.au/support-aifa/worldallergyweek
• Review and updating of AIFA website, social media, e-newsletter and awareness campaigns www.allergyimmunology.org.au
• Updated specialist listings www.allergy.org.au/patients/locate-a-specialist

2017: Collaborations (in alphabetical order)

• Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia and the National Allergy Strategy – a partnership since 2014
• ANBS (Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy) affiliation
• ANZAAG (Australian and New Zealand Anaesthetic Allergy Group) drug allergy symposium co-host 2017
• APAAACI (Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology) member society
• ASI (Australasian Society for Immunology) affiliation
• AusPollen partner since 2014
• BCH (Better Health Channel) website content partner
• CFAR (Centre for Food & Allergy Research) annual symposium co-host since 2015
• DAA (Dietitians Association of Australia) workshop partner 2017
• Education Departments (NSW, QLD, VIC, WA)
• HealthDirect Australia website content partner
• Immunological Alliance member
• NAC (National Asthma Council) member body
• NPS Choosing Wisely Australia partner since 2015
• Patient organisations in Australasia since 2006
• RACP (Royal Australasian College of Physicians) specialty society
• RACP EVOLVE partner since 2015
• TAPID (Transplantation and PID) host since 2014
• WAO (World Allergy Organisation) member society

2017: Food Allergy / Anaphylaxis projects 

• New ASCIA guide for introduction of peanut to infants with severe eczema and/or food allergy and updated ASCIA information on how to introduce solid food to babies for allergy prevention www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/papers#p7 
• Updated ASCIA cow’s milk allergy patient information and food allergen challenge FAQs www.allergy.org.au/patients/food-allergy
  
• Updated ASCIA food allergy clinical updates www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/papers/food-allergy 
• Updated ASCIA food allergy e-training courses www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/about-ascia-e-training 
• Updated ASCIA guidelines for vaccination of the egg allergic individual www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/papers/vaccination-of-the-egg-allergic-individual 
• New ASCIA anaphylaxis resources webpage, including updated ASCIA Action Plans for Anaphylaxis, e-training, translations  www.allergy.org.au/anaphylaxis 
• Updated ASCIA Anaphylaxis Guidelines 
•  www.allergy.org.au/patients/food-allergy/food-allergy-challenges-faqs
• New anaphylaxis emergency medication bag nametags and wallet cards (under review) 
• New ASCIA food allergen challenge register (almost completed)
• National Allergy Strategy youth project's 250K website (launched 26 June 2017) www.250K.org.au  
• New National Allergy Strategy food allergy training for food service (launched 17 July 2017) www.foodallergytraining.org.au  
• New National Allergy Strategy food allergy educational website for community (launched 17 July 2017) www.foodallergyeducation.org.au
• New National Allergy Strategy food allergy education resources (in development)

2017: Respiratory / Insect Allergy projects

• New ASCIA allergic rhinitis e-training for pharmacists http://etrainingpharm.ascia.org.au/ 
• Updated ASCIA allergic rhinitis e-training for health professionals www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/about-ascia-e-training
• Comprehensive review and updating of ASCIA information for patients, consumers, carers www.allergy.org.au/patients/information including thunderstorm asthma information
• New webpages on allergen immunotherapy www.allergy.org.au/members/allergen-immunotherapy-information 
• ASCIA advanced training meetings - environmental allergy and private practice (29-30 July 2017)
• Update ASCIA allergic rhinitis treatment plan www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergic-rhinitis-hay-fever-and-sinusitis/allergic-rhinitis-treatment-plan
• New ASCIA allergic rhinitis clinical update for health professionals www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/papers/allergic-rhinitis-clinical-update
• Updated ASCIA allergen immunotherapy manual (under review)

2017: Drug (Medication) Allergy projects

• National Allergy Strategy drug (medication) allergy scoping project (completed)
• ASCIA-ANZAAG Drug Hypersensitivity/Allergy Symposium 2017 www.ascia2017.com.au 
• New ASCIA-ANZAAG Chlorhexidine allergy information for patients, consumers and carers www.allergy.org.au/patients/medication-allergy 
• New ASCIA drug allergy (cephalosporin) consensus statement for clinical immunology/allergy specialists (under review)
• New ASCIA penicillin allergy e-training for health professionals (in development)
• New ASCIA website quick link to Drug allergy information (in development)

2017: Skin Allergy projects

• New AIFA / ASCIA public awareness campaign on hives www.allergyimmunology.org.au/support-aifa/worldallergyweek
• Updated ASCIA information for patients, consumers and  carers on Hives (Urticaria) and Angioedema  www.allergy.org.au/patients/skin-allergy 
• Updated ASCIA chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) Guidelines (under review)

2017: Primary Immunodeficiency (PID) / Autoimmunity projects

• New ASCIA PID clinical update for health professionals www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/papers/pid
• Revised ASCIA HAE position paper www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/papers/hereditary-angioedema
• New and updated ASCIA information on autoimmunity www.allergy.org.au/patients/autoimmunity 
• Updated SCIg position statement www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/papers/scig
• New and updated SCIg information for patients www.allergy.org.au/patients/immune-deficiencies 
• New SCIg treatment plan www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/papers/scit-treatment-plan
• New information on how to set up a SCIg service www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/papers/guide-setting-up-scig-program-in-hospital 
  
• New Guidelines for standardised IVIg infusion rates for IRT for IVIg infusion rate www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/papers/ascia-guidelines-for-standardised-ivig-infusion-rates-for-irt 
  
• New ASCIA immunodeficiency resources webpage www.allergy.org.au/immunodeficiency 
• New ASCIA TAPID project publication (in development)
• New ASCIA immunodeficiency register (almost completed)
• New ASCIA PID newborn screening position statement (in development)

2017: Research

• New AIFA campaigns for research fundraising and raising awareness, including World Allergy Week 2017  www.allergyimmunology.org.au/support-aifa/worldallergyweek 
• AIFA grant program www.allergyimmunology.org.au/grants 
• Updated ASCIA website research project webpage www.allergy.org.au/health-professionals/research-studies