Initiatives, Projects and Collaborations

2018-2019: Summary of priorities

1. ASCIA Annual Conferences

ASCIA conferences are a highlight of the year for ASCIA members and other health professionals working in allergy, clinical immunology and immunopathology.  In 2019 the ASCIA conference will be held in Perth Western Australia, and will coincide with ASCIA’s 30th year celebrations. For more information go to www.ascia2019.com 

2. ASCIA Education Project 2018-2020

Implementation of the ASCIA Education Project has commenced in 2018 with a significant redesign of the ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au to improve access and promote increased use of ASCIA resources. These resources including world leading ASCIA Action Plans and ASCIA e-training courses as well as new quicklink webpages and Fast Facts:

• 20 ASCIA e-training courses are available free of charge at www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/about-ascia-e-training 
• > 20 ASCIA plans, guides and checklists are available free of charge at www.allergy.org.au/hp/ascia-plans-action-and-treatment 
• 12 ASCIA Fast Facts topics are available at www.allergy.org.au/patients/fast-facts

3. Development of a National Immunodeficiency Strategy

This project aims to improve the health and quality of life for Australians with primary immunodeficiencies and minimise the burden on individuals, carers, healthcare services and community.  For more information go to www.allergy.org.au/hp/hp-information/immune-diseases

4. Expansion of AIFA research grant program

In 2018-2019 AIFA will continue to expand funding for allergy and immunology research and increase awareness of these conditions.  For more information go to www.allergyimmunology.org.au  

5. National Allergy Strategy projects

In 2018-2019 ASCIA will continue to promote the National Allergy Strategy 250K www.250k.org.au and All about Allergens www.foodallergytraining.org.au projects, whilst working together on the new projects, including Nip Allergies in the Bub https://preventallergies.org.au/ allergy prevention project.  For more information go to www.nationalallergystrategy.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 www.allergy.org.au 
• 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/patients/food-allergy 
• Development of new ASCIA - DAA course for dietitians - presented for the first time in September 2018 
• Updated ASCIA cow’s milk allergy patient information - www.allergy.org.au/patients/food-allergy/cows-milk-dairy-allergy
• 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 in 2019 

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 review
• 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 - in final stage of 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 - presented as a poster at the ASCIA 2018 Conference
• New ASCIA immunodeficiency register - in final stage of development
• New ASCIA PID newborn screening position statement - in final stage of 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 

Major Collaborations (in alphabetical order)

• Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia and the National Allergy Strategy – Partners since 2014
• ANZAAG (Australian and New Zealand Anaesthetic Allergy Group) - ASCIA Annual Conference Symposium co-hosts 2011 and 2017
• AusPollen - Partner since 2014
• CFAR (Centre for Food & Allergy Research) - Annual symposium co-host since 2015
• DAA (Dietitians Association of Australia) Centre for Advanced Learning (CAL) - Dietitians course partner since 2018 
• RACP (Royal Australasian College of Physicians) - Specialty Society since 1990 and Evolve partner since 2015
• TAPID (Transplantation and Primary Immunodeficiencies) - Host since 2014
• WAO (World Allergy Organisation) - Member society since 1990

Other Collaborations (in alphabetic order)

• ANBS (Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy) affiliation
• APAAACI (Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology) member society
• ASI (Australasian Society for Immunology) affiliation
• BCH (Better Health Channel) website content partner
• Education Departments (NSW, QLD, VIC, WA)
• HealthDirect Australia website content partner
• Immunological Alliance member since 2016
• NAC (National Asthma Council) member body 
• NPS Choosing Wisely Australia partner since 2015
• Patient organisations in Australasia since 2006

Content updated November 2018