The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) and Dietitians Australia (DA) Centre for Advanced Learning (CAL) recently hosted the 'Medical Nutrition Therapy in Food Allergy and Intolerance' course.  Congratulations and thank you to the team of ASCIA dietitians who were educators (see below) in this two day in-person course.

The course was held in Melbourne from Thursday 2nd March to Friday 3rd March 2023 (8:30am - 5:00pm) and attended by more than 40 delegates. The course has previously been held in Canberra (September 2018), Brisbane (March 2019) and Perth (September 2019).  

Due to the high demand (the Melbourne course was sold out), we are planning to host the course in Sydney in late 2023, Adelaide in early 2024 and Auckland in late 2024.

This course is presented in an interactive case study format and has been designed for dietitians with an allergy caseload or wanting to upskill in food allergy and intolerance, who work in private practice, community and hospital-based dietitians. The course can also be used as a refresher if you are returning to practice within this area.  The course is worth 24 CPD hours.  

Educators

Kathy Beck is a paediatric dietitian at ChildD (Child Health in Life & Disease Dietetics). She has expertise in food allergy and a passion to support families living with food allergy. Kathy is the chair of the Dietitian Committee of Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA). In this role, Kathy works with ASCIA members to produce clinical and consumer resources, in addition to supporting other dietitians working in food allergy. Kathy is also a member of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical immunology (EAACI).

Dr Vicki McWilliam is a clinical dietitian and Clinician-Scientist Fellow at the Royal Children’s Hospital/Murdoch Children Research Institute in Melbourne Australia. Vicki is a member of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) and a past chair of the Dietitians Committee. She is a member of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical immunology (EAACI) and an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian member of Dietitians Australia. Vicki is involved in clinical management of families with food allergy, teaching and training, resource development, industry consultation and food allergy management within foodservice. Vicki’s research interest is developing and initiating research trials that explore dietary interventions for food allergy prevention and treatment.

Dr Merryn Netting is an experienced clinical paediatric dietitian and Research Fellow based at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Merryn is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian member of Dietitians Australia (DA). Merryn works as a senior project officer for the National Allergy Council. Her research focuses on the influence of early life nutrition on long term health.

Anna Richards has a background in hospital and community dietetics and has been in private practice since 1997. Anna combines the passion of good nutrition with her passion for good food. Anna is well known for her specialist work in Allergy and Intolerance in children and adults. She works closely with Auckland’s key Allergy Specialists to care for clients all over the country and is a member of national and international boards and medical panels. Anna has specialist skills in paediatric nutrition and dietetics and a unique understanding of families and children’s nutrition issues.

Caroline South is an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) who works at the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne as well as private practice. She has over 10 years' experience working in the area of paediatric food allergy and is passionate about providing practical and evidence-based advice to children and their families, as well as working with the hospital foodservice department to optimise food allergy management. She is also the deputy char of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) dietitians committee and is involved in resource development, education and training. 

Marianne Tomlin is a Melbourne based APD, with extensive experience in childhood food allergies both in the UK and Australia. Marianne has a particular interest in feeding difficulties in children with food allergies and has recently established a new allergy feeding clinic at Monash Children's Hospital where she has helped set up the new paediatric allergy clinic service. Marianne also works privately from Kids Nutrition Clinic and Offspring Health. Out of work, Marianne is a keen cyclist and enjoys exploring Melbourne with her husband and two boys. 

Amanda Jackson is a clinical dietitian with over 14 years' experience, including 10 years working with adults with complex food allergies, intolerances, gastrointestinal conditions, and immune disorders. She is the senior dietitians in the Clinical Immunology and Allergy Department at Royal Melbourne Hospital and runs a private clinic at Melbourne Allergy Asthma and Immunology Consultants. In her current roles Amanda is involved in resource development, teaching, training and more recently project management for a multi-centre immunodeficiency research trial. Amanda is an active member of Dietitians Australia, the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) and sits on the healthcare advisory panel for the Immune Deficiency Foundation of Australia. 

Learning outcomes

• Appraise the complexity of diagnosis and management of IgE mediated food allergy, non-IgE mediated food allergy and various presentations of food intolerance across the lifespan,
• Recognise the importance of collaboration with other HPs in the allergy care team for optimal patient care in food allergy and intolerance.  
• Formulate appropriate and safe evidence-based nutrition care plans within the scope of practice, for patients with food allergy and food intolerance.
• Integrate reinforcement of medical management and practical skills regarding label reading, food preparation and eating away from home into patient management of food allergy, including the food service setting.
• Integrate available resources to enhance assessment, education, and nutritional intervention for patients with food allergy and food intolerance.  

This news item was issued on 27 March 2023 by Jill Smith, CEO of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA). ASCIA is the peak professional body for clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand.