ASCIA website information

This page includes links to:

ASCIA Online Resources and Courses  |  Linking to ASCIA Online Resources and Courses  |  Development and Review Process of ASCIA Online Resources and Courses  |  Access to ASCIA Website

ASCIA Online Resources and Courses

ASCIA is the peak professional body of clinical immunology/allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand. To meet the increasing demand for high quality education, training and resources, ASCIA has developed a comprehensive range of world leading online resources and courses that are accessible, consistent and evidence-based. 

The ASCIA website was updated in late 2022 to improve the user experience and make it easier to find more than 400 resources, which include:

• 160 ASCIA information topics for patients, carers and community (140 anaphylaxis and allergy; 20 immunodeficiency and autoimmunity)
  ASCIA Patients and Carers Resources Summary 2023
• 130 ASCIA resources for health professionals (108 anaphylaxis and allergy; 22 immunodeficiency)
  ASCIA HP Resources Summary 2023259.09 KB
• 100 ASCIA anaphylaxis resource translations 
• 23 ASCIA Action, First Aid, Management, Travel and Treatment Plans (19 anaphylaxis and allergy; 4 immunodeficiency)
  ASCIA HP Action and Treatment Plans Summary 2023
• 20 ASCIA e-training courses for health professionals, schools, children's education/care (CEC) and  community (17 anaphylaxis and allergy; 3 immunodeficiency)
• Links to 13 animation videos about allergy/anaphylaxis (10) and immunodeficiency (3)
• Monthly ASCIA Update e-newsletters
• Regular information updates

Most ASCIA resources and courses are available open access from the ASCIA website.  

A limited number of resources are only available to ASCIA members, such as food allergen challenge and allergen immunotherapy protocols. 

The content of all ASCIA resources and courses is subject to copyright. However, ASCIA resources can be printed off the website, linked to or photocopied without infringement of the copyright.  

ASCIA does not provide the content of its e-training courses as this breaches ASCIA's document control and intellectual property (IP) policy. This policy is in place to prevent ASCIA IP from being copied and used for commercial purposes, and also ensures that outdated copies of content are not in circulation.

Linking to ASCIA Online Resources and Courses

ASCIA does not allow its educational resources to be rebranded or uploaded onto other websites unless a licencing agreement has been approved.

However, ASCIA provides permission for appropriate organisations to:

• Link to ASCIA webpages to access ASCIA educational resources; and/or
• Quote directly from ASCIA webpages, with acknowledgement of the source.

For example, some organisations link to the following popular ASCIA webpages:

• ASCIA anaphylaxis resources (including action plans): www.allergy.org.au/anaphylaxis 
• ASCIA immunodeficiency resources: www.allergy.org.au/immunodeficiency
• ASCIA health professional resources: www.allergy.org.au/hp/papers
• ASCIA information for patients and carers: www.allergy.org.au/patients/information 

ASCIA resources are regularly updated in response to requests, recommendations, changes in clinical and academic expert consensus, new published literature and product updates. By linking to the ASCIA webpages (and not directly to the PDFs) it ensures that only current versions are accessed. ASCIA does not supply its resources in RTF format.

Development and Review Process of ASCIA Online Resources and Courses

ASCIA resources and courses are regularly developed, reviewed and updated in response to: 

• Requests from ASCIA members, other health professionals and patient/carer support organisations.
• Recommendations from reports, including inquests into deaths due to anaphylaxis.
• Changes in clinical and academic expert consensus.
• New published studies and reviews. 
• Updates to product instructions, availability, registration and reimbursement.

ASCIA educational resources and training courses are accessible, consistent and evidence-based. They are based on published literature, expert consensus and review, however, they are not intended to replace medical advice. The content of ASCIA resources is not influenced by any commercial organisations. Hence there are no conflicts of interest regarding the sources of funding and the editorial content of the website.

The process for developing, reviewing and updating ASCIA resources and courses involves the steps outlined below.

ASCIA Resources and Courses for Health Professionals

• ASCIA committees and working parties develop, review and update ASCIA online resources and courses for health professionals. 
• When developing new resources and courses, Chairs of ASCIA committees and working parties initiate a review of the published literature, which is usually allocated to committee or working party members, with each member working on a section that is most relevant to their area of clinical and academic expertise.
• The ASCIA team (including medical writers and editors) works closely with the Chairs of ASCIA committees and working parties to compile these sections, which are then peer reviewed by relevant ASCIA committees and working parties.
• The ASCIA team also compiles a separate reference list (APA style) which are cited in  resources/courses, and are available open access on the ASCIA website.
• Once resources and courses are finalised they are uploaded to the ASCIA website.
• Regular reviews are undertaken by ASCIA and resources/courses are updated as required.
• When minor changes are made (including corrections) the amended resource or course is uploaded to the website, and the relevant ASCIA committees or working parties are emailed to inform them of the update and to invite feedback.   

ASCIA Information for Patients and Carers

• The ASCIA team works closely with the Chairs of ASCIA committees and working parties to develop, review and update ASCIA online information for patients and carers. 
• The draft new or updated information is peer reviewed by relevant ASCIA committees and working parties.
• Once finalised the information is uploaded to the ASCIA website.
• Regular reviews are undertaken by ASCIA and information is updated as required.
• When minor changes are made (including corrections) the amended information is uploaded to the website, and the relevant ASCIA committees or working parties are emailed to inform them of the update and to invite feedback.   

In all new or updated ASCIA information for patients and carers from January 2023 onwards, the following new introductory statement will be added, with links to relevant patient/carer support organisations.

This document has been developed by ASCIA, the peak professional body of clinical immunology/allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand. ASCIA information is based on published literature and expert review, is not influenced by commercial organisations and is not intended to replace medical advice.

ASCIA Immunodeficiency information:

For patient or carer support contact AusPIPS, HAE Australasia, IDFA, or IDFNZ.

ASCIA Allergy/Anaphylaxis information:

For patient or carer support contact Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia or Allergy New Zealand.

The following will be added in ASCIA information about:

• Tick Allergy and Mammalian Meat Allergy - Information is also available on the Tick Induced Allergies Research & Awareness (TIARA) website.
• Eosinophilic Oesophagitis (EoE) - AusEE.
• Mastocytosis - TAMS.

ASCIA E-training for Schools, Children’s Education/Care and Community

• The ASCIA team works closely with the Chairs of ASCIA committees and working parties to develop, review and update ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training courses for schools, children’s education/care and community. 
• The draft new or updated information is peer reviewed by relevant ASCIA committees and working parties.
• Education department representatives are also involved in reviewing information that is specific to their region.
• Once finalised the courses are uploaded to the ASCIA website.
• Regular reviews are undertaken by ASCIA and courses are updated as required.
• When minor changes are made (including corrections) the amended course is uploaded to the website, and the relevant ASCIA committees or working parties are emailed to inform them of the update and to invite feedback.   

Why do we need to continue updating and improving the ASCIA website?

• The ASCIA website is a world leading source of accessible, consistent and evidence-based information about allergy and immunodeficiency.
• The ASCIA website continues to attract a large number of users, with more than 3.2 million pageviews, 2.1 million visits and 1.7 million unique visitors in the past year.
• The ASCIA website is regarded as one of the main ASCIA member services (including information for their patients/carers), and sources of continuing professional development.

It is therefore important that we keep reviewing ASCIA website resources and the way that they are accessed, to inform future updates and improvements.

We welcome feedback about the updated ASCIA website via the online feedback form 

Objectives of ASCIA Online Resources and Courses

The objectives of ASCIA information are to:

• Create greater awareness and understanding of allergy and other immune system disorders.
• Help people recognise the signs and symptoms of allergy and other immune system disorders.
• Inform people of medically and scientifically proven methods for assessment, treatment, management and prevention of allergy and other immune system disorders..
• Improve the quality of life for people with of allergy and other immune system disorders. 
• Assist health professionals, patients and carers to make informed choices about management of of allergy and other immune system disorders. 

Access to ASCIA Website

The ASCIA website is organised to allow easy access to the extensive range of ASCIA resources from desk top computer, a tablet/iPad or smart phone using a responsive template that adapts automatically to the device being used.

 

Members Access

ASCIA members have access to the password protected areas of the website through the login on the Home Page or any internal page of the site.

The login module will appear further down the page in tablet/iPad/smart phone mode.

Select Login and the username and password fields will appear. If you have forgotten either your username or password these may be retrieved through the links in the login.

For further access assistance please use our Member feedback form.

Home Page position to the right of ASCIA News

 

Internal page below content

 

Content updated February 2023