Shared Care for Allergy Bulletin February 2026 - Edition 14

ASCIA e-training promotion and healthcare professional resources

Updated ASCIA anaphylaxis resource and online training

In 2026 there are multiple adrenaline (epinephrine) devices approved for use in Australia (EpiPen^®, Anapen^®, Jext^® and neffy^®). More than 60 ASCIA resources, including ASCIA’s anaphylaxis online training courses, have been updated to include all approved devices.

Minimum allergy training competencies

Minimum allergy training competencies for healthcare professionals have been developed by ASCIA in collaboration with the National Allergy Council. This work was undertaken in response to Recommendation 5 from the Parliamentary Inquiry into Allergies and Anaphylaxis, “Walking the allergy tightrope”.

New ASCIA Education, Training and Resource Hubs for healthcare professionals

ASCIA is developing new Education, Training and Resource Hubs for healthcare professionals. The first hubs (Anaphylaxis, Respiratory Allergy, Food Allergy and Drug Allergy) will be available on the ASCIA website in May 2026.

These hubs will provide healthcare professionals with:

• An overview of allergy and immunology topics including essential information for clinical practice.

• A guide to relevant resources for healthcare professionals from ASCIA and other sources.

• A starting point before in-depth learning in ASCIA e-training courses for health professionals.

• Information to assist with undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programs.

New allergy training pathways and networks

Five ASCIA funded pilot initiatives are progressing as part of the Shared Care for Allergy program and will result in the upskilling of more than 340 healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses and dietitians. Most of these initiatives are focused on healthcare professionals working in rural and regional areas.

Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia partnered with the Australian Psychological Society to create a 2-hour e-training course and other resources on food allergy and anaphylaxis with support from the National Allergy Council. Psychologists and counsellors now have access to a new Australian Psychological Society online training course and practice guide to enhance their understanding of food allergy and anaphylaxis.

Allergy education and support for diverse groups

Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia has recorded a series of webinars for HealthEd. These webinars support healthcare professionals to better understand the consumer experience and how A&AA can support patients, such as through the National Allergy Helpline and Living with Allergy Guides. The latest webinars are now available on the website. Healthcare professionals may be able to claim CPD points for these webinars.

Recognition pathways for allergy healthcare professionals

The National Allergy Council is establishing a process for healthcare professionals including GPs, paediatricians, nurse practitioners and dietitians to have their qualifications and training in allergy recognised.

allergy assist® pilot

The number of users of allergy assist® is steadily increasing, and the service is receiving regular enquiries from GPs and rural generalists for advice on the management of patients with suspected allergy. Active promotion has occurred through the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Primary Health Networks and medical media. The service has the capacity to help patients who have been referred to an allergy service but are still waiting for an appointment. GPs and rural generalists can request advice from a clinical immunology/allergy specialist through the platform. The majority of the doctors registered for the platform (74%) are located in areas classified as ‘regional’ and ‘rural’, and 11% located in ‘remote’ areas.

Digital education and support programs for consumers

Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia has developed new website content to support people with the use of neffy®. Their neffy® webpages include a frequently asked questions page, adrenaline device comparison page, and an animation explaining what neffy® is and how it is used in anaphylaxis. neffy® trainer devices are available from the A&AA shop.

Visibility of recognised allergy healthcare professionals

Recognised allergy healthcare professionals will be listed on a National Allergy Council directory for consumers, carers and referrers to locate them. This is an exciting project that aims to support access to quality allergy care locally where possible.

Allergy Care and Education (ACE) Nurse Pilot

Congratulations to all nurses in the ACE Nurse Pilot who have successfully completed and passed the Professional Certificate in Allergy Nursing through the University of South Australia. They will now join a Community of Practice that will support them to apply their knowledge and skills, providing education to patients with allergic conditions in their region. There will be second intake into the ACE pilot in 2026 which will promoted in future Bulletins.

National standards and guidelines for allergy

An Access to Allergy Care Guideline is being developed to support consistent access to care for people with allergic disease in Australia. The guideline makes national recommendations for improving access, particularly for people living in regional, rural and remote areas. The guideline is being developed in close consultation with interest holders.

Allergy referral resources

ASCIA is developing resources to assist in the referral and triage process for public hospital allergy clinics. With public services limited in the number of patients they can see, the referral process needs to be a two-way process and facilitate shared care. Development of referral templates is in progress and available in May 2026.