About the Associateship of Clinical Allergy
The Associateship of Clinical Allergy (ACA) is a national education initiative developed by the National Allergy Council, in collaboration with the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA). The course is designed to upskill and enhance the expertise of general practitioners and paediatricians in the diagnosis and management of allergic disease and improve access to safe, evidence-based allergy care across Australia.
Why was the ACA developed?
Allergic conditions are increasing in prevalence, yet many Australians, particularly those in regional, rural and remote areas, have limited access to specialist care. The ACA aims to fill this gap by providing healthcare professionals with the skills and confidence to manage allergic presentations and deliver safe, coordinated care within their local community.
The aim is to deliver practical and relevant training that can be applied to the regional and rural primary care setting. Contributors to the development and delivery of the course are clinical immunology/allergy specialists, allergy GPs and allergy paediatricians who are members of ASCIA and have experience in providing allergy education and/or regional allergy care.
Course information – 2025 pilot
The ACA is a two-year, part-time course consisting of four units:
- Unit 1: Anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity reactions
- Unit 2: Food allergy and other adverse reactions to food
- Unit 3: Aeroallergy
- Unit 4: Allergy and the skin
Trainees will learn through the context of real clinical cases with facilitated discussion around clinical reasoning and documentation. They will be supported with clinical attachment, supervision and mentorship from clinical immunology/allergy specialists and GPs and paediatricians with experience in adult and/or paediatric allergy medicine.
Ongoing support, mentorship and opportunities for professional development will be provided through participation in a Rural and Regional Clinical Allergy Network.
The course is being piloted from Semester 1, 2025 with 10 trainees who are GPs and paediatricians working in rural, regional, and underserved communities. Applications for the pilot are closed.
Further information
Find out more about being an ACA trainee.
Find out more about being an ACA supervisor.
Information about this course and the Shared Care for Allergy Project
The ACA course has been developed as part of the National Allergy Council’s Shared Care for Allergy Project, which aims to improve access to high-quality allergy care by providing targeted training and support to healthcare professionals in rural and regional areas of Australia.
Funding for the pilot is provided by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and managed through the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Education and Training Initiatives. This support enables the first 10 participants to undertake the ACA course at a subsidised cost.
Stay informed about the Shared Care for Allergy Project
To stay informed about future consultation opportunities and find out how the Shared Care for Allergy Project is progressing:
Follow the National Allergy Council on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram)
Subscribe to the Shared Care for Allergy Bulletin
If you have an enquiry about the project please email
Content created August 2025