Shared Care for Allergy Bulletin March 2025 - Edition 10
Welcome to the 10th Edition of the Shared Care for Allergy Bulletin. This Bulletin keeps you up to date on the latest developments in the Shared Care for Allergy project. This project is a collaborative effort led by the National Allergy Council, the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia. Together we are working to improve access to quality care for Australians living with allergic conditions.
Latest progress
Lots of progress has been made in the past 12 months on the Shared Care for Allergy Implementation Roadmap March 2024 – March 2025. However, our journey doesn’t stop here. We are now looking ahead to the next 12 months of implementation, where we will evaluate the impact of these initiatives, continue to build on the collaborations, and look for further opportunities to improve access to quality allergy care.
Consumer consultation to inform programs and resources
Following consultation with multicultural health workers in Western Sydney, Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) will develop and pilot an allergy community awareness presentation to be delivered in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. This program aims to increase allergy knowledge, and awareness of available support and education.
A&AA continues to provide the National Allergy Helpline for information, advice or support from an Allergy Educator (allergy trained health professional). By talking with people who phone the helpline or send an online request for support, A&AA can make sure their programs and resources meet the needs of people with allergic conditions. Free webinars and panel discussions on topics requested by their members are also available. Webinar recordings can be watched through the A&AA website.
Allergy training for regional and rural doctors and other healthcare professionals
Associateship of Clinical Allergy course for regional and rural doctors
The first semester of the Associateship of Clinical Allergy pilot course began in February 2025. Five rural general practitioners (GPs) and five rural paediatricians will complete the Associateship, part-time over two years.
Each semester includes a two-day in person workshop to gain practical skills, weekly online learning and interactive case-based webinars, clinical placements and assessments. Each trainee is supported by two clinical supervisors during their training, one of whom is a clinical immunology/allergy specialist.
Trainees will become members of the Rural and Regional Clinical Allergy Network, a community of practice that will continue to support them both during and after the course. The pilot is funded as an ASCIA Education Initiative through funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
Food allergy and anaphylaxis e-training for psychologists
Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia have partnered with the Australian Psychological Society, to develop a 2-hour e-training program for psychologists on food allergy and anaphylaxis (due to any cause). The course will enhance psychologists’ knowledge and understanding of food allergy and potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis and, as a result, help with appropriate treatment options for individuals, children and parents/carers referred to psychologists for support.
ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training CPD approved
The ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training for health professionals is now an approved CPD activity by the following professional organisations:
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
- Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)
- Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
Rural health workforce funding support
Rural Health Workforce Agencies across Australia offer funding for training and upskilling through their Health Workforce Scholarship Programs.
Eligible health professionals providing primary healthcare in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations in Modified Monash Model (MMM 1 – 7), or non-government organisations and private practice across Australia (MMM 3 – 7) can apply for a bursary to help cover costs for completing postgraduate courses, short courses, workshops, conferences and seminars.
The Rural Health Outreach Fund (RHOF) also provides financial support for health professionals who provide outreach services focussing on key health priority areas, including chronic disease management. The RHOF funding helps cover the cost of travel, accommodation, meals and other related expenses.
To find out more and check eligibility contact your Rural Health Workforce Agency.
Pilot of the Eczema Connect® program
Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) has started the Eczema Connect® pilot clinical trial in partnership with Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) and the University of Western Australia. This is a parent education and support program. The aim is to improve a patient's eczema management and wellbeing, while they wait for an appointment with a Dermatologist at PCH. Parents are emailed information about eczema management, including the Understanding Eczema Starter Kit and the Eczema Flares Kit. They are also encouraged to access free phone and email support from an A&AA Allergy Educator. Since the trial commenced, 38 patients have joined.
Image: Launch of Eczema Connect, December 2024.
Develop processes to recognise healthcare professionals who have completed verified allergy training
The National Allergy Council aims to make it easier for people in the community to find healthcare professionals with verified allergy training. To support this, a National Allergy Council Conjoint Committee has been set up to oversee the process for GPs and Paediatricians with additional allergy training and experience. The Conjoint Committee has representation from ASCIA, RACGP, ACRRM and the Australian Paediatric Society. GPs and Paediatricians with additional allergy training will also be invited to join the Rural and Regional Clinical Allergy Network to support ongoing professional development.
A Recognition of Extended Skills for Allergy (RACGP) is in progress and will be used as a form of credentialing to verify the qualifications and experience of GPs. Recognition of Extended Skills is not a qualification or an award, but a quality-assured and endorsed process to recognise extended knowledge, skills and experience.
A Food Allergy Dietitian Recognition Program and Certification Model is also being developed as part of the ASCIA Education Initiatives.
Establish an allergy advice platform for healthcare professionals
allergy assist™ is a free, national online service that provides rural doctors with expert allergy education and support. The new platform was launched by Hon. Ged Kearney MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care in February 2025. Read the media release.
Developed by the National Allergy Council and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), allergy assist™ helps rural doctors access specialist advice and education, so they can better manage and support people with allergies closer to home.
To measure the impact of this new service, the National Allergy Council is conducting the National Allergy Advice Platform study as part of the allergy assist™ program which has ethics approval.
Image: Hon. Ged Kearney MP at the launch of allergy assistTM, February 2025.
Standards of care for transitioning from children’s allergy services to adult allergy services
The Transition of care standard is available on the National Allergy Council website. This standard provides guidance on ensuring young people with allergies experience a safe transition from paediatric to adult allergy care. To help services put this standard into practice, the National Allergy Council and ASCIA are working together to prepare and support the Heads of Allergy Departments with guides and tools to support transition.
Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) education and support program
Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) ran an allergic rhinitis (hay fever) campaign in October and November 2024. The campaign connected those living with allergic rhinitis, and the health professionals who care for them, with evidence-based, easy to understand information to manage the condition. They reached over 950 people, 48% of whom were from rural and regional areas, by using social media, Google advertising and promotion through healthcare professional networks. People with allergic rhinitis can assess the Living with Allergy Guides through the A&AA website (along with guides for other allergic conditions). Health professionals can access Living with Allergy Guides for patients.
Directory of healthcare professionals with allergy training
The National Allergy Council is working with the Digital Health Agency Provider Connect Australia team and Healthdirect to make it easier for people to find healthcare professionals with verified allergy training through the health service search directory. This will make it easier for people to find the right healthcare professional for their allergy care.
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