ASCIA Past Presidents

This page includes links to:

ASCIA Online Resources and Courses  |  Policy Regarding 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

In response to requests from ASCIA members and 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. 

In 2024 more than 50 new ASCIA website resources were developed and more than 100 were updated to improve readability and include links to patient/carer organisations at the start of each resource. This resulted in the ASCIA website attracting more than 3 million pageviews (~250,000 per month), 2 million sessions (visits) and 1.9 million users (unique visitors). 

The ASCIA website and online resources do not include any advertising or sponsored content.  

A register of ASCIA resources is available here. This is updated every year.

ASCIA Resource Register 2023-12-06585.21 KB

The ASCIA website is continuously reviewed and updated to improve the user experience and make it easier to find more than 400 resources, which include:

• 146 ASCIA information topics for patients, carers and community
• 153 ASCIA resources for health professionals 
• 100 ASCIA anaphylaxis resource translations 
• 23 ASCIA Action, First Aid, Management, Travel and Treatment Plans 
• 22 ASCIA e-training courses for health professionals, schools, children's education/care (CEC) and  community 
• Links to 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. 

Policy Regarding Linking to ASCIA Online Resources and Courses

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

ASCIA's policy does not allow ASCIA resources to be rebranded or uploaded onto any other websites for the following reasons:

• To protect ASCIA's intellectual property (IP).
• To retain document control and ensure that outdated copies of content are not in circulation.

Permission can be granted upon request for ASCIA members and appropriate organisations to:

• Link to ASCIA webpages to access ASCIA resources.
• Quote directly from ASCIA webpages, with acknowledgement of the source including a weblink.

ASCIA resources are regularly updated in response to feedback, 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.

ASCIA does not provide the content of its e-training courses as this breaches ASCIA's document control and IP policy, unless a licencing agreement has been approved. 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.

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.

ASCIA Autoimmunity information:

Patient and carer support organisations are listed on the ASCIA website.

The following is included 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 November 2024

The ASCIA team works with ASCIA member committees and working parties to review, update and develop world leading, accessible, consistent and evidence based online resources, education and training, to support ASCIA members, other health professionals, patients, carers and the community.

As part of ASCIA's ongoing commitment to improving access to ASCIA website resources, education and training, and enhance the user experience, new webpages have been developed for health professionals:

• Resources  www.allergy.org.au/hp/papers 
• Allergy and anaphylaxis e-training courses
  Immunodeficiency e-training courses
  Pharmacist e-training courses 
  Note: As of 17 January 2025 all health professional courses are at  https://traininghp.ascia.org.au/

To improve access to ASCIA website information for patients, carers and community, and enhance the user experience, a new webpage www.allergy.org.au/patients/information has been developed. ReadSpeaker has been added to these webpages, to improve access for people with:

• Vision impairment, limited reading ability or learning disabilities, by allowing text to speech (TTS).
• Non-English speaking backgrounds - information can be translated into 20 different languages by highlighting the text and selecting 'translate’.

To improve access and enhance the user experience for ASCIA community education and training, significant updates were made in 2022 to ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training courses for schools, children's education/care services and community and ASCIA First Aid Plans for Anaphylaxis.

To find out how ASCIA resources are developed go to:  www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/website-information

Content updated December 2022

ASCIA collaborates with more than thirty other organisations, including:

• Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) - National Allergy Strategy partners since 2014 and National Allergy Council partners since 2022 https://nationalallergycouncil.org.au/
• Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (APAAACI) member society www.apaaaci.org/
• AusPollen - www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/ascia-initiatives/auspollen
• Australia and New Zealand Vasculitis Society (ANZVASC)- ASCIA Conference ANZVASC Symposium co-hosts in 2021 https://www.anzvasculitis.org/
• Australian and New Zealand Anaesthetic Allergy Group (ANZAAG) - ASCIA Annual Conference Symposium co-hosts in 2011 and 2017 www.anzaag.com/
• Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology (ASI) www.immunology.org.au
• Better Health Channel (BCH) website content partner www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/
• Centre for Food Allergy Research (CFAR) - ASCIA Annual Conference Symposium co-host since 2015 https://www.cfar.org.au/
• Education Departments (NSW, QLD, VIC, WA) - ASCIA anaphylaxis etraining for schools since 2010
• HealthDirect Australia website content partner www.healthdirect.gov.au/
• National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE) since 2022 www.nace.org.au 
• National Allergy Council partners since 2022 - supported by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care https://nationalallergycouncil.org.au/
• National Asthma Council member body www.nationalasthma.org.au/
• Choosing Wisely Australia partner since 2015 www.choosingwisely.org.au/recommendations/ascia
• Immunoglobulin Consortium member 2019-2022 www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/ascia-initiatives/immunoglobulin-nps-medicinewise
• Patient and carer support organisations in Australia and New Zealand (A&AA, Allergy NZ, AusEE, AusPIPS, HAE Australasia, IDFA, IDFNZ and TAMS) www.allergy.org.au/patients/patient-support-organisations
• Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) - Specialty Society since 1990 and Evolve partner since 2015 https://evolve.edu.au/recommendations/ASCIA
• Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) - Affiliation since 1990
• Transplantation and Primary Immunodeficiencies (TAPID) collaboration since 2014 www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/ascia-initiatives/tapid
• World Allergy Organisation (WAO) - ASCIA has been a WAO member society since 1990 www.worldallergy.org 

Content updated December 2023          

The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) was established in 1990 as the peak prefessional body for clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand.  Since then ASCIA has developed into a world leading professional organisation for allergy and clinical immunology. 

ASCIA is recognised for its leading role in improving the care of people in Australia and New Zealand with allergic conditions, immunodeficiency and other immune system disorders, through advancing clinical practice, education, training and research. 

To view annual ASCIA Highlights go to www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/highlights

From 2020 to 2024 ASCIA has adapted to changes by harnessing advances in technology and strategic planning. This has resulted in successful hybrid ASCIA annual conferences, more online meetings, improved access to ASCIA online education, training and clinical resources, and development of a new ASCIA Strategic Plan. 

Highlights (to date) from 2020-2024 are listed below. 

Hosting of 3 successful hybrid ASCIA Annual Conferences (2024, 2023, 2022) and a successful virtual ASCIA 2021 Conference. www.allergy.org.au/conferences/ascia-annual-conference

Improvements to ASCIA website education, training and clinical resources in 2023-2024 with more than 100 updates and 50 new resources developed. This has resulted in over 3 million annual pageviews (~250,000 per month). www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/website-information

Development of the ASCIA Strategic Plan 2024-2028 based on new priorities and implementation of national strategies for allergy and immunodeficiency. www.allergy.org.au/ascia-reports

Continued ASCIA membership growth, with more thsn 750 members in 2024. www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia#a4

Continued advocacy with more than 15 submissions lodged www.allergy.org.au/ascia-submissions and more than 10  reports developed in 2023-2024. www.allergy.org.au/ascia-reports

• Newborn Screening for Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID) is now available throughout Australia and New Zealand.
• ASCIA Clinical Care Standard for Inborn Errors of Immunity /Primary Immune Deficiency was developed. https://allergy.org.au/hp/papers/immunodeficiency

Implementation of National Allergy Council Shared Care for Allergy projects allocated to ASCIA (funded by the Australian government) including the following achievements in 2024: 

• Funding of 5 health professional education and training initiatives through an EOI process. www.allergy.org.au/national-allergy-strategy
• Evaluation reports based on feedback surveys in ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training courses for health professionals. www.allergy.org.au/ascia-reports#scap
• Updating of more than 100 ASCIA educational resources to promote patient/carer organisations and improve readability. www.allergy.org.au/patients
• Improved access to ASCIA online education, training and clinical resources through development and promotion of ASCIA Quicklinks. www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/quick-links
• Application submitted for MBS food challenge item number. www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/info-updates/ascia-application-for-mbs-item-for-supervised-oral-food-challenges
• Planning for development of an ASCIA referral toolkit. www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-and-clinical-immunology-services 
• Participation in 12 medical conferences with more than 14,000 delegates, to promote ASCIA education, training and clinical resources. www.allergy.org.au/ascia-reports#sca
• Increased promotion of ASCIA resources through e-newsletters and social media, with a reach of more than 12,000  followers each month.
• RACGP accreditation of ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training for health professionals (2025 version).

Implementation of National Allergy Council Schools/Childcare projects allocated to ASCIA (funded by the Australian government) including the following achievements in 2024: 

• Evaluation reports based on feedback surveys in ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training courses for schools, children's education/care and community. www.allergy.org.au/ascia-reports#nacscec
• Development of an ASCIA anaphylaxis training refresher video for schools, children's education/care and community, based on feedback from course participants and the content of ASCIA anaphylaxis refresher e-training courses. www.allergy.org.au/ascia-videos

Expansion of ASCIA operations in 2023-2024 with a total of 7 staff in 2024, including 3 new staff employed in 2023 and 2024. www.allergy.org.au/members/committees#d

Presentations by Allergy and Immunology Foundation of Australasia (AIFA) grant recipients at the ASCIA Annual Conference AIFA Symposium since 2021. In the ten years since AIFA was established in 2014, AIFA has awarded over $790,000 to 46 research projects. www.allergyimmunology.org.au/projects/#latest

Major reformatting of ASCIA Action and First Aid plans in 2023 to improve ease of use, 20 years after they were first introduced in 2003. www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/info-updates/new-2023-versions-of-ascia-action-plans-for-anaphylaxi

Continued hosting in-person ASCIA Advanced Training meetings in May 2023 and June 2022 (for the first time since 2019). www.allergy.org.au/conferences/advanced-trainees

Continued annual in-person TAPID meetings, held in May 2024 and April 2023 in addition to monthly online TAPID meetings.. www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/ascia-initiatives/tapid

Major updating of ASCIA anaphylaxis and allergy e-training courses for health professionals in 2022, to improve the user experience. https://etraininghp.ascia.org.au/ https://immunodeficiency.ascia.org.au/

Major updating of six versions of ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training for schools and  children's education/care (CEC) and ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training for first aid (community) in 2020, to improve the user experience, by including new infographics and links to video animations. ASCIA has provided accessible, consistent and evidence based e-training courses since 2010. The content of these courses is regularly reviewed at least on an annual basis, and updated as required.

From 2010 to 2020 ASCIA significantly expanded its advocacy, online communications and resources for education, training and clinical practice. 

Highlights from 2010-2020 include:

• Recommendations in the Report on the Parliamentary Inquiry into Allergies and Anaphylaxis Walking the allergy tightrope - Addressing the rise of allergies and anaphylaxis in Australia tabled on 15 June 2020 in the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia.  ASCIA welcomes the recommendations in the Report, and the recognition of ASCIA’s pivotal and leading role in improving the care of Australians with allergic disease. For details go to www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/info-updates/inquiry-into-allergies-and-anaphylaxis-report-15-june-2020
• Development of an extensive range of ASCIA COVID-19 resources in 2020 www.allergy.org.au/members/covid-19 particularly for patients who are immunosuppressed due to primary immunodeficiencies.  
• Development of ASCIA telehealth resources in 2020 www.allergy.org.au/ascia-telehealth in response to increased use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Hosting of ASCIA's 30th Annual Conference in September 2019, which provided an international standard of education and unique networking opportunities for ASCIA members. www.allergy.org.au/conferences/ascia-annual-conference#s2019
• Announcement of a Parliamentary Inquiry into Allergies and Anaphylaxis at the ASCIA 2019 Conference. ASCIA lodged a submission to this inquiry and a subsequent pre-budget submission that are both available on the ASCIA website. For details of these, and other ASCIA submissions go to  www.allergy.org.au/ascia-reports#s1
• The move to a new ASCIA office in March 2019 in the Lifestyle Working Building, which is a benchmark ESD (environmentally sustainable design) strata office building, the first of its kind to be built in Australia in 2008.
• Review and updating of over 60 ASCIA patient articles in 2019 www.allergy.org.au/patients/information
• Development of new ASCIA Fast Facts in 2019, to provide concise, easy to understand and reliable information about allergy and other immune diseases www.allergy.org.au/patients/fast-facts
• Implementation of the ASCIA Education Project 2018-2020 with a significant redesign of the ASCIA website in 2018 www.allergy.org.au. The ASCIA website is a trusted and extremely popular source of information about allergy and other immune diseases. Access to more than 140 ASCIA educational resources was improved by redesigning the website to be more user and mobile device friendly.  
• Implementation of the National Allergy Strategy since 2016, with the launches of 250K Youth Project (for the 250,000 young people will severe allergies) www.250K.org.au, All About Allergens training for food service www.foodallergytraining.org.auand Nip allergies in the Bub food allergy prevention project www.preventallergies.org.au
• Development of new ASCIA guidelines for infant feeding and allergy prevention in 2016, based on published evidence from the LEAP study.
• Development of the first National Allergy Strategy for Australia in 2015, in partnership with Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia and in collaboration with key stakeholders www.allergy.org.au/national-allergy-strategy
• NPS (National Prescribing Service) Choosing Wisely Australia and RACP Evolve partner since 2015 www.allergy.org.au/ascia-reports#s5
• TAPID (Transplantation and Primary Immunodeficiencies) collaboration since 2014 www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/ascia-initiatives/tapid
• AusPollen partnership since 2014 www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/ascia-initiatives/auspollen
• Management of ASCIA Annual Conferences since 2014 to replace ASCIA Annual Scientific Meetings.
• Establishment of AIFA (Allergy and Immunology Foundation of Australasia) in 2013, to fund research. From 2015 to 2020 AIFA will have awarded a total of $360,000 to 18 research projects.
• Development of ten ASCIA e-training courses since 2011 for health professionals.
• Development of an ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training course for community since 2011 to complement the courses for schools, early childhood education/care and community.
• Development of new and updated ASCIA action plans, guidelines and other resources since 2010, that promote high standards, available open access from ASCIA website.

From 2000 to 2010 ASCIA established online education and communications.

Highlights from 2000 to 2010 include:

• Development of the first ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training courses in 2010 for staff working in schools and children's education/care services. 
• Development of the first version of ASCIA infant feeding advice in 2008, which did not recommend delaying the  introduction of allergenic foods to infants, based on emerging evidence from published studies. 
• Management of ASCIA Annual Scientific Meetings since 2006.
• Establishment of the Annual Basten Oration in 2006.
• Development of ASCIA Guidelines for anaphylaxis in schools and childcare (first version) in 2004
• ASCIA e-newsletters since 2003, replacing printed newletters.
• Development of the first versions of ASCIA Action Plans for Anaphylaxis in 2003, that are now recognised as world leading resources and used throughout Australia and New Zealand.
• Establishment of the ASCIA Anaphylaxis Working Party (which has since become a committee) in 2002.
• Implementation of a new Strategic Plan in 2000, with an emphasis on open access web based educational resources for patients, consumers, carers and health professionals.

From 1990 to 2000 ASCIA built a strong foundation for the future.

In 1953 the Australian Society of Allergists (ASA) was registered under the auspices of the British Medical Association (Australia) and in 1962 the ASA was incorporated. In 1970 the Australasian Society for Immunology (ASI) was established and ASA became the Australian College of Allergists, which later changed its name and constitution to become the Australian College of Allergy (ACA).

In 1990 ASCIA was established, by amalgamating the ACA with the ASI Clinical Immunology Group (CIG). (Reference: Donald, Gwen. ACA Newsletter 9; 1990). 

Highlights from 1990 to 2000 include:

• Hosting of ASCIA Annual Scientific Meetings.
• Successful hosting of the World Allergy Congress in 2000, held in Sydney.
• Contracting of a new, part time ASCIA Education Project Officer in 1999.
• Development and implementation of a new ASCIA Strategic Plan, with a focus on online educational resources.
• Development of a new ASCIA logo.
• Redesign of the ASCIA website. 

Whilst so much has changed for ASCIA over the past 30 years, some things have adapted over time:

• The ASCIA logo and website URL www.allergy.org.au are still used in 2020, although the website has developed substantially.
• The ASCIA Project Officer contracted in 1999 is now the ASCIA Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary.
• Other long term ASCIA staff employed in 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2018 are still working for ASCIA in 2023.
• Past ASCIA Presidents listed at www.allergy.org.au/members/ascia-past-presidents have remained  involved in the Society. 
• ASCIA committees and working parties www.allergy.org.au/members/committees continue to be active in reviewing, updating and developing ASCIA e-resources.

Updated November 2024