ACECQA shares allergy management resources for ECEC services

ACECQA shared yesterday, via their newsletter, that The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) have partnered to develop a National Allergy Strategy for Australia.

The National Allergy Strategy, which was developed in consultation with key stakeholder organisations and aims to improve the health and quality of life for those living with allergic diseases and to reduce the burden on those who care for them, is freely available to all early childhood education and care (ECEC) services.

The National Allergy Strategy, ASCIA and A&AA have committed to promoting the highest standard of medical practice, training, education and research, to improve the health and quality of life of people with allergic diseases.

“Food allergy remains a growing problem in Australia, with rates on the rise, and episodes of life-threatening anaphylaxis increasing,” Associate Professor Richard Loh, Co-chair of the National Allergy Strategy and past President of ASCIA, is quoted as saying.

“While people with food allergy are usually successful in avoiding their allergens in their own environment, research tells us that most deaths from anaphylaxis occur outside of the home”.

The National Allergy Strategy is said to have received funding to develop resources in a number of areas including food allergy management in food service including early education and care services. The All About Allergens online training was released last year and is available to ECEC services free of charge. The course is interactive, with a certificate of completion that can be printed out at the end of the course.

To help manage food allergy and anaphylaxis in the community, free resources are available on both the ASCIA and National Allergy Strategy websites. ACECQA said the free resources which align with Quality Area 2 of the National Quality Standard include:

• ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training for early childhood education and care(ACECQA approved)

• ASCIA Action Plans, Treatment Plans and Checklists

• All about Allergens online training and booklet

• Information for parents and people living with food allergy

ACECQA encouraged all ECEC service providers and educators to access these resources, with further guidance available from ACECQA via their website