New national platform allergy assist® launched to support GPs in allergy diagnosis and management

The National Allergy Council (NAC) has introduced allergy assist®, a web‑based advisory and education service designed to improve access to specialist allergy advice for general practitioners and rural generalists across Australia.

Allergy assist® is a no‑cost online platform that enables GPs to submit de‑identified patient cases to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist panel. The specialist responds within 48 hours, providing advice on diagnosis, management or referral.

Users have access to a clinical index of past cases, high‑quality educational modules, webinars and quizzes. CPD hours are obtainable for participation.

The pilot is available to GPs and rural generalists nationwide, with the platform hosted via the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) online learning system. Non‑ACRRM members, including metropolitan GPs, are also eligible to enrol free of charge.

How it works

1. The doctor obtains patient consent and submits a case through the secure system.
2. A specialist from the panel reviews the case and provides advice within 48 hours.
3. The de‑identified case is visible to other registered users, supporting collective learning.

The platform supports a range of allergy‑related conditions, including: food allergy, medication allergy, insect sting/bite allergy, anaphylaxis history, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. It does not provide advice on broader immune system disorders.

The pilot, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health seeks to:

• Improve timely access to expert allergy care regardless of location, reducing health inequities.
• Build GP confidence and capability in allergy diagnosis and treatment.
• Support more local management of allergy cases, reducing burden on tertiary services.
• Provide educational resources and evidence‑based practices for participating clinicians.

For services operating within the ECEC sector, allergy assist® holds relevance in several ways:

• Many children in ECEC settings present with allergy‑related conditions (for example food allergy, eczema/atopic dermatitis or allergic rhinitis). Enhanced GP access to specialist advice may lead to more accurate diagnosis, better‑informed care plans and safer environments for children.
• Early childhood providers can benefit indirectly from improved communication between GPs and families, leading to clearer allergy action plans, risk‑mitigation strategies and stronger partnerships with health professionals.
• As allergy management is inherently part of duty of care and risk management in ECEC settings, a health system strengthening initiative such as allergy assist® enhances the overall supporting framework for services.
• The focus on rural and remote access is pertinent to regional ECEC services where specialist resources may be more limited, reinforcing the importance of remote‑consultation and tele‑health models in allied and medical care supporting children in early learning.

The initial pilot runs from February 2025 through to February 2026.

Usage and impact will be evaluated via platform analytics and user surveys, under an ethics approval granted by the University of Western Australia.

Allergy assist® represents a significant step forward in bridging the gap between specialist allergy advice and front‑line primary care. For the early childhood sector, it reinforces the critical role of clinical collaboration, timely specialist access and integrated health care in supporting children’s safety, wellbeing and participation. As awareness of allergy and anaphylaxis risk continues to grow in early learning settings, initiatives such as this contribute meaningfully to sector capability and children’s experiences.