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MEDIA RELEASE<\/p>\n
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Federal Government commits $14.6 million to combat allergy crisis<\/p>\n
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Release tags: Human |\u00a0Allergy | Funding announcement<\/p>\n
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At a Glance:<\/p>\n
The Federal Government has announced a further $14.6 million over two years to help support the eight million people living with allergic disease
\nThis second round of Department of Health, Disability and Ageing funding will boost National Allergy Centre of Excellence and National Allergy Council programs until June 2028
\nWithout a cure, and with the rate and cost of allergies in Australia rising, the need for life-changing national research infrastructure and public health programs is more important than ever
\nFamilies access allergy services, but look for greater community support and evidence-based information on best-practice management and emerging treatments like oral immunotherapy<\/p>\n
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The Federal Government has announced a further $14.6 million to accelerate national allergy research and public health programs that support millions of Australians living with allergic disease.<\/p>\n
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The funding until June 2028 for the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE)<\/a> and the National Allergy Council (NAC)<\/a>, a partnership between the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)<\/a> and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia<\/a>, was detailed in the 2025-2026 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Professor Kirsten Perrett<\/a>, Director of the NACE hosted at Murdoch Children\u2019s Research Institute (MCRI), said the federal commitment meant the peak allergy bodies could continue fast-tracking Australia\u2019s evidence-based response to the widespread chronic condition.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no cure and no time to waste when it comes to allergies, which touch almost every family, school and healthcare service,\u201d she said. \u201cOur focus\u00a0is to\u00a0address\u00a0complex clinical challenges through embedded allergy research, rigorous evaluation and the rapid translation of emerging evidence into clinical care. We are ensuring Australia remains at the forefront of allergy research.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Allergic disease is one of Australia\u2019s most urgent public health challenges, now affecting 8.2 million people and costing the Australian economy $18.9 billion a year, according to a Deloitte Access Economic report. Costly Reactions: The economic and social cost of allergic disease in Australia<\/a> was developed for\u00a0ASCIA and the\u00a0NAC.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Dr Sandra Vale<\/a>, CEO of the NAC, also welcomed the government\u2019s support for programs designed to improve health, save lives and reduce the burden of allergic disease.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAllergies can take a huge physical and emotional toll on people with allergic reactions, anaphylaxis and while rare, deaths are increasing and present an everyday risk for many families,\u201d she said. \u201cThis funding will directly support our work in delivering accessible, nationally standardised and evidence-based public health initiatives, education, training and everyday support for people living with allergic disease and those who care for them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Established in August 2022 with an initial $26.9 million in federal funding, the NAC and NACE have:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Trained 233,000 school, children\u2019s education and care, and healthcare professionals in life-saving anaphylaxis skills\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n The peak bodies were established following a 2019 bipartisan Parliamentary Inquiry into Allergies and Anaphylaxis<\/a> and subsequent Walking the Allergy Tightrope report<\/a>, which recognised the critical need for a national plan of action. <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Dr Melanie Wong<\/a>, ASCIA nominated Director of the NAC, said: \u201cThe NAC and the NACE collaboration has already made significant inroads, and we now have an unprecedented opportunity to develop more targeted, effective public health responses to allergic disease in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n For Edward, a nine-year-old from NSW, being allergic to milk, tree nuts and shellfish since he was a baby has re-shaped his family\u2019s life.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the first reaction when he was six months old, I\u2019ve planned every meal, birthday party, family holiday \u2013 always wondering if he\u2019ll be ok,\u201d Natalie, Edward\u2019s mother, said.\u00a0\u201cThe hardest part is the uncertainty because symptoms can be hidden, delayed and unpredictable.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI would like to see stronger public education, better support for children\u2019s mental wellbeing, and continued research into prevention and treatments like oral immunotherapy \u2013 so that families like mine can spend less time fearing food, and more time letting kids be kids.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve recently ventured overseas which was terrifying, and preparing for being in countries with different languages was a major step in our allergy journey. We used the Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia chef cards translated in different languages, and have found helpful resources on the NAC website. I also joined the NACE Consumer Engagement Register and would like to see more research because it feels like allergies are still a big unknown.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Rhiannon, 28, of Victoria, is a NAC Allergy 250K youth program peer mentor and MCRI early-career allergy researcher, who has lived with severe food allergies, eczema and asthma since childhood.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAs someone who\u2019s grown up with severe allergies, I know the challenges young people face and love supporting others through the NAC Allergy 250K Camps and online services,\u201d she said. \u201cMy family\u2019s strong history of allergic diseases inspired me to pursue a career in allergy research to understand what factors shape allergy development, and to ultimately improve prevention strategies and treatment options.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Available for interview:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Professor Kirsten Perrett, National Allergy Centre of Excellence Director; Paediatric Allergist; MCRI Group Leader, Population Allergy \u00a0<\/p>\n Media assets, including photos and b-roll footage, available here<\/a> <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Media contacts on behalf of NACE and NAC:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Harriet Edmund \u00a0<\/p>\n Greg Townley\u00a0<\/p>\n Lanham\u00a0Media\u00a0<\/p>\n Ph: \u00a00414 195 908<\/p>\n E: [email\u00a0protected]<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n About the national allergy centre of excellence (NACE):<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The National Allergy Centre of Excellence, hosted at Murdoch Children\u2019s Research Institute, is Australia\u2019s peak allergy research body. Backed by a national network of 500 experts in drug, food, insect, and respiratory allergies, it is recognised as a European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Advanced Research Centre. The NACE builds critical national research infrastructure and collaboration that transforms consumer-centred allergy care. nace.org.au<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n About the national allergy council (NAC):<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The National Allergy Council is a partnership between the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA), Australia\u2019s peak medical and patient support organisations for allergic disease. The National Allergy Council delivers evidence-based public health initiatives, education, training and support in consultation with key stakeholders, to improve the health and wellbeing of people with allergic disease. nationalallergycouncil.org.au<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Funding:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The National Allergy Centre of Excellence and National Allergy Council are supported by funding from the Australian Government, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Allergy facts:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n One in 10 babies<\/a> have a confirmed food allergy. One in 20 adults<\/a> report a medication allergy. One in 4<\/a> Australians have hay fever \u2013 up from one in seven in 2008. Twelve people<\/a> die from bee or wasp stings each year.
\nTrained 207,982 food service staff to provide safe food for people with food allergies\u00a0
\nSupported 5801 people through the National Allergy Helpline\u00a0
\nProvided 513,522\u00a0parents and healthcare professionals with evidence-based resources and advice\u00a0through the Nip allergies in the Bub\u00a0website
\nDeveloped the NAC allergy assist\u00d2 education and specialist advice platform to support rural doctors to improve access to allergy care. More than 800 doctors currently access the platform, which was recently expanded to metropolitan GPs\u00a0\u00a0
\nEnrolled 2269 people with allergies in five NACE embedded research programs, including the world-first, national, standardised peanut oral immunotherapy program (ADAPT), which was\u00a0introduced at 10 paediatric hospitals across Australia in 2024
\nDesigned the NACE Allergy BioRepository (ALBI) to accelerate discoveries and improve health outcomes\u00a0
\nAnalysed 768,118 people\u2019s data from existing research to generate new knowledge, including the latest allergy prevalence rates\u00a0
\nSynthesised 5010 academic articles in Australia\u2019s first drug and food allergy living evidence collection, underpinning clinical guidelines and public health programs\u00a0
\nTrained the next generation of allergy experts to drive critical research forward.<\/p>\n
\nDr Sandra Vale, National Allergy Council Chief Executive Officer
\nDr Melanie Wong, ASCIA nominated Director of the National Allergy Council and Clinical Immunologist\/Allergy Specialist
\nMaria Said, Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia nominated Director and Co-chair of the National Allergy Council and A&AA Health Strategy and Advocacy Manager
\nNatalie, mother of nine-year-old Edward of NSW, who has multiple food allergies
\nRhiannon, 28, Victoria, a NAC peer mentor and MCRI early-career allergy researcher, who has food allergies, eczema and asthma<\/p>\n
NACE Communications Manager
Ph: 0400 009 563
E: [email\u00a0protected]<\/a> <\/p>\n
\nFirst Nations people are twice as likely to present at hospital with asthma and other allergy related illnesses, with emergency department presentations significantly increasing between 2018 to 2023<\/a>.
\nThe Australian Capital Territory and Victoria have some of the highest rates<\/a> of allergic disease.
\nConditions often co-occur, meaning many people \u2013 and households \u2013 manage more than one allergic disease at the same time.
\nEach year, more than 2400 people are hospitalised with anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction), and 20 Australians lose their lives<\/a>.
\nAnaphylaxis deaths increased by seven per cent<\/a> annually in Australia between 1997 and 2013 \u2013 mostly triggered by foods, insect stings or medications.
\nLiving with the risk of anaphylaxis has a significant impact on health and wellbeing<\/a> of both the individuals and their families due to anxiety, isolation, and poor mental health.
\nAllergic disease is complex, often people have more than one type, and multiple family members can be affected, requiring support and a coordinated approach to care, evidence -based education and research into prevention, diagnosis and management.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MEDIA RELEASE \u00a0 Federal Government commits $14.6 million to combat allergy crisis \u00a0 Release tags: Human |\u00a0Allergy |…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":590069,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[64,63,137],"class_list":{"0":"post-590068","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-health"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/590068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=590068"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/590068\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/590069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=590068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=590068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=590068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}