The world-first initiative has been designed to bridge the gap in allergy care for rural and remote Australians.
The new platform has been developed by the National Allergy Council and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.
As of today, GPs and rural generalists will have access to allergy assistTM, a free online platform that provides specialist advice regarding the diagnosis and management of allergies to those in areas where distance makes it difficult to access specialist treatment.
“This platform is not only a game-changer for allergy care in rural Australia, but as a likely world-first, it positions Australia as a leader in innovative solutions to healthcare inequities,” said Dr Melanie Wong, a clinical immunology/allergy specialist and director of the National Allergy Council.
“By educating and upskilling doctors, it ensures better outcomes for their patients. It’s a transformative tool that addresses the unique challenges of rural healthcare and empowers local doctors to deliver life-changing care closer to home.”
allergy assistTM will serve as an educational and advice hub for doctors in regional, rural and remote areas. It contains online learning modules, links to resources developed by the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy and offers a service in which GPs can submit de-identified case information and receive guidance and advice from clinical immunology/allergy specialists within 48 hours.
National Allergy Council co-chair Maria Said highlighted that common allergic conditions such as hay fever are often trivialised for families in rural areas despite their significant negative impact on quality of life.
“People with allergic rhinitis often face long waits to see a specialist in a tertiary hospital due to triage systems that don’t prioritise their condition. allergy assistTM brings vital expertise closer to home, empowering GPs to manage patients locally where possible and providing families with the support and care they need,” Ms Said, who is also the CEO of Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, told media.
The platform, which was developed by the National Allergy Council in partnership with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, will be hosted on the ACRRM’s leaning management platform. It can be freely accessed by ACRRM members and other doctors in regional, rural and remote areas who specifically apply for access.
ACRRM president Dr Rod Martin explained that the new platform had taken inspiration from Tele-Derm, the College’s online dermatology service, which has been used by over 5000 for more than two decades.
“By applying the successful model of Tele-Derm to allergy care, we’re giving rural doctors a tool that can make an immediate difference. This initiative strengthens the capabilities of Rural Generalists while ensuring their patients receive the care they deserve,” said Dr Martin.
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The Honourable Ged Kearney MP said the platform was a major step forward in ensuring all Australians have access to the best possible healthcare, regardless of where they live.
“As a nurse I saw just how debilitating and common allergies can be. So, now it’s important to me that the Albanese Labor Government supports this initiative,” the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care told media.
Over five million Australians live with some form of allergic condition, such as food allergies, insect stings and anaphylaxis.
allergy assistTM will be piloted until February 2026, with researchers at the University of Western Australia slated to evaluate its impact over the next 12 months. The team behind the platform hope that a successful pilot period will see the platform become a permanent part of the Australian healthcare system.
Further information regarding allergy assistTM can be found on the National Allergy Council website.
