As the end of another challenging year is approaching, we thank ASCIA members and supporters for your highly valued contributions throughout the past year.

Despite the uncertainties during 2021, ASCIA has become an even stronger and more resilient organisation, with increased members, supporters, reach and recognition.

Highlights from 2021 include:

• Hosting of a highly successful ASCIA 2021 Virtual Conference with 694 delegates, the highest number of delegates on record for an ASCIA Annual Conference. In response to requests, access to on-demand ASCIA 2021 Virtual Conference recordings has been extended by two months, until 3 February 2022. This should allow registered delegates to catch up on missed sessions.
  allergy.org.au/conferences/ascia-annual-conference
• Increased membership, with over 700 ASCIA members as of December 2021. allergy.org.au/about-ascia#a4
• With more than 330 ASCIA online resources, the ASCIA website continues to attract a large number of visits. From 1st July 2020 to 30th June 2021 there were more than 3 million pageviews and 1.9 million visits and 1.5 million unique visitors, as well as 90,000 ASCIA e-training course registrations.  allergy.org.au/about-ascia/education-projects
• All ASCIA anaphylaxis online resources and e-training courses have been updated and new resources have been developed. allergy.org.au/anaphylaxis
• Several new ASCIA COVID-19 vaccination resources were developed, which have been widely accessed, contributing to the success of COVID-19 vaccine programs. allergy.org.au/members/covid-19
• Continued advocacy on behalf of ASCIA on allergy and immunology issues. allergy.org.au/ascia-reports
• More than $500,000 awarded in AIFA research grants since 2015. allergyimmunology.org.au/grants
• Several National Allergy Strategy project launches. allergy.org.au/about-ascia/info-updates/national-allergy-strategy-updates

ASCIA’s plans for 2022 include:

• Hosting of the ASCIA 2022 Hybrid Conference from Tuesday 30 August to Friday 2 September at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. 
• Launch of the ASCIA Immunodeficiency Strategy for Australia and New Zealand on Friday 29 April 2022. nationalimmunodeficiencystrategy.org.au/
• Hosting of ASCIA Allergy and Immunodeficiency Advanced Training Days in June 2022.
• Continued advocacy, including new submissions for food and drug allergy challenge MBS item numbers.
• Further expansion of ASCIA online resources
• Further expansion of ASCIA e-training courses.
• Further expansion of the AIFA research grant program.
• Continued expansion of the National Allergy Strategy.

We hope that the New Year brings happiness, health and success for you and your families. 

Kind regards, 

Professor Michaela Lucas
ASCIA President

Jill Smith
ASCIA CEO

ASCIA gratefully acknowledges the generous support of all sponsors listed on the ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/sponsors 

This news item was issued on 20 December 2021 by the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), the peak professional body for clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand.