ASCIA Action Plans explained

Plan	For
Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (red)	People with a confirmed allergy who have been prescribed an adrenaline device. For 2026 there is a general version plus four device-specific versions (EpiPen, Anapen, Jext, neffy).
Action Plan for Allergic Reactions (green)	People with a confirmed food or insect allergy who have not been prescribed an adrenaline device, and are at lower risk of anaphylaxis.
Action Plan for Drug (Medication) Allergy (dark green)	People with a confirmed drug allergy who are not usually prescribed an adrenaline device, because exposure can mostly be avoided.
First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis (orange)	Not specific to one person. Goes with general-use adrenaline devices in first-aid kits, schools, workplaces and venues.

Colours and versions are set by ASCIA. The official plans are at allergy.org.au.

An ASCIA Action Plan is a single standardised page (the 2026 general anaphylaxis version is two pages). It records:

• The person’s details and a photo, completed by their prescriber;
• Their confirmed allergens;
• The signs of a mild to moderate allergic reaction and of anaphylaxis — the 2026 versions add infographics alongside the text;
• The response steps the prescriber has set out, including the person’s adrenaline device where one is prescribed, and to call 000.

It is not a substitute for seeing a doctor, and it is not a diagnosis — it records a diagnosis already made. We do not reproduce the plan or its steps here; the official, current plan is the one your prescriber completes.

An ASCIA Action Plan is a medical document that can only be completed and signed by the treating prescriber — your GP, allergy specialist (clinical immunologist) or paediatrician, or another authorised prescriber. From the 2026 versions, ASCIA uses the word “prescribers” in place of “doctor or nurse practitioner”, reflecting changes in who can prescribe adrenaline devices in Australia. To get or update a plan, book an appointment to have it reviewed and signed.

• The plans do not expire, and may be used past their recommended review date — that date is a prompt to see your prescriber.
• The 2025 plans may still be used in 2026.
• It is still sensible to review regularly — especially for children as they grow, and when an adrenaline device is replaced.

ASCIA Action Plans are widely used in Australian schools and early childhood services — you may see them displayed in a classroom, canteen or first-aid room. A child at risk of anaphylaxis usually needs a current personalised plan (and their adrenaline device) on file. The plan is for any age, and it is more than paperwork: staff use it to recognise a reaction and respond. Anaphylaxis management in schools and childcare is also governed by state and territory rules — your service can tell you what they require.

A red (or green) ASCIA Action Plan is personalised — it has the person’s name, photo and allergens, completed by their prescriber. The orange ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis is generic — no personal details — and is the one kept with general-use adrenaline devices in first-aid kits, schools, workplaces and restaurants. The how-and-when of treatment is the same on both.

ASCIA Action Plans for Anaphylaxis and Allergic Reactions are for confirmed allergy. They are not for:

• Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) from pollen, dust mite or animals — that is managed differently, sometimes with an ASCIA Treatment Plan;
• Food intolerance, which is different from food allergy.

If you are not sure which applies to you, your doctor can confirm the diagnosis and the right plan.

Adrenaline (epinephrine) devices used in Australia include EpiPen and Anapen injectors; Jext (an injector) and neffy (a nasal spray) are TGA registered and were becoming available during 2026. The right device, and whether one is needed at all, is decided by your prescriber, who will give you the matching device-specific Action Plan. Your doctor or pharmacist can advise on getting and using a device, and on any PBS subsidy.