Australian Sickle Cell Advocacy Inc (ASCA) is a not-for-profit organisation supporting people living with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Australia. It is Australia’s first Sickle Cell Advocacy group advocating for the rights of those living with Sickle Cell Disease in Australia as well as the peak body in Australia looking out for people affected by this disease. ASCA started in 2014 and formally registered in October 2018. Our head office is based in Melbourne with chapters or representatives in other States or Territories across Australia.

Our Services

Community Outreach

ASCA will provide community sickle cell disease awareness information sessions to different multicultural communities. This outreach program will be beneficial for at-risk communities. Information sessions will also be provided to different educational institutions like TAFE / Colleges / Universities. These sessions will be targeting Nursing and Medical Students so that they have an understanding SCD.

Family Support Networks

These ASCA funded programs will allow families affected to share life with people going through similar situations. These will be quarterly informal meetings between different people affected sharing snacks / drinks while discussing issues affecting these community of people. Programs commence in late August 2019.

Peer to Peer Support Programs

These programs are similar to family support networks, however, they are specifically for people with SCD. These programs will be run by ASCA with the help of treating hospitals to give an opportunity for people affected to engage one on one or between different ages and tackle issues that only people that are affected go through. Strict policies/ procedures and Insurance will be in place.

Advocate for Scientific Research

Currently SCD is considered a rare disease in Australia and as such there are no known scientific research programs running as there are no funds directed to this disease. Hence ASCA will continue reaching out to Australian Research Scientists to start researching other curative / management options for SCD.

Sickle Cell Disease Awareness

ASCA will continue to highlight the existence of SCD in Australia. Our aim is for everyone from risk areas to get tested for them to know if they have the sickle cell trait. Knowing the sickle cell status will help make proactive decisons.

Provide Resources and Information

Community Outreach

Family Support Networks

Peer to Peer Support Programs

Advocate for Scientific Research

Sickle Cell Disease Awareness

Provide Resources and Information

3RD SICKLE CELL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE

SICKLE CELL RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA - LEARNING FROM THE COVID-19 EFFECT

Australian Sickle Cell Advocacy Inc looks forward to you joining us for our 3rd Scientific Conference to be held in on 4^th November 2023 at Victoria Hotel Melbourne Victoria. We are proud to be supported by Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand the creators of The Blood Meetings which are scheduled from 5^th November to 8^th November here in Melbourne.

This year’s conference is focusing on advancing sickle cell disease research in Australia. The world has seen with great interest how the Covid-19 pandemic affected us all in all aspects of life. This pandemic has also seen how quick it took for pharmaceutical companies to develop vaccines that have essentially given us our lives back after being locked for almost two years in our respective countries.

ASCA would like to take this notion and apply it to sickle cell disease research in Australia and other parts of the world. What can we learn from the pandemic experience and do things differently?

To express interest as a speaker or participant, contact us via this link.

3RD SICKLE CELL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE

SICKLE CELL RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA - LEARNING FROM THE COVID-19 EFFECT

ASCA would like to take this notion and apply it to sickle cell disease research in Australia and other parts of the world. What can we learn from the pandemic experience and do things differently?

To express interest as a speaker or participant, contact us via this link.

DRAFT CONFERENCE AGENDA

Support Our Cause

Become a Member

Become an ASCA member to get all the latest information on Sickle Cell Disease in Australia and other parts of the world.
You will be the voice for people affected by this condition by having a say through your voting rights at our general meeting.
Get the latest news and updates through our quarterly newsletters and routine updates.
Having created the first-ever SCD support group in Australia, our primary objective is to ensure that we have our members supported.
Join us for routine catch-ups with other families going through similar challenges. We cherish our team activities and we would like you to be on board.
Have your say and identify gaps affecting people living with sickle cell disease. We are registered in NSW, QLD, SA, VIC and WA.

Become a Member

We are a private not for profit organisation raising awareness about Sickle Cell Disease in Australia.
We are also supporting people affected by this condition considered rare in Australia.
We do this by providing information and educational materials.
We are also meeting different multicultural groups to raise awareness.
We also lobby government to improve services for communities affected by this genetic disorder.
We are advocating for more scientific research and clinical trials to have curative options for all.
We are a fully registered charity with a deductible gift recipient certificate.
Every financial support you give us is Tax deductible.
Thank you for your support.

Donate Blood

Sickle Cell Disease is mainly treated by targeting the symptoms or complications that come with living with this disease.
With pharmaceutical treatment only limited to one drug at the moment in Australia, blood transfusion is one the most successful treatment options to manage this disease.
Regular blood transfusions or routine red cell exchange can only become possible with the help from blood donors.
Support people living with Sickle Cell Disease by donating blood.
With every blood donation, you are saving three lives.
Make an appointment to donate today.
Follow the link below.
Thank you for your support.

Become a Member

Become an ASCA member to get all the latest information on Sickle Cell Disease in Australia and other parts of the world.
You will be the voice for people affected by this condition by having a say through your voting rights at our general meeting.
Get the latest news and updates through our quarterly newsletters and routine updates.
Having created the first-ever SCD support group in Australia, our primary objective is to ensure that we have our members supported.
Join us for routine catch-ups with other families going through similar challenges. We cherish our team activities and we would like you to be on board.
Have your say and identify gaps affecting people living with sickle cell disease. We are registered in NSW, QLD, SA, VIC and WA.

Support Our Work

We are a private not for profit organisation raising awareness about Sickle Cell Disease in Australia.
We are also supporting people affected by this condition considered rare in Australia.
We do this by providing information and educational materials.
We are also meeting different multicultural groups to raise awareness.
We also lobby government to improve services for communities affected by this genetic disorder.
We are advocating for more scientific research and clinical trials to have curative options for all.
We are a fully registered charity with a deductible gift recipient certificate.
Every financial support you give us is Tax deductible.
Thank you for your support.

Donate Blood

Sickle Cell Disease is mainly treated by targeting the symptoms or complications that come with living with this disease.
With pharmaceutical treatment only limited to one drug at the moment in Australia, blood transfusion is one the most successful treatment options to manage this disease.
Regular blood transfusions or routine red cell exchange can only become possible with the help from blood donors.
Support people living with Sickle Cell Disease by donating blood.
With every blood donation, you are saving three lives.
Make an appointment to donate today.
Follow the link below.
Thank you for your support.

Recognised by the Federal Minister for Health

Make A Donation

ASCA is Australia’s first Sickle Cell Advocacy group advocating for the rights of those living with Sickle Cell Disease in Australia. Your donation will advance services for those living with this disease and their families. We thank you for your support.

We are a registered charity with a deductible gift recipient certificate (DGR Status). Sickle Cell Disease affects different multicultural groups and is considered a rare disease in Australia.

Our Services

Community Outreach

Family Support Networks

Peer to Peer Support Programs

Advocate for Scientific Research

Sickle Cell Disease Awareness

Provide Resources and Information

Community Outreach

Family Support Networks

Peer to Peer Support Programs

Advocate for Scientific Research

Sickle Cell Disease Awareness

Provide Resources and Information

3RD SICKLE CELL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE

SICKLE CELL RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA - LEARNING FROM THE COVID-19 EFFECT

3RD SICKLE CELL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE

SICKLE CELL RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA - LEARNING FROM THE COVID-19 EFFECT

DRAFT CONFERENCE AGENDA

Support Our Cause

Become a Member

Become a Member

Donate Blood

Become a Member

Support Our Work

Donate Blood

Recognised by the Federal Minister for Health

Make A Donation

Sponsors & Supporters