About the project
The Check Again Network aims to ensure Victorians have access to safe and suitable antibiotics. This will be done by starting or improving programs to assess and test penicillin allergies in hospitals across Victoria.
Objectives
- Spread and scale penicillin allergy assessment and testing across Victorian hospitals.
- Improve access to essential antibiotics to improve outcomes and reduce harm.
- Ensure more consistent care for patients.
Background
Over 2 million Australians say they are allergic to an antibiotic, with one in 10 patients in hospitals reporting to have a penicillin allergy. However, research shows that more than 95% of these penicillin allergy labels are wrong.
Having an allergy to antibiotics can lead to:
- using less effective antibiotics
- more hospital readmissions
- more infections after surgery
- longer stays in the hospital.
Accurately assessing and recording penicillin allergies is important. This has been recognised by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Clinical Care Standards as a key component of AMS programs.
How to get involved
We are now accepting expressions of interest to join the Check Again Network.
Applications are open to all Victorian healthcare services that provide care to people with a penicillin allergy, including the following healthcare services:
- metropolitan, rural, or regional
- subacute or acute
- private or public
- adult or paediatric.
The initial phase of the network is expected to continue until December 2025 and healthcare services can apply at any time.
Submit an expression of interest
Step 1
Review the Check Again expressions of interest (EOI) information pack for details about the opportunity
Step 2
Complete the online expression of interest (EOI) form. (We recommend the EOI form is completed by the key project contact with executive sponsor support).
Contact us
For more information about the Check Again Network, please contact us at valuebasedhealthcare@safercare.vic.gov.au
Solution design
The intervention design is a Network Model and draws on the analysis and feedback from the previous “Check Again Collaborative” and is underpinned by data from the International Network of Antibiotic Allergy Nations (iNAAN).
Participating services (June 2025)
- Austin Health
- Albury Wodonga Health
- Barwon Health
- Bendigo Health
- Boort District Health
- Central Gippsland Health
- East Grampians Health Service
- Eastern Health
- Echuca Regional Health
- Goulburn Valley
- Grampians Health
- Latrobe Regional Health
- Mansfield District Hospital
- Mildura Base Public Hospital
- Monash Health
- Northeast Health Wangaratta
- Peninsula Health
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
- South West Healthcare
- Terang and Mortlake Health Service
- The Royal Melbourne Hospital
- The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
- Western Gippsland Healthcare Group
- Western Health.
Key resources
Learning module – Check Again
This learning module is designed to enhance healthcare clinician understanding and management of antibiotic allergies. It provides a structured, interactive approach to equip learners with the skills to assess and act on antibiotic allergies (specifically penicillin allergies) appropriately.
Adult penicillin allergy programmes in Australian hospitals: a practical guide from the National Antibiotic Allergy Network
The National Antibiotic Allergy Network has developed a guide to support clinicians when implementing penicillin allergy programs — particularly direct oral challenge protocols — within Australian hospitals.
Executive summary – Check Again Collaborative Evaluation Report
This report evaluates the Check Again Collaborative, highlighting key findings, lessons learned, and recommendations for improving antimicrobial allergy management in Australian hospitals.
Toolkit – Check Again
This resource is for services that are planning improvement work to improve the assessment of penicillin allergies and implement delabelling strategies for low-risk penicillin allergies.
Change package – Check Again
The Check Again change package supports participants in a Breakthrough Series Collaborative to start/improve penicillin allergy assessment and testing within their health services.
Priority area
This project supports our broader effort to ensure safe medication practices.