Food Allergy Awareness Week kicks off on May 23. Jackie Nevard will visit Wollongong based Kids' Uni children's services centres to deliver the life-saving program Food Allergy SMART to their children this week.

Jackie began the program after her son Thai was diagnosed with seven food allergies nine years ago, and said children were capable of understanding much more than adults might think.

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"There was no allergy education when Thai was diagnosed, and it's children who need to understand allergies because they're the ones who are playing with their friends, or who might share food their friends are allergic to," she said.

"At the end of a session they know what an epi-pen is, what anaphylaxis is, what to do if they see their friend having an allergic reaction and how to get help.

"The kids are like sponges, if you give them the knowledge they can help their friends."

The program talks about the importance of not sharing food with their friends, washing hands before and after mealtimes, and how important it is to tell a teacher or adult when a friend is having an allergic reaction and being aware of the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction.

As well as saving lives the program helps to reduce bullying by educating children about food allergies.

Jackie said education could also help alleviate anxiety around food allergies, especially the anxiety surrounding group events like parties.

She said her son had been chased at school by students holding foods they knew he was allergic to; they did not understand what might happen if it touched him.

"It's so important we have allergy awareness at childcare centres - if we teach them at a young age the bullying doesn't happen," she said.

"In the UK there is mandatory allergy education in schools after an incident where a student put cheese in another student's sandwich and he died - why can't we have the same here?"

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