Inaugural Viral Hepatitis Roundtable brings together experts on viral hepatitis elimination.
The elimination of viral hepatitis is an ambitious goal, supported by the Victorian government’s Hepatitis Elimination Plans. To make the urgent progress needed, we need to bring our collective wisdom and expertise to collaborate around shared priorities. So that is just what we did!
LiverWELL, in collaboration with the Burnet Institute, held the inaugural Roundtable on Viral Hepatitis on Tuesday 24 October at the Centre for Ethnicity and Health.
30 enthusiastic experts from a range of community organisations, health services and research bodies in Victoria came together to reflect on what has enabled progress towards hepatitis B and C elimination so far, and to identify what will be most critical to elimination.
30 enthusiastic experts from a range of community organisations, health services and research bodies in Victoria came together to consider progress towards hepatitis B and C elimination so far, and what lies ahead. The discussions were characterised by deep passion, innovation, energy and resilience, and an openness to collaborate – to find ways to get the job done. The conversation reflects a maturing of the sector in Victoria, and brought with it greater clarity, alignment, and a renewed commitment to move forward together.
Representatives attended from the Burnet and Doherty Institutes, Hepatitis B Voices Australia, Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health – Multicultural Health & Support Service, Harm Reduction Victoria, LiverWELL, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), Cancer Council Victoria, VHITTAL/North West Melbourne Primary Health Network, Local Public Health Units, Integrated Hepatitis C Nurses, LaTrobe University Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCHHS) and St Vincent’s Hospital.
The combined expertise and resources of everyone who attended enabled energetic sector-wide discussions on developing key priorities for joint action and shared aspirations, and how resources can be utilised to maximise our impact in viral hepatitis elimination.
A hepatitis B and a hepatitis C group developed priority areas for action:
- Putting lived experience at the centre, to ensure people with lived experience are represented effectively at all significant meetings. Work in partnership with peers and the community. Co-developing powerful stories builds narratives and ways of working together.
- Optimising models of care in primary care settings, especially around the role of nurses, to upskill and increase point-of-care testing, treatment and evaluation to ensure a community-oriented and mobile workforce.
- Raising awareness of hepatitis B and progression to liver cancer, through migrant services and multicultural organisations.
This network will be considering opportunities to further sharpen these reflections in the new year, and how we may explore improved sector collaboration and opportunities for advocacy.
For more information contact Adrian Hubble: adrian@liverwell.org.au
