Welcome to SiREN’s E-News. This is your go-to source for the latest sexual health and blood-borne virus related news, resources, training, conferences, events, funding opportunities, jobs, and more. If you have something you would like to share via our E-News let us know.

Don’t forget SiREN is here to assist you with your evaluation and research activities. We can help you write funding applications, draft conference abstracts, plan and evaluate your program, and develop evaluation strategies such as writing surveys or running focus groups. Support is free but there are a few criteria we require you to meet. Start a conversation with the SiREN team by emailing siren@curtin.edu.au or phoning us on 9266 7819.

NEWS & RESOURCES

Consultation on the new SHBBV Strategies. The Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus (SHBBV) Program, WA Department of Health, is undertaking consultation to inform the development of the WA SHBBV Strategies 2019-2023 and invites WA health professionals and community members to participate in online and/or face-to-face consultations to inform the actions and priorities for the period of the strategies. For more information, or to complete the online survey, please visit here.

Health Promotion Practitioner Registration. Health Promotion professionals across Australia can now apply to become a Registered Health Promotion Practitioner. By registering you will be able to demonstrate to employers that you meet internationally recognised competencies and professional standards in health promotion.

Hepatitis C multilingual video. New videos developed by the Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service have been launched to educate people from culturally diverse communities about hepatitis C testing and treatment. The videos are available in Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin) and Vietnamese with English subtitles.

Wear It Purple Day. This celebration is coming up on August 31. It is dedicated to showing young LGBTI+ people that they are valued members of our community and should be proud of who they are. In addition to wearing purple, find out what you and your organisation can do here.

WHO PrEP Implementation Tool App. For health care providers, HIV counsellors, testing providers and pharmacists, this App provides practical advice for the introduction and use of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Guide for Clinicians and other Healthcare Providers to discuss Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U). Developed by the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM), this guide supports HIV prescribers and other health service provides in HIV services to discuss the implication of Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) in their care.

TRAINING

Health Promotion Social Media School. Zockmelon is hosting this 6-week online course aimed at practitioners and organisations with a health promotion or community development focus to understand how social media can be used as a tool and a strategy. Enrolments close 7 September.

Professional Development in Outcomes Measurement. The Centre for Social Impact, UWA, are hosting this two-day workshop that aims to build the capacity and capability of your organisation and staff to better measure, understand, and report the difference you are making. 17-18 September.

Supporting Puberty and Adolescence. This SECCA workshop provides practical information for parents, teachers and workers to help support young people with a disability to understand the changes experienced at puberty and to manage this life stage with confidence. 13 September, Perth.

Mooditj Leader Training. SHQ. This hands-on course builds knowledge, skills and confidence to run the Mooditj program for groups of Aboriginal young people. 18-21 September, Perth.

High Resolution Anoscopy Workshop. Presented by the International Anal Neoplasia Society, this is the first high resolution anoscopy basic course in the southern hemisphere. 29-30 September, Sydney.

HIV PrEP Update for GPs and Practice Nurses. ASHM. This training will provide GPs, Nurses, and Health Professionals working in primary care an update on strategies available for the prevention of HIV transmission, focusing on prevention particularly pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). 10 October, Perth.

The Birds and the BBVS Training. AHCWA. Two day training course is for people interested in  increasing their knowledge, skills, motivation and confidence to yarn with Aboriginal clients and community about testing for STIs, HIV, and BBVs. 10-11 October, Perth and 16-17 October, Bunbury.

Relationships Education Workshop. SECCA is delivering this  professional development workshop for parents, carers, students, teachers and health professionals. It will discuss ways to teach the best practice of sexuality and relationships education, dating, healthy relationships, consent, rejection and break ups. 18 October, Perth.

Nuts and Bolts of Sexual Health. SHQ. Consisting of one core day and two full day electives, this program offers the core knowledge, attitudes, and skills required to provide respectful relationships and sexual health information and support to young people.  30 October-1 November.

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

AGMC 2018 National Conference. Presented by the Australian GLBTQI Multicultural Council (AGMC) this conference is an opportunity to understand, interact and discuss all things multicultural, multifaith and LGBTIQA+. 21-23 September, Melbourne.

Australasian HIV&AIDS Conference. Presented by ASHM, this conference will present new and innovative HIV research findings from across Australia and the Asia Pacific region. 24-26 September, Sydney.

IUSTI Asia Pacific Sexual Health Congress. This event is a joint meeting between the International Union for Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI) - Asia Pacific, and the NZ Sexual Health Society and the Australasian Sexual Health Alliance. It will provide an opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary networking and discuss challenges and opportunities in sustainable sexual health service delivery. 1-3 November, Auckland.

2018 Youth Health Conference. “Owning Future Change” is the premiere Australian interdisciplinary conference. Hosted by the  Australian Association for Adolescent Health in partnership with the Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association. This conference is for young people, researchers, clinicians, health workers and educators who work to improve, promote and advocate for the health and wellbeing of young people. 7-9 November, Surfers Paradise.

GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS

Fortescue Community Grants. Small grants are available to support community projects within Port Hedland, East Pilbara, Ashburton and Karratha. Eligibility is determined on set criteria. Find out more here. Applications open 1-30 September.

2019 Impact Philanthropy Application Program. Perpetual’s Impact Philanthropy Application Program allows philanthropists and Not-for-Profits (NFP) to connect, and allows NFPs to demonstrate how they improve outcomes for the communities in which they operate. Applications open 29 October.

Gilead Grants Program. Gilead welcomes funding requests for innovative, high-impact projects that relate to at least one of five core therapeutic areas: HIV/AIDS, liver diseases, hematology and oncology, inflammatory and respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular conditions. Grant applications are open year-round.

JOBS

National Policy Manager. National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA). This role will support the Executive Director across a range of activities including implementing the organisation’s policy and program response according to the current NAPWHA Strategic Directions Plan. Applications close 31 August.

PhD Scholarship. Curtin University. This three year scholarship is part of a four year Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project. It is available to a strong applicant with an interest in research among culturally and linguistically different people, in the area of sexual health. Applications close 1 October.