NEWS & RESOURCES

SiREN Symposium Extended Abstract Submission Deadline. The SiREN Symposium is returning in 2022. The Symposium is for all who work or have an interest in the sexual health and blood-borne virus sector. Showcasing the latest in practice and research, the Symposium will be held in Perth at the Novotel Perth Langley Hotel on June 24, 2022, and live streamed online. The abstract submissions deadline has been extended to April 29. Click here to access abstract writing support. Visit the Symposium website for tickets and more info.

Help Improve Sexual Health Resources. Curtin University researchers are having group conversations to find out what people do or don’t like about new sexual health information resources. They hope to improve resources so that they are helpful for people from different backgrounds. You can participate if you are: over 18 years old; of African, Asian, or Middle Eastern descent; currently living in Western Australia; interested in improving health information for people from your community; and, willing to spare 1.5hrs of your time. Please contact Daniel if you have any questions, would like more information, or would like to participate at daniel.vujcich@curtin.edu.au.

Incorporating Quality of Life Into People Living with HIV Clinical and Community Care. The Centre for Social Impact is conducting research that aims to enhance clinical and community practice by identifying health and social patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for people living with HIV (PLHIV). Peer advocates, community and clinical health workers, and people working in outcomes monitoring who work with PLHIV are invited to participate in the research, to ensure the PROMs included will be most effective in capturing outcomes that will best inform your work. If you would like further information, questions, or would like to participate, please contact Ally Olekalns at a.olekalns@unsw.edu.au or Associate Professor Graham Brown at graham.brown@unsw.edu.au for more information. 

Trans Day of Visibility. Trans Day of Visibility is recognised on March 31st, celebrating trans pride and awareness, and recognising trans and gender diverse experiences and achievements. You can access trans and gender diversity training and educational resources on the TDOV website.

2022 Levinia Crooks Emerging Leaders Award in Viral Hepatitis. Nominations are open for the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) Levinia Crooks Emerging Leaders Award 2022. The award recognises the contributions of Australasian Justice and Correctional Health Workers. Nominations will close on April 8. Consider nominating a deserving healthcare provider, advocate, harm reduction expert, researcher, policymaker or outreach worker for this award. 

CFCA Evidence to Practice Guide: Inclusive Communication with LGBTIQ+ Clients. The Australian Institute of Family Studies has published an Evidence to Practice Guide which discusses the importance of inclusive communication and describes approaches to engaging with LGBTIQ+ clients in the health care and education setting.

Better to Know. Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations. Better to Know is a sexual health resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It provides information about common sexually transmissible infections (STIs), what to do if you have an STI and where to get tested. It contains information on both men's and women's business.

Amplify Social Impact Online: Indicator Engine. Amplify Social Impact Online aims to improve the use of evidence-based decision making, enable widespread social impact evaluation, and provide insights to registered Australian charities. Amplify Social Impact Online have released their Indicator Engine assisting users in evaluating the impact of their work through aiding in the construction of surveys and identifying the most suitable outcomes and indicators to measure. Read more about the tool here.

CONFERENCES

Preventive Health Conference. Public Health Association of Australia. This annual conference provides a platform to engage, challenge and exchange ideas, where pivotal issues for building prevention in Australia are discussed and where delegates can learn from the experience, opinions and perspectives of sector leaders and their peers. Abstract submissions are closed. Brisbane. May 11-13.

13th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference. Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine. The conference supports the health workforce, government and community to work towards the elimination of hepatitis B and hepatitis C and supporting the communities living with these conditions in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia and Pacific regions. Abstract submissions are closed. Brisbane. May 29-31. 

World Hepatitis Summit 2022. The World Hepatitis Summit is an innovative, large-scale, global meeting to advance the viral hepatitis agenda and provide a platform for a broad hepatitis community to take stock of progress to date, share ideas, experiences and best practice in addressing the many challenges of viral hepatitis. Abstract submissions are closed. Online. June 7-10.

SiREN Symposium: Breaking Out and Breaking Through. SiREN. The Symposium is for all who work or have an interest in the sexual health and blood-borne virus sector. This years theme 'Breaking out and breaking through' will explore outbreak response lessons for and from the sexual health and blood-borne virus sector. Abstract submissions are due April 29. Perth. June 24.

2nd Australasian COVID-19 Conference. ASHM. The theme of this conference is "Taking stock of our COVID toolkit". This conference will bring together researchers from an array of disciplines, specialist clinicians, epidemiologists and community members who have developed new and harnessed existing tools to comprehensively address prevention, treatment and management of COVID-19/SARS-COV-2 and the evolving challenges presented. Abstract submissions are due April 24. Sydney. July 21-22.

16th National Rural Health Conference. National Rural Health Alliance. This conference enables the exchange of information on the latest developments in rural and remote health. The theme 'Bridging social distance; Rural health innovating and collaborating' focuses on bridging the divides created by challenging public health environment and provide opportunities to collaborate and to share innovations that could strengthen the rural health system. Abstract submissions are closed. Brisbane, August 2-4. 

Joint Australasian HIV&AIDS + Sexual Health Conferences. ASHM. This annual conference is a platform for the dissemination and presentation of new and innovative research findings across the Australasian HIV sector. Abstract submissions close May, 1. Brisbane. August 29 - September 1. 

10th International Conference on Health and Hepatitis Care in Substance Users. International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users. This conference brings together a global community of people dedicated to improving the health of people who use drugs, providing over 100 sessions on the topics of drug policy, health and well-being of people who use drugs, harm reduction, hepatitis C and other infection diseases. Abstract submissions are closed. Glasgow. October 19-21.

TRAINING & SEMINARS

SiREN Short Courses. SiREN has launched a new pilot program of free online training modules designed to support those working in the WA sexual health and blood-borne virus sector. Available on-demand, these modules will build your capabilities in health promotion planning and evaluation. These modules will suit you if you are new to public health and to applying a health promotion lens to sexual health and blood-borne viruses, or if you are interested in refreshing your skills and knowledge in this area. The training is open to those working WA only. Enrollments are open for Foundations for Health Promotion and Evidence for Health Promotion. 

STI and BBV Nursing: Management and Care. 
ASHM. This four-part training course helps nurses, midwives and sexual health workers understand the public health aspects and clinical management of common STIs, HIV and hepatitis B. The course helps participants develop confidence in a proactive and practical approach to health care and evidence-based practice. Online. April 4-5 and April 11-12.

Support Puberty and Adolescence Workshop. SECCA. This workshop provides practical information for parents, teachers and support workers to help young people understand puberty, and to help them manage this life stage. This workshop is for parents, carers, students, teachers and health professionals. West Perth. April 7.

Stop HIV Stigma Hackathon. University of New South Wales Sydney. How might we prevent stigma against people living with HIV in the healthcare setting? This special 1.5-day hackathon event brings together different minds and areas of expertise to create innovative solutions to prevent stigma towards PLHIV in the healthcare setting. Participants will be supported with information and resources from subject matter experts and mentors to brainstorm, design, test and create possible solutions. Online. April 8 - 9.

Introduction to Program Logic. Australian Evaluation Society. This workshop introduces the program logic concept and lays out a step by step process for creating a logic model. The workshop concludes with an overview of how this logic model can be used for program design and to be the spine of a monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement framework. Online. April 11. 

Spotlight on Stigma. UNSW Centre for Social Research in Health Evaluation. This seminar will interrogate how laws can both generate and reduce stigma in the BBV sector. The panel of speakers will provide insights from research, legal practice and community perspectives. Online. April, 27.

Working with Interpreters in a Group. Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health. Communicating via an interpreter in a group setting can be challenging. This webinar will outline key considerations to improve your practice in a range of group settings. Online. May 3.

Relationships Education Workshop. SECCA. This workshop delivers highly interactive, strategy-based content covering dating, healthy relationships, consent, rejection and breakups, as well as general tips for talking about all of these topics. This workshop is suitable for parents, carers, students, teachers and health professionals. West Perth. May 5.

Nuts and Bolts of Sexual Health Course. Sexual Health Quarters (SHQ). This course develops core knowledge, attitudes and skills required to provide information and support for young people around respectful relationships and sexual health issues. This course has been designed for youth workers and others in the youth sector. It is suitable for a wide range of people working with young people health and well being. Northbridge. May 11-13 or October 19-21. 

2022 Relationships & Sexuality Education in Schools: PD with MAN UP. Curtin RSE Project & Man Up. Join the Relationships, Sexuality & Education Project for this after-school professional development workshop with Man Up, exploring the topic of male relationships. Man Up explore topics centered around men's mental health and well-being, with an emphasis on transforming boys into confident, purpose-driven and emotionally capable men. Online. May 25.

Consumer and Community Involvement in Research. CAHS Research Education Program. This seminar covers key elements of implementation research; theoretical approaches, research designs, involvement of stakeholders, behaviour change interventions. Live Seminar at Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands and online. July 29.

STIs In WA Primary Care - Online Module. SHQ. This course is intended to provide primary health care professionals with comprehensive education about discussing STIs with patients, and testing for and managing STIs. It includes public health responsibilities and legal issues and recommends useful online resources for ongoing use. Access anytime. Online.

Syphilis Outbreak Training. ASHM. Professional development training is available for health practitioners affected by the ongoing outbreak of infectious syphilis among young Aboriginal people in regions of Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia.  The training can be accessed anytime on the ASHM Online Learning System under STI/BBVs in the course catalogue. An ASHM login is required.

Introduction to Syphilis for Midwives: Western Australia. ASHM. This course is for Western Australian midwives, to develop their skills to confidently discuss sexual health with patients, conduct guideline-based syphilis screening and testing, health pathway of pregnancy in syphilis, and initiate contact tracing. The training can be accessed anytime on the ASHM Online Learning System by searching 'Syphilis for Midwives' in the course catalogue. An ASHM login is required.

GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS

2022 World Hepatitis Day SWITCH Grant. Hepatitis Queensland is offering SWITCH grants of up to $1,000 to encourage communities to achieve better liver health this July by visiting their GP and asking for a hepatitis and liver health check. Grant applications will open April 5 and close May 3.