NEWS & RESOURCES

SiREN Symposium. The SiREN Symposium is taking place this month! 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. Don't miss out! Ticket registration closes Friday, June 17. Visit the website for more. 

Changes to HIV treatment and access for people ineligible for Medicare. On World AIDS Day, December 1st 2021, the Minister for Health, Hon Greg Hunt MP, announced an investment of $39 million over five years to provide HIV treatment for people ineligible for Medicare. From 1st July 2022, people with HIV who are ineligible for Medicare will be able to access their treatment free of charge through government-funded hospital pharmacies. Several pathways to access are available. Click here for more information.

HIV and Mobility Report Card 2022. The Community of Practice for Action on HIV and Mobility (CoPAHM) HIV and Mobility Report Card 2022 aims to capture activity related to HIV and Mobility that was undertaken during the Eighth National HIV Strategy 2018-2022. The Report Card will map activity related to the six Priority Actions proposed for addressing gaps in Australia's current response to HIV and Mobility. You are invited to contribute to the Report Card. Participation involves a 30-minute survey. Click here to complete the survey. Please contact Karina (CoPAHM Coordinator) via copahm@curtin.edu.au if you would like to discuss your activity over a phone call, or for any queries. The survey reporting period closes Thursday, June 30.

Living Well website for women with HIV. The Living Well website has been re-designed by NAPWHA to reflect all the latest information on how to live well as a woman with HIV in 2022. The website provides information about some of the key issues for women with HIV, such as where to find support, and treatment and care options. Access the updated website here. 

It's Your Right Campaign. The It's Your Right Campaign was developed in partnership between Eliminating Hepatitis C Australia and Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League to promote hepatitis C testing and treatment for people who inject drugs. The campaign features paid street advertising and resources for Needle and Syringe Programs and service providers who support people who inject drugs. Access the website for the campaign materials.

National Consensus Statement on the Management of Hepatitis C in Australia’s Prisons. The National Prisons Hepatitis Network (NPHN) formally launched the Statement at the Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference in Brisbane on 29th May 2022. The statement is intended to inform policy-making by state and territory government departments with responsibility for the provision or oversight of prison health services, including privately and publicly operated prison health services. Click here to access the Policy Document, or visit the website.

VH Action Plan 2022. Hepatitis Australia and the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis & Sexual Health Medicines (ASHM) haved launched the VH2022 Action Plan. To lead the collaborative efforts needed to pursue elimination by 2030, the VH2022 Action Plan outlines seven important actions the Australian Government can take in the next 12 months. View the Action Plan.

CONFERENCES

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. Tickets are still available. Perth. June 24.

2nd Australasian COVID-19 Conference. Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM). 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. The theme of this conference is "Taking stock of our COVID toolkit". Abstract submissions are closed. Sydney. July 21-22.

The 24th International AIDS Conference. The International AIDS Society. This hybrid conference aims to define future research agendas, shift latest evidence to action, and chart a new consensus on overcoming the HIV epidemic as a threat to public health and individual well being. Abstract submissions are closed. Montreal, July 29 - August 2.

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 and sexual health sectors. Abstract submissions closed. 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.

Harm Reduction International Conference 2023. ASHM and Harm Reduction International. This biennial conference aims to provide a dynamic forum to share the latest research and discussions on best practice in addressing drug use, harm reduction and human rights. The conference theme is 'Strength in Solidarity', highlighting the importance of our strength - as people, a community, and a global movement - in sticking together. Abstract submissions will open August 2022. 16-19 April 2023.

TRAINING & SEMINARS

Effective Sexual Health Communication with People from CaLD Backgrounds. SiREN and CoPAHM. This free workshop aims to upskill those working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds to develop culturally appropriate resources and engage people from CaLD backgrounds with health messages. This workshop involves presentations of the MiBSS Study and the development of health resources for people from CaLD backgrounds from Sexual Health Quarters. This will be followed by a skills-building workshop. This will be held in person, June 23, Perth. An additional workshop will be held online, July 15.

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.

Finding Joy. National Association of People with HIV Australia. This is a virtual community event for people living with HIV in Australasia. This town hall-style event will feature diverse and dynamic speakers from a wide range of positive communities, personal backgrounds and lived experiences of HIV. June 17. Online.

Hepatitis B Made Easy. Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health. This workshop is for health, support and community workers who wish to learn the basics about hepatitis B and effective strategies for working with affected communities. June 21. Online.

How to make your services easier for refugees and migrants to use. Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health. This webinar will involve practical discussions about the organisational and worker level changes that can help improve how refugee and migrant clients experience services they access. June 21. Online.

Meeting of the International Student Sexual Health Network. The ISSHN is a multi-sector collaboration that aims to advocate for greater access to sexual and reproductive health for all international students. ISHHN meetings are held twice a year, online. If you are interested in joining the network, visit the website here. July 20. Online. 

Sexuality and Disability. SECCA. This workshop explores the relationship and sexuality rights and needs of people with disabilities. The workshop aims to develop an awareness of our own values and attitudes in relation to sexuality and consider how these may be barriers to the rights of the people we support. This workshop is for parents, carers, students, teachers and health professionals. July 21. West Perth.

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, and behaviour change interventions. Live Seminar at Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands and online. July 29. 

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. October 19-21. Northbridge.

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.

Health Promotion 12 Week Online Course: Planning, implementing and evaluating health promotion interventions. Curtin University. This flexible 12 week online course will provide you with an understanding of the role and importance of health promotion and the broader concept of health within a community and national setting. The course aims to provide you with the skills needed to plan, implement and evaluate a health promotion program. Registration closes July 15. The course runs from August 15 to November 11, 2022. Online.

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.

GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS

AHPA Scholarships Program - Applications now open for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholarship. The Australian Health Promotion Association WA Branch Scholarship Program provides opportunities for Health Promotion and Public Health graduates to build a health promotion project from scratch that they are passionate about and kick-start their career. The Scholarship Program is funded by Healthway and offers four six-month workplace scholarships starting February 2023. To apply, contact Myra Robinson (AHPA Scholarships Coordinator) at scholarshipswa@healthpromotion.org.au or click here for more information.