NEWS & RESOURCES

Joint Australasian HIV&AIDS + Sexual Health Conferences. Members of the SiREN team recently presented at the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) joint conferences. Dr. Daniel Vujcich presented the Findings from the First National Migrant Blood-borne Virus and Sexual Health Survey at the Epidemiology, Prevention, and Health Promotion session, and was an invited speaker at the Cross Track Session: HIV Mobility and Migration, along with Dr. Gemma Crawford and Dr. Roanna Lobo. Dr. Jacqui Hendriks showcased three posters, chaired two sessions, and delivered a presentation entitled, Australian parents support school-based relationships and sexuality education: Findings from the first national survey. Alongside Dr. Hendriks, Roisin Glasgow-Collins was awarded the best Early Career Researcher Award (Poster) for a study investigating the predictors of sexually transmissible infection (STI) and blood-borne virus (BBV) testing in Western Australian young people. Click here to learn more about the study. Presentations were also delivered by:

  • Lewis Marshall, South Terrace Clinic (WA experience of online testing including uptake, lessons learnt, barriers/facilitators and where to next);
  • Sandra Norman, SECCA (Developing Accessible Sexual Health Resources);
  • Catherine Brooker, Sexual Health Quarters (Intimate partner violence and reproductive coercion prevalence in Perth, Western Australia: a cross-sectional study in a urban sexual and reproductive health clinic)
  • Donna Mak, WA Health (Preventing congential syphilis: lessons learned from public health reviews of case) and 
  • Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service (Approaches to Sexual Health in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services: The Kimberley Perspective)
On-demand ASHM posters developed by WA stakeholders include:

PrEP in Practice research summary report. University of New South Wales (UNSW), Centre for Social Research in Health. A new report has been released, which presents research findings from a qualitative study exploring clinician perspectives around pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prescribing and provides recommendations to improve the delivery of PrEP and other HIV prevention interventions. Read the full report here. 

The #speakingout@work national survey. Western Sydney University. If you are LGBTQ, aged between 14 and 30 years, and have ever worked or been involved in workplace training, you are invited to participate in the #speakingout@work project. The findings from this project will inform workplace policy, practice and targeted resources to address and prevent sexual harassment of LGBTQ young people and to make a positive difference in their working and workplace experiences. Click here to participate.

Tracking the community response to monkeypox/MPX (TraX). The Kirby Institute is seeking participants for the TraX study, which aims to investigate the monkey pox (MPX) vaccine uptake and real-world effectiveness in Australia. If you are 18 years of age or older, currently living in Australia, and have engaged in sex with cis and trans gay, bisexual, and other men or non-binary people who have sex with cis or trans men (GBMSM+) in the last 12 months, you are invited to participate. Click here to participate.

PUBLICATIONS

Strategies for recruiting migrants to participate in a sexual health survey: Methods, results, and lessons. Vujcich et al., 2022. This article describes approaches taken to recruit adult migrants living in Australia for a sexual health and blood-borne virus survey and present data detailing the outcomes of these approaches. Read the full article here.

Patients' and health care providers' perspectives of sexual and reproductive health services for people with disabilities: a scoping review protocol. Vujcich et al., 2022. This article describes a scoping review protocol developed to review patients' and health care providers' perspectives of sexual and reproductive health services for people with disabilities. Read the full article here.

Evaluation of the Young, Deadly, Syphilis Free multi-media campaign in remote Australia. D'Costa et al., 2022. This article discusses the results of a cross-sectional evaluation survey of the Young Deadly Syphilis Free multi-media campaign that was implemented in 12 remote regions over 9 months from 2017-18. Read the full article here.

CONFERENCES

2022 Youth Health Conference. Australian Association for Adolescent Health. This conference provides the opportunity for researchers, health care professionals, academics, youth advocates and policy makers to come together with young people to network, share experiences and showcase the latest findings, practices and models of care in Adolescent Health. Abstract submissions are closed. Melbourne. November 7-9.

1st Australasian Conference on Point of Care Testing for Infectious Diseases.  ASHM and RAPID Point of Care Research Consortium for Infectious Disease in the Asia Pacific. This conference will collaborate with leading scientists, clinicians, and other stakeholders to develop a program on the ever-evolving landscape of point-of-care testing (POCT) for infectious diseases and provide an opportunity to discuss challenges and solutions to scaling up POCT in this setting. Abstract submissions close October 30. Sydney. March 14-15.

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 practices in addressing drug use, harm reduction and human rights. The conference theme is 'Strength in Solidarity', highlighting the importance of strength - as people, a community, and a global movement - in sticking together. Melbourne. April 16-19.

TRAINING & SEMINARS

SiREN Short Courses. SiREN has launched free online training modules to support those working in the WA SHBBV 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 in WA only. Click here to enrol. 

Workshop Development: Communication for maximum impact. SiREN. This free workshop aims to upskill participants in communication skills. Participants will learn the key principles of a good presentation, oral presentation tips and tricks, and how to create effective PowerPoints and infographics. Bentley and online. December 2.

Hepatitis C for Nurses and Midwives. ASHM. This free facilitated training course provides nurses and midwives with the knowledge and confidence to increase screening and management of hepatitis C in primary care. Perth City. October 22.

Young Women Forum: Sexual Violence. Centre for Women's Safety and Wellbeing. This forum is an opportunity for young women in the community to hear about activities related to domestic and family violence services and sexual assault support services within the state and provide input into advocacy work related to sexual violence. West Perth. October 27.

Relationships Education. SECCA. This workshop presents highly interactive, strategy-based content covering dating, healthy relationships, consent, rejection, and break ups, as well as general tips for discussing these topics. This workshop is designed to support educators with practical strategies that can be used within their role, increase confidence and find more assistance. West Perth. October 27.

Spotlight on Hepatitis B. UNSW, Centre for Social Research in Health. Part of the Spotlight on Stigma series, this webinar will focus on hepatitis B and stigma. Australian and international experts and guests form the hepBCommunity.org and US Hep B Foundation will present. Online. October 28.

Start Talking About Relationships and Sexual Health (STARS). SHQ. This two-day introductory course will help build knowledge and confidence to start talking about relationships and sexual health with young Aboriginal people. STARS is designed for Aboriginal community members and others working with young Aboriginal people. Northbridge. November 1-2.

Relationships and Sexuality Education Workshop.  The Relationships and Sexuality Education Project. This workshop is for community groups, service providers, and others who wish to upskill in relationships and sexuality education from outside the school sector. The 2-day workshop will assist in developing skills to plan, implement and assess effective relationships and sexuality education in school settings. Bentley. November 28-29.

Australia's Progress Towards Hepatitis C Elimination (2022 Report). The Burnett Institute and Kirby Institute. This webinar will launch the fourth iteration of Australia's progress towards hepatitis C elimination report. Highlights of the report will be presented alongside an opportunity to ask questions. Online. November 18.

Health Promotion Short Course. Curtin University. This four-day 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. Bentley. November 21-24.

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, identify health pathways 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.

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.  An ASHM login is required.

GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS

2023 Australian Health Promotion Association Scholarship Program. The Australian Health Promotion Association Scholarships Program is now accepting applicants. The program will offer up to five six-month workplace scholarships starting in early 2023. Applications close November 18. For more information click here.