NEWS & RESOURCES

Western Australia landmark abortion reforms. These historic reforms acknowledge the importance of autonomy and privacy in making sexual and reproductive health decisions and are a monumental step towards improving reproductive health access in Western Australia. Read more in Sexual Health Quarters' media release.

DruGS Team Study Recruitment. La Trobe University. The DruGS team is conducting a Commonwealth-funded project to develop and trial a world-first systemic approach to stigma reduction called the universal precautions approach to stigma reduction. The team are currently recruiting people working in healthcare settings, including clinical, public health and project management roles to participate in an interview with the research team. To participate or for more information contact Emily Lenton at e.lenton@latrobe.edu.au or (03) 9479 8831.

World AIDS Day 2023. WAAC. On 1 December we commemorate World AIDS Day which aims to raise awareness and help fight stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS. This year, WAAC will be taking over Forrest Chase for their annual Morning Breakfast. Find out more on WAAC's website.

Australasian Sexual and Reproductive Health Conference. ASHM. SiREN and CERIPH staff members Dr Daniel Vujcich, Roisin Glasgow-Collins and Hanna Saltis attended the Conference in Sydney on 18-20 September. Roisin chaired a session titled "SRH for adolescents and young people - Supporting innovative approaches to RSE across multiple settings". Hanna also presented in this session. Their presentation was titled "Training teachers to deliver relationships and consent education: A scoping review of best practice principles". 

Hepatitis C discrimination report launch. ARCSHS. In August ARCSHS launched the report Hepatitis C–related legal, policy & practice discrimination in a post-cure world. This report reviews the laws, policies and practices that impact people with hepatitis C, and considers opportunities to reduce experiences of stigma and discrimination.

Podcast - After Cure. Gender, Law and Drugs. ‘After Cure’ is a new documentary podcast from the post-cure lives research project that explores experiences of hepatitis C in the era of new treatments. Hosted by GLaD researcher Emily Lenton, it shares the stories of three people from Australia and their experiences of living with hepatitis C, direct-acting antiviral treatments, and life after cure.

Bi+ Sexual Health & HIV Study. This study is the first community-led online national survey to ask bi+ people in Australia about their sexual health, and other aspects of their health and wellbeing. Questions will explore a range of topics related to sexual identity, sexual and reproductive health (including abortion), HIV prevention and care, sex and relationships, social and sexual discrimination, sexual violence and coercion, mental health and drug use. Sign up to receive more information once the research study is launched.

CONFERENCES

INHSU 2023. International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users 2023. The Conference will feature sessions on hepatitis C and other infectious diseases, harm reduction, and drug policy, with tracks on epidemiology and public health research, clinical research, and more. Abstract submissions are closed. 17-20 October. Geneva, Switzerland.

Growing and Developing Healthy Relationships Symposium. Curtin University Relationships and Sexuality Education Project. The Symposium will showcase recent developments in school-based relationships and sexuality education, through presentations and practical workshops. 27 October. Perth and online.

TRAINING & SEMINARS

SiREN 2-Day Health Promotion Planning and Evaluation Course. This free in-person course is designed specifically for those working in the WA SHBBV sector. This interactive two-day course will build participants' knowledge and skills in health promotion planning and evaluation. Staff with experience in planning and evaluation and SHBBVs will join you on your learning journey. Places are limited so be quick to secure your spot. Support will be offered to enable participants to apply learnings to their work after the course has finished. Contact siren@curtin.edu.au to register.

SiREN Short Courses. The SiREN Short Courses are free online training modules designed to support those working in the WA SHBBV sector. Available on-demand, these modules will build your capabilities in health promotion planning and evaluation. Each course contains a series of modules with videos, readings and activities enabling you to apply the concepts to a topic relevant to your work. Experienced staff will join you on your learning journey. The training is open to those working in WA only. Click here to enrol.

Nuts and bolts of sexual health. Sexual Health Quarters. This 3-day course develops core knowledge, attitudes and skills required to provide information and support for young people around respectful relationships and sexual health issues. 29-31 August. Northbridge. 

Feel Safe: Protective Behaviours for Young Adults. SECCA. This workshop is an expansion of SECCA's introductory training, Boundary Setting and Protective Behaviours. The full day workshop will address complex components of Protective Behaviours including problem solving and emergencies, wanted and unwanted touch, internet safety and pornography. 9 November. West Perth.

Sexual Health Nursing: Working with Young People. ASHM. This course will focus on educating nurses to support young people to make healthy choices regarding their sexual health. It will provide an overview of STIs and BBVs and their mode of transmission, as well as pathways available for young people to access services for their sexual healthcare needs. 8-16 November. 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, 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. Sexual Health Quarters. This course provides 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

World AIDS Day Rural Grants. WAAC. WAAC are facilitating small community grants of up to $1000 to assist delivery of projects and/or events that align with the World AIDS Day theme. Applications close on 16 October 2023. Click here for more information.

Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research Scholarships Program. Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research. This program aims to strengthen the health services research-policy interface by contributing to an evidence informed workforce and a policy literate academic sector. Applications close on 27 October 2023. Click here for more information.