NEWS & RESOURCES

World AIDS Day. Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day, a monumental day to support our fellow Australian's living with HIV, and commemorate those we have lost to AIDS. The UNAIDS’ theme for World AIDS Day 2020 is Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility, while Australia's national theme is Now More Than Ever. You can show your support for people with HIV on World AIDS Day by wearing a red ribbon: the international symbol of HIV awareness and support. Check out the website to see events in your area. 

The Rural Sexual Health in Youth (RuSHY) Framework. SiREN. The RuSHY Framework has recently been published. It was developed to improve coordination of sexual health in small towns, and provide guidance to rural communities wanting to plan, implement and evaluate community-based youth (age 16-24) sexual health interventions. The framework was co-designed with a rural WA community, led by Dr Carl Heslop as part of his doctorate studies. The framework is now free to access on the SiREN website.

Youth Sexual Health Survey. SiREN is conducting an online survey of young Western Australians to investigate their experiences of sexual health testing, diagnosis and treatment; the factors that influence their testing practices; and methods used to protect themselves against STIs and BBVs. If you are aged between 16 and 25 years old and currently live in Western Australia you are invited to participate. The survey can be accessed through this link. All participants go into the draw to win 1 of 20 $50 gift vouchers.

MiBSS Study Participant Call-out. The Migrant Blood-borne Virus and Sexual Health Survey is a study led by Curtin University in partnership with universities and community organisations across Australia. The study aims to develop a greater understanding of how migrants living in Australia think and act on the subjects of  STIs and BBVs. The MiBSS study is seeking individuals born in Sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia or North-East Asia to participate in their study via an online survey. The study will help understand and improve sexual health and blood-borne virus outcomes in migrant populations. Click here to learn more, and complete the survey. Please share with your networks. 

Save Lives – Have a Liver Test. The Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland has developed a number of translated videos about liver testing. The video is available in English (with captions), Arabic, Burmese, Cantonese, Dari, Dinka, French, Juba Arabic, Karen, Kinyarwanda, Mandarin, and Vietnamese.

CONFERENCES

HIVR4P // Virtual - HIV Research for Prevention. The International AIDS Society. The conference will focus on today’s fast-changing HIV prevention paradigm, incorporating cutting-edge science on COVID-19. Delegates from around the world will be able to access the latest in biomedical HIV prevention research and implementation. Jan, 27 - 28 and Feb, 3 - 4, 2021. Online. 

Finding Ground Conference. West Australian Council on Social Services. This conference will be one of the first major opportunities for the community service sector to take stock since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's theme is Finding Ground: Building a better way back together. Feb, 22 - 24, 2021. Fremantle. 

Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference. Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM). This conference is run by ASHM in collaboration with key sector partners as a platform for the dissemination and presentation of new and innovative research findings and better management across the Australasian viral hepatitis sector. Abstract submissions and registrations are now open. May 30 - June 1, 2021. Brisbane.

Joint Australasian HIV&AIDS and Sexual Health Conferences 2021. ASHM. As the 2020 conferences wrap up, the dates for the 2021 conferences have been announced. Keep up to date by subscribing to ASHM's mailing list. Sept, 6 - 9, 2021. Melbourne. 

Harm Reduction International Conference. Harm Reduction International. This conference is the main global forum for the exchange of information at the intersection of human rights, public health and drug policy, attracting over 1,000 international delegates including service providers, policy makers, UN officials, researchers, advocates and networks of people who use drugs. #HR21 will be held in Melbourne, Australia. Dec, 1 - 4, 2021.

TRAINING & SEMINARS

WAAC World AIDS Day. The WAAIDS Council invites you to their World AIDS Day celebrations. The event will take place in Yagan Square all day, and will be opened with a Welcome to Country performance and a community breakfast in the Amphitheatre. There will be information stalls showcasing WAAC and other peer organisations throughout the day, a pop up testing site, an interactive ribbon art installation, and a movie event in the evening. RSVP for the breakfast essential. Dec, 1. Perth City.

Burnet Institute World AIDS Day. The Burnet Institute and Living Positive Victoria are holding a number of online events. A Community Forum will be held via Zoom, where members of Victoria’s Culturally Linguistic and Diverse communities will talk about their unique challenges accessing health services, issues of health literacy, disclosure and relationships. There will be a panel discussion, themed “HIV and COVID: lessons learned and issues raised". Dec, 1. Online. 

The Kirby Institute World AIDS Day. The Kirby Institute. A World AIDS Day special event, where you will hear from sex worker advocate Julie Bates AO, in conversation with Professor Basil Donovan, sexual health physician and Head of the Kirby Institute’s Sexual Health Program who have been key influencers in policy change, and in achieving the low rates of HIV among sex workers in NSW and Australia more broadly. Dec 1. Online.

How can we strengthen the role of families in the response to BBVs? UNSW Centre for Social Research in Health. Families living with serodiscordance (i.e. mixed infection status) play a critical role in supporting those who have been diagnosed with HIV, hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C. In this seminar, findings from the first qualitative interview study to explore how Australian families respond to and are affected by blood borne viruses will be discussed. Dec, 2. Online

The Birds and the BBVs. Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia. is a one or two-day training course which aims to bring together Aboriginal Health Workers and others who work with Aboriginal people to increase their knowledge, skills, motivation and confidence to yarn with clients and community about why testing for STIs, HIV and BBVs is important and identify ways to normalise testing within a routine health check. Dec, 8 - 9. Highgate. 

STI and BBV Nursing: Management and Care. ASHM. This online training course outlines the public health aspects and clinical management of common STIs, HIV and hepatitis B, and advocates for a proactive and practical approach to health care and evidence-based practice. Dec, 1 - 2 & 8 - 9. Online. 

The Future of Peer Practice. National Association of People Living with HIV (NAPWHA). This event celebrates the launch of the Australian HIV Peer Support Standards with a lively discussion on the future of peer support practices in HIV and sexual health. Dec, 3. Online. 

Ethics Processes for Clinical Research in WA. Child and Adolescent Health Service, WA Department of Health. This seminar reiterates ethical principles and focuses on understanding ethics processes for clinical research and responsibilities for researchers. It provides practical and up-to-date guidance for completing quality ethics applications. Dec, 4. Live Seminar at Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands and other locations around WA. 

Hepatitis C in Drug and Alcohol Settings. ASHM. This online training course aims to provide participants with the knowledge and confidence to manage HCV in alcohol and other drug settings. Dec, 5. Online.

Systems Evaluation Theory – Practice & Implementation. Evaluation Society. This workshop builds skills in the practical application of systems thinking in a structured evaluation framework. Contemporary COVID-19 case study scenarios will be presented in the workshop. Dec, 7. Online.

Overcoming pathogen diversity in molecular assay design: lessons from HIV reservoir quantification. Kirby Institute Seminar Series. This seminar will be presented by Professor Zabrina Brumme, who will discuss the work on scalable molecular assays by her team at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada. Dec, 8. Online. 

Pandemic Intimacies: Gay and bisexual men mediating intimacy during the coronavirus conjuncture. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) Research and Practice Seminar Series. In this webinar, Dr Jamie Hakin will reflect on on initial findings from the UK based study ‘Digital Intimacies: how gay and bisexual men use smartphones to mediate their cultures of intimacy’. Dec, 16. Online. 

The YEP Project hosts AHCWA: Youth Yarning. The Aboriginal Health Council of WA are teaming up with the Youth Affairs Council of WA’s YEP team to offer a short workshop to service providers who are passionate about overcoming cultural barriers when yarning with Aboriginal youths about sexual health. The workshop will include presentations, role playing, group activities and a panel of experts in the field to answer questions. Please come along and join us for this fun workshop to network and help build your confidence in this area. Dec, 16. Leederville. 

STARS. Sexual Health Quarters. Stars is a two day introductory course to 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. April, 21 - 22. Northbridge. 

Nuts and Bolts of Sexual Health. Sexual Health Quarters. This training develops the core knowledge, attitudes and skills required to provide information and support for young people around respectful relationships and sexual health issues. It is suitable for a wide range of people working with young people including Aboriginal health workers and other mental health workers, drug and alcohol workers, health promotion officers, nurses and teachers. May, 19 - 21. Online.

Mooditj Leader Training. Sexual Health Quarters. Mooditj Leader Training is a four-day, hands on course to build the skills and confidence to run Mooditj groups for young people. Mooditj Leader Training is designed for Aboriginal community members or people who work with young Aboriginal people in their community. Non-Aboriginal people are expected to partner with an Aboriginal person to run Mooditj. Training together is recommended. Jun, 1 - 4. Northbridge. 

STIS In WA Primary Care - Online Module. Sexual Health Quarters. The 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. Anytime, online.

Syphilis Outbreak Training. ASHM. Professional development training is now 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 at no cost on the ASHM Online Learning System under STI/BBVs in the course catalogue.

GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS

School Relationships and Sexuality Education Programs 2021 Grant. The Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program, WA Department of Health. Small grants (of up to $850) are available to schools to support their Relationships and Sexuality Education programs. The aim of these grants is to provide resources that will assist in the provision of effective Relationships and Sexuality Education. Click here for instructions and eligibility criteria. Applications close March 5, 2021. 

JOBS

Registered Nurse. Sexual Health Quarters are recruiting for a registered nurse to participate in the provision of quality STI/BBV, and Sexual & Reproductive Health services. Apply here by Friday December 11. For a confidential discussion about the role or to receive the full job description, please contact Luke Bruijn (Manager - Human Resources) on 08 6164 7921.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer. Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations is recruiting for this unique position, which involves providing monitoring, evaluation and learning support to AFAO’s partnerships to prevent HIV and reduce its impacts in Asia and the Pacific. The position is based in Bangkok, Thailand and will be offered through the AFAO Foundation, in Thailand, under local employment arrangements. Remuneration, benefits packages and relocation assistance is available based on skills and experience. Applications close  Monday 7th December. Apply here or view the position description.