Welcome to the second edition of the E-News for 2017. Much has already happened since the first E-news in February.

In this edition we update you on the latest sector news and funding opportunities, and provide upcoming events and conferences.

NEWS & EVENTS

Evaluation of Growing and Developing Healthy Relationships (GDHR) Curriculum support website

The final report for the evaluation of the WA Department of Health’s GDHR Curriculum teacher support website, which was carried out in 2016 by John Scougall, was released by the WA Department of Health on 16 February 2017. The key objectives of the comprehensive impact evaluation were to;

  1. Assess how well the GDHR on-line curriculum resource is working, and
  2. Identify how it might be strengthened

A number of documents are now available on the GDHR website, including the final Impact Evaluation Report, which includes a number of recommendations to address the above objectives.

HIV and Mobility case studies

Four case studies, highlighting a range of HIV and mobility projects that were reported in the Interim Report Cards, are now available online on the SiREN website here and on the online CoPAHM portal here. These case studies provide examples of working with migrant and mobile populations.

Research Skills Seminar Series

The Research Skills Seminar Series (RSSS) is funded by the Department of Health WA, a partner of the WA Health Translation Network. It offers seminars on key topics across the entire health research process from concept to research translation. Each seminar is presented by an expert in the field. The seminars are free of charge and open access. Seminars are held Friday lunch time (12.30-1.30pm) at PMH however if you can’t make it all seminars are recorded and available on the seminar event page one week after the seminar for a period of time.

Date Topic (abbreviated) Presenter
May 12 Sample size calculation Julie Marsh
May 19 Research supervison Jonathan Carapetis
May 26 Conducting research with the Indigenous Community Michael Wright
Jun 9 Knowledge translation Catherine Elliott, Fenella Gill/Ros Ward

For more information and to view the 2017 RSSS schedule please click here.

Antiretroviral sex: the transformation of safe sex

Associate Professor Martin Holt from UNSW Sydney explores the shift in HIV prevention as a result of the use of HIV treatment and PrEP in a public lecture presented in February 2017. To watch the lecture, click here.

‘Don’t fear the end of the smear’

Sexual Health Quarters (SHQ) are reminding Australian women to not ‘fear the smear’, with changes to the current pap smear test coming in to effect from December 2017. The current biannual pap smear will be replaced by a 5 yearly Cervical Screening Test otherwise known as the human papillomavirus (HPV) test. To read the article by SHQ, click here.

Professor Margaret Hellard’s World Health Organization (WHO) appointment

We would like to pass on our congratulations to Professor Hellard, who has been appointed as Co-Chair of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) on HIV and Viral Hepatitis. The committee’s main role will be to advise WHO of strategies for HIV and viral hepatitis over the next several years. To read the article from the Burnet Institute about Professor Hellard’s appointment, click here.

WA AIDS Council BBV training now regional

WA AIDS Council’s Informed Consent training has now gone regional after successfully being implemented in the Geraldton Regional Hospital after being run in the metro area for over 12 years. The training aims to provide health professionals or counsellors with the skills and knowledge to discuss BBV pre-testing effectively with clients. Feedback from the first regional participants of the course was highly positive.

LGBTIQ community services sharing website launched

RAD Australia have launched a website that provides LGBTIQ people with a referral database that enables users to search listings of LGBTIQ friendly and respectful services. The website was the result of research from the ‘You Learn From Each Other’ report, which explored the experiences of young LGBTIQ people in searching for mental health support and how digital media could play a role in reducing barriers for accessing those supports. To read the report, click here.

EVENTS & TRAINING

  • WA Aboriginal Sexual Health Forum, 3-4 May 2017, Burswood

‘Yarning Our Way’ is the theme for the 2017 SHQ WA Aboriginal Sexual Health Forum. Aimed at young Indigenous people, the forum aims to bring together participants to share, inspire and yarn about ways to build a strong future for the younger generation in sexual health and respectful relationships. To register, click here.

  • Nuts & Bolts Sexual Health Course, 8-10 May 2017 (other sessions to follow), Northbridge

Build your skills to work with young people around relationships and sexual health. The course aims to develop core knowledge, attitudes and skills required to provide information and support for young people around respectful relationships and sexual health issues. To register for the event, click here.

  • Freedom Centre's Trans Art Project Exhibition Opening, 12 May 2017, Leederville

Hosted by local trans community artist Lex Randolph these workshops allowed young people to explore their gender journey, mental health and wellbeing through art alongside their peers. This exhibition is a culmination of this work and aims to be an interactive and educational experience for all. Please come along and support the great work of these trans and gender diverse young people. To register, click here.

  • Reciprocity and citizenship in the adoption of a new HIV prevention technology, 31 May 2017, Sydney

Presented by Dr Bridget Haire at the Kirby Institute UNSW, this seminar will explore the early adoption of PReP in Australia, and the changing notion of safe sex as part of the SIN-PREP qualitative study. To register for the seminar, click here.

SAVE THE DATE – UPCOMING CONFERENCES

This biennial event has a unique reputation as a meeting place for people involved with the health care of people who live in the diverse communities of rural and remote Australia.

Covering topics surrounding prevention, treatment and recovery the 2017 Australian and New Zealand Addiction Conference will include presentations from leading sector specialists, researchers, psychologists and medical practitioners in addition to multiple concurrent streams, poster presentations and workshops.

In 2017 the Conference theme will be ‘Infectious Diseases: a global challenge’, the theme will allow consideration of the threats to health security from old and new infectious agents, and the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance. In particular, the conference will examine how the interconnected world facilitates spread of infection. 

The PHC Research Conference, convened by PHCRIS in partnership with Flinders University, provides the opportunity for allies from across the health sector to share both evidence and innovations on some of the key priorities in PHC.

The conference provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander environmental health practitioners a unique opportunity to meet in one place, to network and share information and learn of new initiatives.

  • WA Migration and Mobilities Update Conference, 6 September 2017, Perth

Save the date for this upcoming conference which will be hosted at the University Club at UWA. The theme for this year is 'Social inclusion across the life course: youth, ageing and intergenerational issues'. More information still to come.

The theme of the conference is "Healthy places, healthy people – where are the connections?".

The conference encourages all disciplines involved in sexual health medicine and sexual health promotion to come together and share experiences, new research and discuss national and local responses to sexual health in Australasia. Want to be the first to receive information and updates on the 2017 Conferences? Join the mailing list now so you won't miss a thing.

This biennial conference aims to bring together those involved in reproductive and sexual health and rights from across the Asia-Pacific region, including government, civil society, young people, academia, private sector and development partners. The conference aims to gather practitioners, researchers and experts in reproductive and sexual health and rights to share knowledge on best practice and to discuss what works. The 2017 theme is 'Leave No One Behind! Justice in Sexual and Reproductive Health'. For more information or to register, head to the APCRSHR website.

The conference will bring together many of this country's Indigenous leaders, academics, politicians, activists, Indigenous elders, cultural advocates and those who are making a contribution to the struggle of self-determination for Indigenous people in Australia through their leadership and actions from grassroots communities.

The Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference is the leading multidisciplinary Viral Hepatitis conference in Australasia. For further information please refer to the ASHM website closer to the date.

UPCOMING GRANTS

Gilead Australia Fellowship

This grant aims to support the development, exploration and implementation of best practice in enhancing patient care in HIV, viral hepatitis and haematological oncology. Researchers in Australian hospitals, clinics, universities, research institutes and professional organisations, in metro and rural regions, are encouraged to apply.

A total of $250,000 is available across three therapy areas, dependant on ethics approval being granted, and project completion by the end of 2018. To register to apply, click here. Applications close 1 September 2017.

Healthway

Prior to completing an application, applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their ideas with Healthway.

Health Promotion Project Grants

  • Health Promotion Under $5,000
  • Health Promotion Over $5,000
  • Health Promoting Schools
  • Aboriginal Health

For more information and instructions on how to apply see the Healthway website.

Health Promotion Research Grants

  • Intervention Research Grants: up to $120,000 per annum for three years, and $150,000 per annum for the year/s the intervention will be developed.
  • Exploratory Research Grants: offering up to $75,000 over 2 years.

For more information and instructions on how to apply see the Healthway website.

AIDS Trust of Australia

The AIDS Trust of Australia is a national charity that raise funds nationally and distribute them to state, regional and local organisations that deliver awareness, prevention, support, care, advocacy and social research programs relating to HIV/AIDS. For further information on previous projects and how to apply for funding, visit the AIDS Trust website here.

Bupa Health Foundation Grants Program

Every year, the Bupa Health Foundation aims to fund new initiatives that are likely to deliver clear benefits to the health of the Australian community. The Foundation is interested in funding innovative replicable interventions and projects that:

  • Empower people to either prevent or better manage health conditions
  • Empower people to use health education and engagement to tackle health risk factors and promote healthy lifestyle habits. Grants range from $100,000 to $500,000 for up to three years.

An expression of interest opening date for 2017 is yet to be announced. To receive expression of interest notifications, email foundation@bupa.com.au

For a comprehensive list of funding opportunities please click here.  

ACCESSING PERSONALISED SUPPORT FROM SIREN

Don’t forget SiREN is here to assist you with your research and evaluation activities! We are available to help you write funding applications, draft conference abstracts, support you with project planning and evaluation, and assist you in creating surveys just to name a few. Support is free but there are a few criteria we require you to meet (please click here to see the checklist). If you are unsure if your project meets the criteria please contact SiREN to discuss further.

Organisations accessing support are encouraged to contact SiREN in the early stages of planning where possible. Start a conversation with the SiREN team by emailing siren@curtin.edu.au or phoning us on 9266 7819.

SOMETHING YOU WANT ADDED TO THE NEXT SIREN E-NEWS?

Please send in to siren@curtin.edu.au and we will be more than happy to include it.

Look out for out next issue in June, and any alerts that come in-between via this SiREN list dissemination.