People from diverse communities are urged to support a new national research project on hepatitis C treatment. In the era of hepatitis C elimination, not enough is known about the experiences of hepatitis C, its treatment and health experiences post-treatment.

Entitled ‘Lived experiences of treatment for hepatitis C in Australia’, the project investigates challenges to hepatitis C treatment uptake, including stigma and ways of improving treatment experiences. This Australian Research Council-funded project will produce a website on personal experiences of hepatitis C that speaks directly to potential treatment users and their friends and families, while also informing health workers and other relevant professionals about the new treatments and the issues surrounding them.

The project aims to interview people undergoing hepatitis C treatment and collect in-depth understanding of their experiences of hepatitis C, treatment and related issues. People with past or present experiences with hepatitis C are encouraged to participate. The team are currently seeking to interview people living in Victoria and New South Wales who:

• Were diagnosed with hepatitis C after a medical procedure.
• Have had multiple hepatitis C diagnoses, for example, acquiring hepatitis C again after previously curing it.
• Contracted hepatitis C overseas.

 Participation involves an audio-recorded one-hour interview with a trained university researcher.

 All participants are reimbursed $50 for their time and contribution to the research.

Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service of Sydney Local Health District is assisting the Research advisory panel to develop materials needed to conduct interviews and, later the website.

If you would like to share your hepatitis C treatment experience, please contact:

Dr Adrian Farrugia
Phone: 0492 150 050
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Finding the right information at the right time is critical if people are to stay healthy and to support our global goal to eliminate AIDS by 2030, according to Barbara Luisi, Director of the Diversity Programs and Strategy Hub at Sydney Local Health District.

As part of the state-wide Live Healthy with HIV campaign during the 2020 HIV Awareness Week, the Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service (MHAHS) is encouraging people from culturally and linguistically diverse background to access multilingual booklet, HIV. What you need to know to stay healthy.

“Our booklet explains what it means to live with HIV as well as how people can protect themselves from HIV. The resource has up to date information on HIV test and treatment and a comprehensive list of care and support services to allay people’s concerns about living with HIV. It is a great resource to have and share.”

Available in 8 languages, the e-booklet can be downloaded here and free hard copies are available to order.

A number of events are being organised across Australia to support the HIV awareness campaign. Diversity Hub is supporting the campaign by undertaking an ethnic media campaign across 8 languages as well as partnering with the local HARP unit to organise information stalls in the local area.

For more campaign details, visit our campaign page here.

The SLHD Diversity Programs and Strategy Hub (DPASHub), of which the Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service (MHAHS) is a part, has moved to a new office at Forest Lodge.

The move, for the first time, brings four units of SLHD Population Health - the Executive Unit, DPASHub, Health Promotion Unit, and the HIV and Related Programs Unit - under one roof.

Aimed at promoting collaboration among the services, this move brings fresh perspectives and provides new opportunities for growth and innovation.

Our new address is Level 1, 300 Bridge Road, Forest Lodge, NSW 2037.

 Starting 19 October, the campaign is reminding people of the need to get tested for hepatitis B during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 People from Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic and Chinese-speaking communities in NSW are urged to find out if they have hepatitis B by asking their doctor for a test.

 The state-wide campaign will run for a month across ethnic newspaper, radio and social media outlets to communicate a simple message: Are you living with hepatitis B? Find Out. Get Tested.

 The year-long campaign promotes hepatitis B testing and treatment services in the community.

 A multilingual resource toolkit, which includes the campaign resources and guidelines for use is available on the campaign webpage.

 For more information on the campaign, please contact Natali Smud on 9515 1234 or email Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.