The Magazine of Hepatitis Victoria
December 2015
Good Liver Here comes the sun Treatment update Art inside the West
The current status of hepatitis C treatments in Australia.
The fight against viral hepatitiis in the Victorian prison system.
Broadening our reach A new project designed to develop insights into the Afghan community and meet their health needs relating to viral hepatitis.
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Staff
Contact and postal address:
Melanie Eagle CEO
Hepatitis Victoria
Telephone: 9385 9102 melanie@hepvic.org.au
Suite 5, 200 Sydney Road, Brunswick, Victoria 3056.
Garry Irving
Telephone: (03) 9380 4644 Facsimile: (03) 9380 4688 Email: admin@hepvic.org.au Website: www.hepvic.org.au
Programs and Operations Manager Telephone: 9385 9109 garryi@hepvic.org.au
Martin Forrest Health Promotion Program Manager Telephone: 9385 9111 martin@hepvic.org.au
Damian Salt
HepatitisInfoline
1800 703 003
Office Coordinator Telephone: 9380 4644 admin@hepvic.org.au
Jawid Sayed Health Promotion Project Officer Telephone: 9380 4644 jawid@hepvic.org.au
Aurora Tang Health Promotion Officer Telephone: 9385 9103 aurora@hepvic.org.au
Melissa Wright Health Promotion Officer Telephone: 9385 9104 melissa@hepvic.org.au
Shwetha Shankae Health Promotion Officer Telephone: 9385 9108 shwetha@hepvic.org.au
Toni-Marie Wuelfert Development Coordinator Telephone: 9385 9110 tonimarie@hepvic.org.au
Marina Mazza Health Promotion and Community Participation Co-ordinator Telephone: 9385 9112 marina@hepvic.org.au
Contents
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CommuniquĂŠ
From the desk of the Chief Executive Officer
4 6
De-livering the news Treatment update
The current status of hepatitis C treatments in Australia
8
Vitoria Minister hosts first ever roundtable
9
Message
From the Hon. Jill Hennessy
10
Broadening our reach
Afghan community
11
Art inside the West
The fight against viral hepatitis
12 14
Prison art: Yearly planner Prison Infoline
Hepatitis Victoria Infoline authorised for Victorian prisons
15 17 18
Health tips for Summer
19
Mark Farmer Memorial Award 2015 Sharing information in the digital age Digital, online and social media
Hep Hero: Ben Carroll MP
State member for Niddrie, Parliamentary Secretary for Justice
20 21
Liver clinics
Contacts
Shaun Knott Digital and Online Services Officer Telephone: 9385 9106 shaun@hepvic.org.au
Jillian Morphet Good Liver is produced by Hepatitis Victoria, with support from the Victorian Government. The opinions and language expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Hepatitis Victoria or the Department of Health and Human Services.
Reader response Your comments or experiences in regard to any articles in Good Liver are welcome. Email: admin@hepvic.org.au
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Training Bussiness Development Officer Telephone: 9385 9123 jillian@hepvic.org.au
Pam Wood Community Participation Project officer Telephone: 9380 4644 pam@hepvic.org.au
Cover image
Amanda Geikie
the Art inside the West program.
Community Participation Project officer Telephone: 9380 4644 amanda@hepvic.org.au
Produced by participant from Dame Phylis Frost as part of
Graphic Design: Swivel Design 0435 733 206
Communique
From the desk of the Chief Executive Officer
In the meantime, along with our advocacy
We are also looking at new training programs
work for people living with viral hepatitis,
to increase the awareness of those who
we continue to look at what more we can
come into contact with people who live with,
do to provide practical information and
or are at risk of viral hepatitis.
support to our communities.
on how to eat well and live well, particularly
is broadening its reach within CALD
over the Christmas period.
communities including the Afghan community; further building on the work that we have been doing with the Chinese and Vietnamese communities, and finding new ways to engage with people in custodial settings.
I
In this issue we provide you with some tips
To this end our health promotion team
n some respects 2015 has been a year
We are expanding our efforts in the digital
where we’ve felt we’ve taken two steps
arena in order to build greater awareness
forward and one step back. There have been
of the risks and realities of viral hepatitis,
many positive developments and initiatives:
and of course to ensure that you and the
new treatments, new education programs,
general public can more easily access the
new regional responses in the west of
latest information, and to provide online
Melbourne, the promise of dedicated State-
access to health coaching.
On the whole there is much to celebrate, and much to look forward to. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our advocates, our community, the HV team and all of our supporters and volunteers for their tireless efforts this year. Merry Christmas! Here’s to a very exciting and positive 2016.
Melanie Eagle
based hepatitis B and C strategies, and an international push to get viral hepatitis high on the public agenda. But frustratingly at times, the final outcome of these developments seems to be just out of our reach. In the case of new hepatitis C treatments we are still waiting for the Federal Government to confirm their listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Speculation is rife in relation to different possible times and people meanwhile are becoming increasingly desperate.
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De-livering the news Hepatitis B developments
A
B
C DE
The International Business Times recently reported that a new DNA-analysing paper device could rapidly and inexpensively diagnose various conditions, including hepatitis B. Researchers from the University of Toronto and McGill University
needles for certain surgical procedures, and many other practical and relatively cheap and effective measures. But it is important that workers know they can eliminate the risk without compromising the care they provide. Read more at: Reuters http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/30/ushealth-workers-hepc-idUSKCN0SO1X320151030#MlDJh714mtQtWj sC.99
Rise in injecting drug use by Indigenous Australians linked to hepatitis C rates.
made a paper-based diagnostic test using “ion concentration polarisation at the interface of patterned nanoporous membranes in paper”. Using the device, the team was able to detect the hepatitis B virus in blood serum after only a 10-minute run. They identified the virus at a level low enough to flag an early-stage acute infection, which is critical in preventing its spread. http://www.ibtimes.com.au/paper-made-device-could-detect-hepatitis-bmale-low-fertility-1479298
Health workers’ risk
ABC Online reported that new research by the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) has linked a rise in Indigenous Australians injecting drugs and concerning rates of hepatitis C and HIV. The research found a higher prevalence of injecting drug use in Aboriginal populations, compared to non-Aboriginal populations: between 5 and 10 per cent of Aboriginal people have injected drugs, compared to 2 per cent of non-Aboriginal people. The rate of hepatitis C is three times that of non-Aboriginal Australians, According to a report by Reuters Health, health care workers are at higher than average risk of infection with the hepatitis C virus, a research review suggests.
where it has “plateaued”.
Compared to the general population, health workers had 60 percent greater odds of getting hepatitis C, and those who worked directly with blood, had almost triple the risk, according to the analysis in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
two decades.
Transmission can be prevented in health care settings when proper infection control practices are followed; including the use of personal protective equipment, proper cleansing of infected tools, use of blunt
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The research also showed the number of Aboriginal people accessing needle syringe programs has jumped from 5 to 14 per cent over the past
SAHMRI Associate Professor James Ward says innovative, preventionfocused programs are needed to target young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
One step hepatitis C test
The health promotion team is constantly exploring new ways of reaching out to young people and providing them with a range of options for how they ‘reach in’ when they are looking for viral hepatitis related advice or support. Communicating with members of the community who work with youth and affected populations to generate awareness seems to be the way to get the message out there!
Hep Ready is coming: Upskilling health and community services
The International Business Times has reported that a team of scientists have designed a cost-effective, one-step test that screens, detects and confirms hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. According to researchers at UC Irvine Health, urine specimens can now be used to diagnose HCV infection. The team says the ability to detect infection, using urine rather than blood avoids needle stick and blood sample collection, which greatly reduces the cost and necessary clinical infrastructure for screening and diagnosis. http://www.ibtimes.com.au/researchers-develop-one-step-test-detecthepatitis-c-1483293
Hepatitis Victoria is developing an innovative training and education
Health workers of the future…
and community services professionals with accurate and timely
initiative, HepReady. The objective of HepReady is to up-skill health information on all aspects of viral hepatitis! Consistent with our organisation’s aims, HepReady will seek to achieve increased testing and treatment of those with hepatitis B and C, and ultimately change the course of the disease. Initial financial support has been obtained to develop the online component of HepReady through an untied educational grant from a pharmaceutical company. Currently, a training needs analysis survey is being widely distributed to a variety of health and community services professionals and organisations. The information gathered will inform the development of HepReady. Also, an Advisory Committee is being formed with appropriate sector, clinical and lived experience representation and a Training and Business Development Officer has been employed to
A happy bunch of future youth workers/Hep Heroes with Shwetha from the Health Promotion team! This highly interactive group from Kangan Institute, Broadmeadows were keen on supporting viral hepatitis after learning about the modes of transmission and treatment involved. They were horrified when they heard about the number of people with the disease and the meagre
project manage the program’s development. The HepReady initiative is a new concept for Hepatitis Victoria which has been developed through our involvement with “The Crunch”, a Social Traders’ social enterprise business skills and networking program that has a strong reputation for building a pipeline of investment ready social enterprises. As a social enterprise it is
amount actually receiving treatment, and are ready to help their future
envisaged that HepReady will be self-funding for Hepatitis Victoria.
clients by spreading the word!
For more information contact Jillian Morphet ay Hepatitis Victoria.
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Treatment update
The current status of hepatitis C treatments in Australia
N
ew hepatitis C treatments are already being used in other countries. These
are more likely to cure hepatitis C (up to 97%), are taken for a shorter time (usually three months, sometimes six), and have a lot less side effects. In Australia these medications have been approved and recommended for hepatitis C treatment. However, the medications are not yet free for people in Australia because the government has not yet listed them on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). When medications are listed on the PBS, the government pays for most of the treatment price and the patient only pays a fee: up to about $38. At the moment the government is negotiating with the pharmaceutical companies about the prices of the new medications.
What are the new medications? The new medications are ‘Direct Acting Antiviral’ (DAA) tablets taken daily:
• Sofosbuvir (Solvaldi) + Ledipasvir for genotype 1 (‘Harvoni’)
• Sofosbuvir (Solvadi) + Daclatasvir (‘Daklinza’) for genotypes 1 and 3
• Sofosbuvir (Solvaldi) + Ribavirin for genotype 2
• Sofosbuvir (Solvaldi) + Pegylated
Interferon/Ribavirin for genotype 1
• Paritaprevir/r + Ombitasvir + Dasabavir (+/- Ribavirin) for genotype 1 (‘Viekira Pak’)
How long until these new medications are free in Australia? Based on current information, it is unlikely that the government will fund these new medications before February 2016. Some news sources have reported that this may not take place until mid-2016. However, we do not know when a decision will be made.
In the meantime we need your help to spread the word, raise awareness, and urge the government to fund new medications right now. You can do this by writing to your Federal MP in the House of Representatives and also the Health Minister, the Hon. Sussan Ley. Details of how to do this can be found on our advocacy page: http://www.hepvic.org.au/ page/1147/call-for-hep-c-approval
Can I wait for new medications? Only a GP or liver specialist can check what is happening to your liver. Most liver specialists are based in major hospitals however some are based in sexual health services. This assessment is the only way to make an informed decision about whether you can wait for new medications. Some people can wait, but some may need to undertake the current treatments now to reduce the chance of advanced liver disease or liver cancer.
What if I have advanced liver disease? Talk with your liver specialist about your options. Some of the new medications can be used by people with advanced liver disease. After treatment, you will still need specialist care for your liver health.
How can I get these new medications?
As soon as we have more information, we
Ask your liver specialist about your options:
will share this with our Members, email
Some people can get the new medications
networks, social media, and website.
through clinical trials.
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For a limited number of seriously ill people, compassionate access / patient access may be an option to get the medications sooner. Some people can afford to pay for the medication themselves (up to $115,000 Australian dollars). Some people are getting new medications by traveling overseas or by importing them from countries where they are sold cheaper (some sources quote up to $3,000).
Is it legal to import them myself? Under Australia’s Personal Importation Scheme you may import medication if:
• You have a prescription from an Australian registered medical practitioner
• The medication is for yourself or your immediate family
• You only purchase up to 3 months of medication at one time
• You do not give or sell the medication to anyone else; The medications are
not restricted under Australian Customs controls quarantine rules and do not contain a controlled substance
• The medications are not injections that
contain material of human or animal origin (except insulin)
• The total quantity imported within a
12 month period does not exceed 15
months supply (at the maximum dose
genotype of hepatitis C you have and
recommended by the manufacturer)
the degree of liver damage
• If you wish to bring more than 3-months
supply at the one time into Australia, an Australian-registered doctor will first need to apply to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for Special Access Scheme Approval
For more information go to www.tga.gov.au
What are some of the risks of importing medications from overseas? To make sure that your treatment is safe and effective, a prescription, and care and management by a clinician in Australia is needed. The TGA advises people to be very careful when purchasing medicines from overseas or over the internet. In the worst-case scenarios these products may be fake, involve scams, or contain hidden and possibly harmful ingredients, and may not have the same quality, safety, or effectiveness as treatment in Australia. In addition, if the treatment is not administered correctly future hepatitis C medications may be less effective.
What are the important clinical parts of treatment?
• Tests and assessments to find out details of your hepatitis C, liver damage, and other health issues
•
Knowing the right combination of medications for you based on the
• Taking your medications at the right
times to get the best chance of a cure
• Tracking and taking care of any side effects
• Avoiding ‘drug interactions’ where
problems may be caused by other medications you are taking
Where can I get more information? Importation of Generic HCV Drugs - ASHM Factsheet: www.bit.ly/ASHMImport
Importing Medicines into Australia - Hepatitis Australia Factsheet: www.bit.ly/HepAusImport
TGA Personal Importation Scheme: www.tga.gov.au/personal-importation-
• Looking after other relevant
scheme
• Tests to see if a cure has been achieved • Discussions about safe injecting,
2015: www.bit.ly/EASL2015
health issues
if appropriate
If a doctor writes a script for me, are they importing the medication? No. A doctor may write you a prescription and monitor your treatment. However, if you import the medicine you are responsible as the personal importer.
How do people import medication online? Hepatitis Victoria does not endorse or recommend any specific websites or products. It is the responsibility of the person importing medication to find an appropriate supplier. For more information and examples of where new medications are bought online, read the ASHM factsheet ‘Importation of Generic HCV Drugs’: www.bit.ly/ASHMImport
EASL HCV Treatment Recommendations
Understanding the approval process for new treatments A medicine cannot be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme without a recommendation from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). The PBAC review process is an independent one in which neither the Government nor the Department of Health is involved. The Health Minister has been advised by the PBAC of the high clinical need for the new hepatitis C treatments, and a total cost to the government has been estimated. Currently the pharmaceutical companies and the Department of Health are in negotiations to finalise the pricing arrangements for the new hepatitis C treatments. The Health Minister has advised that ‘My Department is progressing the listing of these medicines as swiftly as possible in line with PBAC recommendations. The listing date will depend on the successful negotiations with the sponsors of these medicines.’ Once these price negotiations have been completed, the approval of the PBS listing requires the Turnbull Government (Cabinet) to sign off on the expenditure. The Health Minister, the Hon. Sussan Ley will need to identify equivalent savings to allow the PBS listing to proceed. Generally a period of seven weeks is required from the date of the announcement to list a medicine, and the date that the medicine becomes available on the PBS, to ensure all the medicines and administrative processes are in place.
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Victorian Minister hosts first ever roundtable O
n 28 October the Victorian Minister for Health, the Hon. Jill Hennessy, hosted a Roundtable on viral hepatitis. The event brought together key leaders in prevention, research, treatment and affected communities with a view to identifying priorities for Victoria’s response to hepatitis B and hepatitis C. The Roundtable followed the Minister’s announcement on 28 August, at the Western Action Forum convened by Hepatitis Victoria, that there would be a standalone Victorian strategy to address viral hepatitis. It also reflects Victoria being a signatory to the Fourth National Hepatitis C Strategy 20142017, and the Second National Hepatitis B Strategy 2014-2017. Representation at the Roundtable included researchers, clinicians, community organisations and representatives of affected communities. Hepatitis Victoria was very pleased to be able to facilitate the
participation of a number of people with lived experience of both hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Their eloquence was very noticeable, as was their impact on the people gathered and the topics covered. Many issues were canvassed across the full continuum of care - from prevention, vaccination, harm minimisation, awareness raising, improving access to treatment, workforce development, and integrated care. It was acknowledged that stigma and discrimination was a challenge that affected all these dimensions, and an underpinning issue needing to be addressed to enable
strategy development and the quality of our health services. Concern was expressed in terms of the need to act promptly given the severity of the health burden associated with hepatitis, the changing environment, and the extent of consultation that has already occurred. The differential impact of hepatitis on different communities was evident throughout the discussion. All of the invited participants agreed on the need for distinct strategies in relation to hepatitis B and hepatitis C, as well as for those strategies to be backed by action and resources.
how well Victoria was placed in terms of
Participants were advised at the end of the Roundtable that the government would continue to develop the components of a draft strategy or strategies over the next few months. A proposal would then be able to be considered by the Minister, and with a view
the expertise available to contribute to
to a public announcement in 2016.
improvement. Optimism was expressed about it being a timely opportunity to act, particularly given advances in treatment, and also
The following statement was provided by one of our public speakers, and Mums To B educators, Lien, at the start of the Roundtable session: technical support, I was directly involved in
and that I am the only reliable source of
the strategy development and supported the
hepatitis B information they have had to date.
Vietnamese Ministry of Health to develop the master plan for HIV/AIDS testing, period 2013-2017.
I’m from Vietnam.
What I hope you will remember while I
scared. They don’t believe the doctors and some have had very bad experiences with
of Public Health and volunteering with
the doctors they have gone to, so it’s not
Hepatitis Victoria in delivering the education
surprising they don’t trust them….
communities.
G
they know who died of liver disease. They’re
In Victoria, I’m undertaking the Master
sessions on Hepatitis B to the Vietnamese
ood morning. My name is Lien Tran.
Everywhere I go, people talk about someone
However, people are very relieved after the sessions. They are happy that they
Although I knew from the literature about the
can look after their family better. Then I
low level of awareness of hepatitis B among
know we are heading the right way, but
Vietnamese communities, I still cannot
how can we achieve any significant change
believe, and feel appalled by, the level of
when I’m doing this as a volunteer? It’s just
stigma within these communities as well as
not enough!
the popular misconceptions that make people with hepatitis B hardly live a normal, let alone, a happy life.
A comprehensive strategy for hepatitis B is urged or it will be too late. People from my community are suffering, or more seriously
speak is that of the 70,000 Vietnamese-born
To be honest, I’m actually quite surprised this
are dying, from a preventable disease,
Victorians, one in eight of them lives with
happens in a developed country like Australia
and too many died already.
hepatitis B.
and right now in 2015.
Previously I worked on a project in the
People come to me after the [education]
I really hope this meeting will lead to
HIV/AIDS sector in Vietnam. In addition to
sessions and tell me how isolated they are
some real actions to save their lives.
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Given the chance to come here today,
Message from Hon. Jill Hennessy, Minister for Heath
It is incredibly exciting to see the emergence of revolutionary drugs to treat the virus. This allows us to begin thinking, for the first time, of an ‘end game’ for hepatitis C.
H
epatitis is increasingly recognised as
prevent hepatitis C as well as for a cure for
a significant and growing public health
hepatitis B.
issue. However, it is largely a preventable disease, and, with the proper care, people
Even though we don’t have a hepatitis C
living with hepatitis can live long and
vaccine yet, it is incredibly exciting to see
relatively healthy lives.
the emergence of revolutionary drugs to
Earlier this year, I hosted the first ever Victorian government celebration of World
Hepatitis Day – an important opportunity to acknowledge the significance of this issue and the work being done in response.
treat the virus. This allows us to begin thinking, for the first time, of an ‘end game’ for hepatitis C, and I am continuing to call on the Commonwealth to list the new hepatitis C cure drugs which are non-toxic
However, we as a community also need to do more to challenge the stigma associated with hepatitis, and to encourage increased screening, vaccination and treatment for our most vulnerable groups affected by viral hepatitis, including hepatitis B. While there is an effective vaccine for hepatitis B it is important that at risk communities fully understand the pathways available for prevention and management of this condition.
hepatitis strategy, and I was pleased to
acceptable and offers real hope to people
I look forward to working with you to develop Victoria’s hepatitis strategy - the first in ten years - because I recognise how important this growing public health issue is for so
meet with leading clinicians, researchers
currently living with chronic hepatitis C.
many Victorians.
I was also delighted to announce that Victoria will develop a stand alone
and can achieve clearance in as little as 12 weeks. This makes treatment much more
and community organisations recently to hear about the key issues and priorities to prevent, improve screening and treat hepatitis. The most powerful and captivating element of the Roundtable meeting was hearing first-hand from people living with hepatitis, and the impact that discrimination and stigma has on families and communities - in particular migrant and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and on access to life saving healthcare. In Victoria, we are lucky to have experienced and dedicated researchers who are working to discover new science to
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Broadening our reach Afghan community
highest among Afghanistan-born population after those born in Vietnam, China and Taiwan. It is estimated that in Australia, there are around 3,000 Afghan-born people living with chronic hepatitis B.
Afghan Community
Victorian CALD populations including the
Project Worker,
Afghan communities are at higher risk of viral
Jawid Sayed
hepatitis. Hepatitis Victoria, in line with its vision of “a Victorian community where there are no new infections of viral hepatitis, and where those who have the virus are able to maximise their health and wellbeing” recently launched a new project targeting Afghan-communities. We have employed a short term project worker from the Afghan community to undertake a project on viral hepatitis among Afghan communities living in different parts of the state. The project aims to develop an insight into the Afghani community in Victoria, both new arrivals and existing residents. It aims to contribute to the health and wellbeing of Afghani communities living in Victoria. The project focuses on the following areas to:
• Investigate the demographic trends of the Afghani population living in Victoria
• Investigate the disease burden of viral hepatitis among this community
• Explore effective pathways for delivering health promotion activities to the community
T
here are around 29,000 Afghan-born people living in Australia.
Victoria is home to around 10,000 of them, which it seems is the largest number amongst all the states. These communities are mainly concentrated in the local government areas of Casey and Greater Dandenong. Afghans living in Australian have a long history. The first Afghans arrived in Australia in 1860. They were cameleers who worked in the transport sector in a range of areas
of Afghanis came to Australia as refugees after the invasion of their country by the Soviet Union and then internal fighting between factional parties, as well as the emergence of the Taliban regime. In Afghanistan healthcare is very limited and the country has some of the worst health statistics in the world. Little data is available regarding the prevalence of viral hepatitis B and hepatitis C and the associated risk behaviours.
introduced in Australia, the Afghan cameleers
The World Health Organisation categorised Afghanistan under the group of countries where the prevalence of hepatitis B is at low intermediate level (2-4%). According to a Kirby Institute 2014 report, in Australia
became redundant. Later on, larger numbers
the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B is the
including exploration, mining, and the supply of provisions to homesteads. After 1920 when cars and trucks were
10
• Review the available resources and translates them into the national
language(s) spoken by most of these communities
• Conduct education sessions for different community groups on viral hepatitis,
including transmission, and prevention of infection.
• Establish and develop partnerships and
collaborations with different stakeholders that will facilitate engagement
• Evaluate health promotion strategies We look forward to bringing you further updates as the project progresses. In the meantime if you have any queries please contact the project worker, Jawid Sayed on (03) 9380 4644.
Art inside the West
The fight against viral hepatitis
H
ope and a call for collaboration were
In acknowledgement of the unique nuances
being utilised to promote awareness relating
just two of the diverse themes to
of the prison environment, participants were
to viral hepatitis.
emerge from the “Art Inside the West” art
given the opportunity to provide health
competition conducted in two metropolitan
promotion messages to one another, through
prisons as part of the Western Liverability
a new resource. The original concept was
Festival. Other themes were: Health and
conceived by the 2014 prison peer educator
Safety, Skin Art and Piercing, Inspiration and
graduates at Marngoneet Prison.
Encouragement, Blood and Horror, Beauty and Invisibility. One entry simply promoted testing for people in custody.
Participants were invited to submit an entry specifically relating to prison and viral hepatitis, after attending education sessions,
An entry from Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (featured on the cover of this edition of Good
Liver) won the “Art Inside the West” People’s Choice Award. Formal judging is now occurring and winning entries will be featured on a new prison resource to be released in 2016.
“Art Inside the West” is a collaboration
which covered topics such as stigma and
Thank you to all participants and
between Hepatitis Victoria and Justice
discrimination, prevention, diagnosis, healthy
congratulations to entrants.
Health as part of the 2015 Western
living, management and trends in treatment.
The lift out calendar (centre spread)
Liverability Festival.
Participation was voluntary and all who
incorporates all the artwork
The competition was conducted to encourage
submitted entries consented to their entry
people in custody to contribute to new prison specific health promotion resources.
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Prisoner Infoline
Hepatitis Victoria Infoline authorised for Victorian prisons
“Prisoners shall have access to the health services available in the country without discrimination on the grounds of their legal situation” (Basic principles for the treatment of
prisoners, UN 14 December 1990).
A
t the Western Action Forum, the Parliamentary Secretary for Justice,
Ben Carroll, MP, announced people in custody in Victoria would soon be able to use
Multiple changes affecting people in custody
about their risk of exposure to viral
make it an ideal time for this service to
hepatitis while they are incarcerated. It will
become available. These changes include:
provide a source of information relating
• The anticipated funded access for people
to current services available to people in
in the community to new medications for treating hepatitis C:
• The newly introduced program enabling
the community, prior to their release. The Hepatitis Infoline staff will be able to discuss services available to people while they are incarcerated. It will also be a source of
people in every prison in Victoria to be
support for people who are considering or
assessed for viral hepatitis treatment
undertaking treatment while in prison.
• The redesign of prerelease programs in
The principle of equivalence specifies
Victorian prisons introduced earlier this
people in custody should have access to
the Hepatitis Victoria telephone information
year, resulting in the possibility that
health services that are the equivalent of
and support service, the Hepatitis Infoline.
people could leave custody without a
those they would be able to access in the
clear understanding of how their risk of
community. Hepatitis Victoria is delighted
viral hepatitis may have been elevated
to be able to extend the Hepatitis Infoline
during their incarceration.
service into Victorian prisons.
Access to this service aligns people in Victoria with those in custody in a number of other states. The hepatitis telephone information services in those states are
The Hepatitis Infoline will be an avenue for
highly utilised by people in custody.
people in custody to discuss their concerns
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Health tips for Summer Eating healthy
W
hat is the first thing that comes to mind with the word ‘December’? Most likely something related to food or drink. Not surprisingly, on average Australians put on between 0.8 -1.5 kg over the Christmas period. While this might not sound like a lot, this weight gain is rarely lost.1 Another study also found that, despite the small weight change over the holiday season, people are likely to significantly increase their percentage of body fat particularly around the trunk, which is the fat associated with high risk of metabolic complications (such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases).2 For people living with viral hepatitis, maintaining a healthy weight, having a good level of physical activity and a balanced diet are crucial to delay the progression to, or even revert, liver damage.
So what is a healthy diet for someone living with viral hepatitis? This is a question I have heard many times and the answer is very simple: “a healthy and balanced diet for someone with viral hepatitis is the same as that for someone without hepatitis.” And that is a diet that incorporates a variety of foods from all five food groups in the right proportions and quantities to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Only in the very advanced stages of liver disease, when other complications are present, is when diet might be different.
students, Nutr Metab, 2006.
What can you do to make your diet healthier?
• Eat plenty of vegetables every day, of
different types and colours. A good way to increase your veggie intake is to try to include three different coloured vegetables in each meal, with a mix of cooked and raw. Tip: Pick those in season for better value for money!
• Eat fruits, preferably raw and with skin on when possible. They make for great snacks!
• Eat a variety of grains/cereals (e.g. pasta, rice, quinoa, bread, muesli, etc), mostly
wholegrain and high fibre varieties. continued over
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Health tips for Summer Eating healthy – continued
• Eat meat in moderation and include a
good balance of red meat, poultry and fish. Choose lean cuts and take off any excess fat before cooking. Include eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds and legumes/beans, as they are also great sources of protein!
• Have moderate intake of dairy products
(milk, yoghurt, cheese and alternatives), preferably reduced fat varieties.
• Limit the intake of food high in saturated
(‘bad’) fats such as butter, cream, cooking margarine, coconut and palm oil and replace them for healthier alternatives such as oils, spreads, nut butters/pastes and avocado.
• Avoid intake of foods high in sugar
(confectionary, soft drinks, cordials and fruit juices) and high in salt – check the labels to pick lower sodium options.
• Avoid alcohol intake and drink plenty of water.
**For more information and for recommended serving sizes, check the Australian Dietary Guidelines on: www.eatforhealth.gov.au or call the Hepatitis Infoline (1800 703 003) and we can send you copies of the
Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Changing lifestyle habits is not an easy task so my advice is to take it slowly and try to incorporate one change at a time to your diet. Creating a ‘food diary’ and keeping records of each meal can help you identify areas for improvement and track success. …and if you are still wondering about the extra weight gained during the Christmas period, not to worry. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid those and still enjoy the festive season.
If you are interested in improving your overall health and wellbeing, register your interest for our chronic disease self-management courses (online and face-to-face).
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Call the Hepatitis Infoline
1800 703 003 or email :
admin@hepvic.org.au
Marina Mazza References 1. Foodsense, Consumer Reports on Health:
Dodge holiday weight gain without missing the merriment, 2002. 2. H. H. e. al, The effect of the holiday season
on body weight and composition in college
Health tips for Summer
5 tips to avoid the Christmas load 1. Plan ahead - know the dates when you will have a party and watch your diet around those days. And don’t arrive hungry to the party; eat some healthy snacks beforehand. 2. Fill up with the healthier food options, such as vegetables, fruits and legumes/beans. 3. Watch your portion sizes and set yourself limits. Use entrée size plates to reduce serving sizes. 4. Drink plenty of water – before, during, and after meals. 5. Keep yourself active – the weather is friendly and perfect to get out and exercise. Play with your kids, explore your surroundings, and why not make a New Year resolution around physical activity? Please note: People with chronic viral hepatitis can access Medicare subsidised allied health services, such as Dietitians. Ask your GP for more information and a referral.
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Health tips for Summer Liver loving recipes
Liver Loving Recipes
Vegetable Lasagne Preparation time: 20 minutes
Method
Cooking time: 30 minutes
1. Preheat the oven to 200째C (180째C
9. Lay half the eggplant over the lasagne sheets, spread with half the ricotta
+ 10 minutes to stand
fan-forced) and line a baking tray
cheese, then place half the silver beet
Serves: 6
with foil and spray with oil
on top
Storage: Covered in the fridge or freezer (loses some of its texture when reheated)
Ingredients
> 1 small eggplant or 2 thin eggplants, cut into half centimetre slices
> 1 bunch of silver beet > 250g reduced-fat ricotta cheese > 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce/passata > 1 handful fresh basil, roughly chopped > 4 lasagne sheets > 1 1/2 cups grated reduced-fat mozzarella cheese
> 2 tablespoons reduced-fat parmesan cheese
> Olive or canola oil spray, pepper to season
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2. Lay the eggplant on top and spray the eggplant with oil 3. Bake for 10 minutes, turning once, until eggplant is soft and slightly browned 4. Cut the stalks off the silver beet, roughly chop the leaves, place in a colander and rinse well 5. Pour a jug of boiling water over the silver beet to wilt it 6. Once cool enough to touch, remove any thick stalks and squeeze the water out of the leaves 7. In a bowl, mix the basil and tomato sauce 8. Line a casserole/lasagne dish with 1 to 2 sheets of lasagne
10. Drizzle with half the tomato-basil mixture, sprinkle with a third of the cheese, 1 tablespoon of parmesan and season with pepper 11. Place another layer of lasagne on top, then repeat the layering process 12. Finish with lasagne and a sprinkling of the remaining mozzarella 13. Place in the oven for 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and slightly browned. Stand for 10 minutes before serving with a side salad.
These recipes were sourced from: www.loveyourliver.com.au. Check the website for more ideas.
Mark Farmer Memorial Award 2015 H
epatitis Victoria recognises,
hepatitis. She is involved with our Public
celebrates, supports and appreciates
Speakers Bureau and has spoken at
the commitment, effort and achievements of numerous events, including the launch of individuals living with viral hepatitis through
our Hep Heroes campaign back in 2013
the Mark Farmer Memorial Award.
and the Hepatitis Victoria Western Action
Awarded annually to celebrate and recognise the efforts and achievements of individuals living with viral hepatitis, the Mark Farmer Award is given in memory of Mark Farmer, who was a valued member, and board member of Hepatitis Victoria.
Forum held in late August this year. You may recall that we published the very powerful story that she told at the Forum in our last issue of Good Liver. This year’s nominees also included:
• Uyen – who has volunteered
with Hepatitis Victoria since 2013 as a public speaker, and the HepConnect and Mums to B programs, guiding our work with Vietnamese communities. She has also collaborated with our advocacy activities.
Cabbage,Tuna and Corn Fritters
• John Kenney – who became involved with
Hepatitis Victoria after approaching staff at a
Preparation time: 15 minutes
tattoo exhibition in late
Cooking time: 20 minutes
2013. Since then he’s
Makes: 20 fritters
became a great supporter
Storage: Store covered in the fridge –
of our work, educating the
suitable for freezing
community, particularly
Ingredients
young people, about
> 180g tin tuna in springwater, drained > 1/4 cabbage, thinly shredded > 310g tin creamed corn > 1 small onion, finely diced > 1/3 cup self raising flour > 2 eggs, lightly beaten > 1/4 cup reduced fat milk > Canola/olive oil spray Method 1. Put all ingredients in a large bowl, mix well and allow to stand for 10 minutes 2. Heat a non-stick frypan over a medium heat and spray with oil 3. Place tablespoons of the mixture in the heated frying pan
hepatitis C, through his involvement as a Hep Hero, appearances at many events, and as the face of SKiNK Tatoo Tales program.
This year’s Award winner, Nafisa Yussf,
• Jean Crook – one of our longest
serving volunteers supporting Hepatitis
is a very active and passionate advocate
Victoria for almost a decade. She is
for the needs of people living with hepatitis
involved with the HepConnect and
B. She works hard to clarify people’s
Chronic Disease Self Management
misunderstandings and reassure them that
programs, and is always available to
they can lead a normal and healthy lifestyle
help out with any important tasks.
with hepatitis B.
Congratulations to Nafisa, Uyen,
Nafisa also spends a lot of time
John and Jean for this well deserved
endeavoring to increase the community’s
recognition. Your tireless efforts and
knowledge and understanding of viral
support are very much appreciated!
4. Fry until golden on both sides 5. Serve with sweet chilli sauce
Notes: For a smoother texture, blend the mixture in a food processor before frying.
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Sharingpage information in the digital age Blank Digital, online and social media
We will continue to look at new online initiatives to assist and support people living with, and working with those with viral hepatitis.
C
ommunicating and engaging as widely
Which is why we are increasingly using
We are, and will continue to look at new, online
as possible is vital to:
digital, online and social media platforms to
initiatives to assist and support people living
• raise awareness and prevent the
support and build on the work we do directly
with, and working with those with viral hepatitis.
with communities.
We encourage those of you not already doing
• increase access and referral to quality
Using such platforms means that we
so to engage with us on our online and social
information, care, treatment and
can make more information more widely
media platforms:
support; and,
available, in a timely manner.
Facebook.com/HepVic
It also means that more people can engage
Twitter.com/HepVic
transmission of viral hepatitis;
• highlight issues and encourage a stronger response to the challenges of viral
with us more easily, including with our support
hepatitis in our community.
and participation programs such as our
YouTube.com/user/HepatitisVic
Chronic Disease Self Management courses.
Instagram.com/HepVic
by the social stigma associated with viral
Importantly, these platforms provide Hepatitis
www. hepvic.org.au
However, communication can be hampered hepatitis, the discrimination that people
Victoria, and our communities with a louder
And if you have any suggestions as to how we
can experience when disclosing their
voice, to highlight the concerns and issues
might improve how we share our information in
hepatitis status, and even by where they
surrounding viral hepatitis. And they help
the digital age please let us know by emailing:
live (especially those living in rural
us to direct that voice to those that need to,
shaun@hepvic.org.au or call Shaun Knott on
and regional areas).
or should know.
(03) 9380 4644.
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Hep Hero: Ben Carroll MP
State Member for Niddrie, Parliamentary Secretary for Justice. I am a Hep Hero because… as a community leader, I have a vital role to play to raise awareness, combat stigma, and address this important public health issue.”
Ben’s Story
G
rowing up in Airport West, I worked at the local Kmart to put myself through university, where I studied a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Politics at La Trobe, and then completed my Bachelor of Laws (LLB). After completing my LLB, I volunteered for the North Melbourne Legal Service for a number of years, where I was able to assist people in need with their civil and criminal law issues. Prior to entering the Parliament I also worked as a lawyer in the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office and as an adviser to former Premier Steve Bracks.
As the Parliamentary Secretary for Justice, I have spent a lot of time visiting prisons and custodial facilities and was shocked to learn about the rates of hepatitis infection amongst inmates.
In the general community, rates of hepatitis B & C are around one to two per cent. In contrast, the Kirby Institute’s 2013 survey of prison entrants found that 25 per cent of prison entrants in Victoria had hepatitis C and 15 per cent had hepatitis B. In April 2015 I was proud to announce funding of up to $2.2 million to implement the Statewide Hepatitis Service for Victorian prisoners.
Ben’s message to others The Victorian Government is a signatory to the national strategy for blood-borne viruses, so it essential that we follow this up with the development of a stand alone action plan if we are truly to begin to address the prevalence of hepatitis in Victoria.
From my perspective as a local member, I came into contact with residents like Stephen, a HepHero who I met in 2014, and others who are raising awareness about testing, treatment and support. I am committed to working within the Victorian government to develop a Victorian strategy to deal with viral hepatitis. An incredible 120,000 Victorians live with viral hepatitis. Liver cancer is the fastest growing cause of cancer death in Australia, and it is largely caused by viral hepatitis. We all have a vital role to play to raise awareness, combat stigma and address this growing public health issue.
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Liver clinics Liver clinics and liver specialists
CLAYTON
GEELONG
Southern Health Monash Medical Centre 246 Clayton Road, Clayton Contact: (03) 9594 6035 Fax: (03) 9594 6925
Geelong Hospital
In most cases a referral is faxed to the hepatitis treatment service. The hepatitis treatment service will generally not discuss your treatment options with you until after they have received a referral from your GP.
CRANBOURNE
GIPPSLAND
This list of hepatitis treatment services includes clinics that are known to Hepatitis Victoria. Not all possible services are listed and there may be others in your local area.
EAST RINGWOOD
To access public hepatitis C treatment services a referral from a GP is needed.
ALBURY Albury Community Health Centre – Hepatitis Clinic 596 Smollett Street, Albury Contact: (02) 6058 1800 Fax: (02) 6058 1801
BAIRNSDALE Bairnsdale Regional Hospital Bairnsdale Regional Health Service Specialist Consulting Rooms Princess Highway, Bairnsdale Contact: (03) 5150 3478 Fax: (03) 5150 3404
BALLARAT Ballarat Base Hospital Drummond Street, Ballarat Contact: (03) 5320 4211 Fax: (03) 5320 4097
BALLARAT Ballarat Community Health 210 Stuart Street, Ballarat Contact: (03) 5338 4500 or (03) 5320 7500 Fax: (03) 5332 4572
BENDIGO Bendigo Health Cnr Arnold and Lucas Streets, Bendigo Contact: (03) 5454 8422 Fax: (03) 5454 8419
BOX HILL Box Hill Hospital 51 Nelson Road (First Floor Blue Lift), Box Hill Contact: (03) 9895 3333 (ask for OPD) Fax: (03) 9895 4852
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Cranbourne Integrated Care Centre 140-154 Sladen Street, Cranbourne Contact: (03) 5990 6789 Fax: (03) 9594 6245 Maroondah Hospital (Eastern Health) Davey Drive, Ground Floor Outpatients, East Ringwood Contact: 1300 342 255 Fax: (03) 9871 3202
ELTHAM North Eltham Medical Centre Dr Tony Michaelson Weekly visiting Hepatitis C Nurse Rhonda O’Malley 1170 Main Rd, Eltham Contact: (03) 9439 2222 Fax: (03) 9439 3662
EPPING Northern Hospital 185 Cooper Street, Epping Contact: (03) 8405 8000 Fax: (03) 8405 8524
FITZROY St Vincent’s Hospital 35 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy Contact: (03) 9231 3475 Fax: (03) 9231 3489
FOOTSCRAY
Bellarine Street, Geelong Contact: (03) 5246 5117 Fax: (03) 5221 3429 Central Gippsland Health Service 155 Guthridge Parade, Sale Contact: (03) 5143 8600
HEIDELBERG Austin Hospital 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg Contact: (03) 9496 2787 Fax: (03) 9496 7232
West Heidelberg Banyule Community Health Centre Hepatitis C Outreach Clinic as part of Austin Health. Dr Daljean Sandhu, weekly visiting Gastroenterologist and Hepatitis C Nurse. 21 Alamein Road, West Heidelberg Contact: (03) 9496 6846 Fax: (03) 9496 2732
MAROONDAH Maroondah Hospital (Eastern Health) Out-Patients, Ground Floor, Davey Drive, Ringwood East Contact: 1300 342 255 Fax: (03) 9871 3202
MILDURA Mildura Infectious Diseases Unit 234 Thirteenth Street, Mildura Contact: 0408 581 781
Western Hospital Gordon Street, Footscray Contact: (03) 8345 6291 Fax: (03) 8345 6619
PARKVILLE
FRANKSTON
Contact: (03) 9342 7212
Peninsula Liver Clinic 141 Cranbourne Road, Frankston Contact: (03) 9770 0139
PRAHRAN
Royal Melbourne Hospital Corner Royal Parade and Grattan Streets, Parkville Fax: (03) 9342 7277 Alfred Hospital Infectious Diseases Department 99 Commercial Road, Prahran Contact: (03) 9076 2359 Fax: (03) 9076 2194
Contacts SANDRINGHAM Bayside Hepatitis Clinic (Alfred Hospital) 193 Bluff Road, Sandringham Contact: (03) 9076 2259 Fax: (03) 9076 2194
SHEPPARTON Goulburn Valley Health Centre
Community-based hepatitis C treatment services
St Kyrollos Family Clinic
Community based treatment clinics have
Contact: (03) 9386 0900
been developed to enable more people to access treatment in their local communities.
Dr Ashraf Saddik Monthly visiting Hep C Nurse 2A Moore Street, Coburg
Werribee Mercy Hospital Consulting Suites
Barkly Street Medical Centre
300 Princess Hwy, Werribee
Contact: (03) 5832 3600
Dr Elizabeth Leder
Contact: (03) 9288 2171
Fax: (03) 5831 6032
Dr David Iser visits monthly
Fax: (03) 9288 3596
50 Graham Street, Shepparton
SPRINGVALE Springvale Community Health
60 Barkly Street, St Kilda Contact: (03) 9534 0531
Primary health care centres (for people who use drugs)
55 Buckingham Street, Springvale
Cohealth (formerly North Yarra
Contact: (03) 9594 3088
Community Health)
Fax: (03) 9594 2273
75 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
TRARALGON
Contact: (03) 9411 3555
Access Health
Latrobe Regional Hospital
Cranbourne Integrated Care Centre
Primary health care and needle syringe
Private Consulting Suites 3 and 4
Hepatitis Outreach treatment clinic
Princes Highway, Traralgon West
140-154 Sladen Street, Cranbourne
Contact: (03) 5173 8111
Contact: (03) 03 5990 6789
Fax: (03) 5173 8097
Fax: (03) 03 5990 6328
WARRNAMBOOL
Gateway Community Health
Warrnambool Physicians’ Rooms
155 High St, Wodonga
St John of God
Contact: (02) 6022 8888
Warrnambool Hospital,
Fax: (02) 6024 5792
Health Works
Health Works
syringe program
Suite 4, Wentworthh Street Consulting Rooms, Warrnambool Contact: (03) 5562 9444 Fax: (03) 5561 2699
WODONGA Murray Valley (Private) Hospital Nordsvan Drive, Wodonga
4-12 Buckley Street, Footscray
Primary Needle Syringe Programs
program for marginalised/street based injecting drug users, street sex workers and people experiencing homelessness. Hepatitis C information, support and treatment 31 Grey Street, St. Kilda Contact: (03) 9536 7780
Primary health care and needle Hepatitis C information, support
Contact: (03) 9362 8100
and treatment
Living Room
4-12 Buckley Street, Footscray
7-9 Hosier Lane, Melbourne Contact: (03) 9945 2100
Contact: (02) 6056 3366
North Richmond Community Health
Fax: (02) 6056 3466
Dr John Furler Weekly visiting Hep C Nurse 23 Lennox Street, Richmond Contact: (03) 9418 9800
Contact: (03) 9362 8100 www.wrhc.com.au/Services_HEALTH.html Inner Space Primary health care and needle syringe program Hepatitis C information, support and treatment. 4 Johnson Street, Collingwood
Nunawading Clinic
Contact: (03) 9468 2800
176 Springvale Road, Nunawading
www.nych.org.au/services/drug.html
Dr David Ross GP s100 prescriber for HCV and Opiate Replacement Program Contact: (03) 9878 9191
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Contacts Living Room Primary health care and needle syringe program Hepatitis C information, support and treatment services 7-9 Hosier Lane (off Flinders Lane), Melbourne Contact: (03) 9662 4488 www.youthprojects.org.au
Related Health Services
Regional services
Penington Institute - formerly ANEX
These contacts are able to provide
(Association for Needle Exchanges)
information about local viral hepatitis
95 Drummond Street, Carlton
related services.
Contact: (03) 9650 0699
Ballarat Community Health
Harm Reduction Victoria (HRV)
Marg Stangl
128 Peel Street, North Melbourne
Contact: (03) 5338 4500
Contact: (03) 9329 1500
Barwon - Surf Coast Health Service
South East Alcohol and Drug Service (Forster Street) Primary health care and needle syringe program Level 2, 229 Thomas Street, Dandenong Contact: (03) 8792 2330
Haemophilia Foundation Victoria, 13 Keith Street, Hampton East Contact: (03) 9555 7595 Email: info@hfv.org.au
Contact: 03) 4215 7850
Hepatitis Australia Web forum for professionals in the hepatitis C sector. www.hepatitisaustralia.com/ forum/publicaccess/
Contact: (03) 5454 6000
Turning Point 54-62 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy Contact: (03) 8413 8413 Email: info@turningpoint.org.au Web: www.turningpoint.org.au
Indigenous Health Ngwala Willumbong Co-op Limited 93 Wellington Street, St Kilda Indigenous drug and alcohol service Contact: (03) 9510 3233 Email: reception@ngwala.org VACCHO (Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation) 17 - 23 Sackville Street, Collingwood Contact: (03) 9411 9411 Email: wendyb@vaccho.com.au Web: www.vaccho.org.au Victorian Aboriginal Health Service 186 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy Contact: (03) 9419 3000
Sexual Health Melbourne Sexual Health Centre 580 Swanston Street, Melbourne Contact: (03) 9341 6200 Free call: 1800 032 017 Multicultural Health and  Support Service, HIV, hepatitis C and sexually transmissible infections 23 Lennox Street, Richmond Contact: (03) 9418 9929 Go to: www.ceh.org.au/mhss.aspx
22
HIV/Hepatitis/STI Education and Resource Centre at the Alfred Moubray Street, Prahran Statewide resource centre on HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmissible Infections Contact: (03) 9076 6993 Web: www.alfredhealth.org.au
Multilingual Hepatitis C Resources This website has over 400 pages of hepatitis C and HIV information in 18 languages. www.multiculturalhivhepc.net.au
Barwon Health Drug and Alcohol Services Contact: (03) 4215 8700 Bendigo Health Camperdown Hepatitis C Support worker Jo Sloetjes Contact: (03) 5593 3415 Email: camperdown.resource@svdp-vic.org.au CAN (Country Awareness Network) Bendigo Information, education, support, referrals and advocacy to Victorian rural/regional communities regarding HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, other Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmitted Infections Contact: (03) 5443 8355 Email: can@can.org.au Web: www.can.org.au Jigsaw Youth Health Service
Health Services Commissioner 30th Floor, 570 Bourke Street, Melbourne Freecall: 1800 136 066 Email: hsc@health.vic.gov.au
(Barwon Health Geelong)
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission Information on state and federal equal opportunity laws and programs Level 3, 204 Lygon Street, Carlton Contact: 1300 891 848 Email: information@veohrc.vic.gov.au Web: www.humanrightscommission .vic.gov.au
Helen Warner
Victorian Viral Hepatitis Educator Training for Doctors, Nurses and other health professionals Contact: (03) 9288 3586 0407 865 140
Rochelle Hamilton Contact: 1300 094 187 Latrobe - Mobile Drug Safety Worker 0438 128 919 Mildura - Sunraysia Community Health Anne Watts Contact: (03) 5022 5444 Email: schs@schs.com.au Moe Community Health Centre Contact: 1800 242 696 Portland - Glenelg Southern Grampians Drug Treatment Service Bev McIlroy Contact: (03) 5521 0350
Contacts Shepparton Community Health Contact: (03) 5823 3200 Wangaratta - Ovens and King Community Health Centre Diane Hourigan Contact: (03) 5723 2000 Warrnambool - Western Region Alcohol and Drug Centre (WRAD)
Dr Brough is offering limited specialist services from the WRAD centre on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Contact: 1300 009 723 Wimmera (East) Region (Birchip, Wycheproof, St Arnaud) Phil Blackwood (Naturopath/Psychologist) 0403 625 526
What is Hep Connect? Hep Connect provides an opportunity for people with viral hepatitis to mutually discuss their experience with a trained peer volunteer over the telephone. All peer volunteers have experience of living with viral hepatitis including treatment or are living with cirrhosis. Hep Connect is a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL service and can be accessed by calling the Hepatitis Infoline
1800 703 003 (free call)
Hep Connect aims to:
•
Assist people living with viral hepatitis
•
Assist people’s decision making process around management and treatment
•
Enhance people’s capacity to cope with treatment
•
Assist people to manage living with cirrhosis
•
Reduce isolation and increase overall hepatitis support.
Wodonga Community Health Jenny Horan/Anita Contact: (02) 6022 8888 Yarra Valley Community Health Service Healesville Shop 2, 297 Maroondah Highway, Healesville. Once per month clinic
Become a member
of Hepatitis Victoria now
GP referral – can be faxed to Dept of Hepatology, Eastern Health Contact: 1300 130 381 Yarrawonga Community Health Cherie McQualter Whyte Contact: (03) 5743 8111
Hepatitis Victoria is a membershipbased organisation - our members are the heart of our organisation. Membership fees help support and recognise our work in raising awareness of and understanding about viral hepatitis.
JOIN TODAY!
Go to: http://www.hepvic.org.au/ page/46/membership and follow the prompts.
Membership benefits include:
• Access to the latest information and resources
• Receipt of electronic and printed publications
Individual $40
*Concession card holders- $15 *With lived experience - $0
Organisation $160 *10 staff or less - $100
• Discounted education and training for organisations
• Invitations to special events and seminars
• Shaping advocacy campaigns and ‘change’ initiatives
Supporter $0
*Cannot vote or stand for Board
23
Hepatitis Infoline Call the Hepatitis Infoline to talk about: Information: We can answer questions and mail information to you. Support: We can provide support for a range of issues and concerns. Referral: We can refer you to other organisations and services. The Hepatitis Infoline is a free and confidential service for all Victorians. Hours Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm
1800 703 003 Your donations make a difference!
Y
our donations help us to provide information, services, advocacy, resources and support for people affected by viral hepatitis, health professÂionals and members of the general
public. All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. If you do not receive your receipt promptly, then please call Hepatitis Victoria on 03 9380 4644, or email: admin@hepvic.org.au
I would like to donate the following amount:
Please send my receipt to:
$20
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$_____ (Your choice)
I have enclosed my cheque/money order/cash or Please debit my credit card for $______
Name
Address
Type of card: Visa/MasterCard Suburb/City Name on Card Card number:
Postcode State Send to: Hepatitis Victoria
Expiry Date
24
Suite 5, 200 Sydney Road
Brunswick, Victoria 3056