Researchers, healthcare professionals and community partners recently came together to share the work being done to improve hepatitis prevention, testing, treatment and care across the Barwon South West region.
Held in recognition of World Hepatitis Day, the event highlighted a range of local research projects and community-based initiatives focused on hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
A/Professor Amanda Wade presented a modelling study looking at progress towards hepatitis C micro-elimination in Barwon South West.
She noted that Barwon South West region has one of the highest rates of hepatitis C treatment uptake in Australia, and despite Australia making significant progress in hepatitis C treatment since 2016, current trends may not be enough to meet the 2030 targets. The findings showed that increasing testing alone will have limited impact unless people who test positive are also supported to access treatment and remain connected to care.
Making testing more accessible through community pharmacies
Ms Kate Mackie presented interim findings from the EXPAND-C study, which provides hepatitis C testing through community pharmacies.
Through this research, they identified that community pharmacies can be familiar and accessible places for people to receive healthcare, particularly for people accessing opioid agonist treatment. Trust between pharmacists and patients can also make it easier for people to seek testing.
So far, the program has been implemented across 80 community pharmacies and has tested more than 700 participants. While the results show that pharmacy-based testing is practical and can reach people who may not use traditional health services, connecting everyone who tests positive with treatment remains an important priority. Future plans include pilot programs for hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis testing.
Supporting healthcare professionals to provide hepatitis B care
Dr Karen Blaney discussed the implementation of a hepatitis B Community of Practice in Barwon South West. The program was developed to support healthcare professionals who may see a small number of people living with hepatitis B and therefore have fewer opportunities to maintain their knowledge and skills. The initiative supports general practitioners and other healthcare professionals through practice audits, community education and support for trained hepatitis B prescribers with the aim to strengthen local knowledge and improve access to hepatitis B care, particularly in regional settings where clinicians may see fewer patients.
The continuing importance of harm reduction
Mr Craig Harvey presented on the importance of harm reduction and the use of harm reduction services across Barwon South West. He noted that the number of syringes distributed through needle and syringe programs has significantly increased from around 300,000 to almost one million each year. Despite this increase, some people continue to share injecting equipment and that drug-related deaths are also increasing in the region. His presentation also highlighted concerns about counterfeit substances entering the drug supply. Services such as Drug Alerts Victoria play an important role in sharing information about potentially dangerous substances and reducing the risk of harm.
Bringing hepatitis C testing into the community
Ms Kirsty McColl, an Integrated Hepatitis Nurse at Barwon Health, presented findings from a nurse-led hepatitis C point-of-care testing project. The study showed that point-of-care testing allows people to be tested in community settings and receive results more quickly and directly supports people move from diagnosis to treatment.
Including hepatitis care in mental health services
Dr Duncan Campbell presented a study conducted at the Corio Community Mental Health Centre. The study indicated that people living with serious mental illness may experience several factors that increase their risk of hepatitis C, including substance use, homelessness and previous incarceration. However, hepatitis testing is not always included in routine mental health care. The study demonstrated that hepatitis C testing can be successfully included within community mental health services and may help ensure that people with serious mental illness are not overlooked.
Understanding the needs of people living with hepatitis B
Dr Christine Roder presented an update on the REACH-B study, led by the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney. The study is following more than 4,000 people living with chronic hepatitis B across Australia, including 310 people enrolled through Barwon Health.
By collecting information about treatment, monitoring and disease progression, the study aims to build a clearer understanding of people living with hepatitis B in Australia. She emphasized that understanding the local population is important for designing models of care that meet their needs. The study may also help identify people who could be eligible for future clinical trials and new hepatitis B treatments.
Continuing the work towards 2030
The presentations highlighted the range of work already happening across Barwon South West, from modelling and long-term research to pharmacy testing, nurse-led outreach, harm reduction and mental health services. They also showed that testing is only one part of hepatitis elimination. People must also be supported to receive their results, access treatment and remain connected to care. Reaching the 2030 elimination targets will require continued collaboration between researchers, healthcare professionals, community organisations and people with lived experience.
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