Your cart is empty
Hep C testing showcase highlights cross-collaborative successes
Sydney, 20 July 2023
The Sydney Local Health District has hosted a showcase presentation of its local novel outreach model that offers opportunistic hep C testing. The showcase formed part of their Sydney Innovation & Research Symposium – a flagship event that aims to spark new ideas and foster collaboration.
The aptly titled showcase – C’ing into the Future: Hepatitis C Elimination in NSW is Possible – featured a multi-disciplinary panel of guests, who all provided perspectives on the successes of working cross-collaboratively within multi-disciplinary hep C testing teams, comprising across health workers (hepatology nurses and health promotion staff), community health staff and peer workers (peers with hep C lived-experience).
On this panel, Justine Doidge (also known as JD), elaborated on how this peer work is fundamental.
“People who experience marginalisation, who still may experience stigma and discrimination within health settings – need to feel supported and safe. Peer workers are essential part of outreach services where hep C testing and health promotion is being offered.”
“Peer workers can help bridge trust for a person who is hesitant to engage with healthcare – whether that is in an Opioid Treatment Program site, correctional centre or any other community hub setting. If that person comes away with a positive experience towards being tested and/or treated, it is more likely they will re-engage with healthcare.”
JD, who works at Hepatitis NSW as a Program Coordinator of peer workforce – directs peers to where clinical and community partners provide services, “Wherever our partners see a need in community for support and education, we send peers who would suit that particular environment and locality.”
JD, who used to be a hep C peer worker herself, spoke further of other approaches aiming to improve trust towards health workers. “Nurses no longer attend [the outreach] wearing scrubs anymore – and instead wear hep C campaign t-shirts, which make them much more approachable,” she used as one simple example.
On stage, she shared with the audience some of her personal story of how much treatment and accessibility has changed from her own lived experience, and since the era of pre-Direct Acting Antivirals.
The C’ing into the future: Hepatitis C elimination in NSW is possible session touched on strategic oversight and overview of how NSW is tracking against the goal of eliminating hep before 2028. JD spoke alongside other panellists including CNC Kris McKee (Hepatology Nurse), Dr. Chris Bourne (Clinical Advisor, BBV/STI Unit, Centre for Population Health, NSW Health), Elaine Macnish (Newtown Neighbourhood Centre CEO) and Brooke Dailey (Sydney LHD HARP Programs and Operations Manager). The symposium panel discussion, facilitated by Julie McCrossin, was prefaced by a short video of a hep C community testing outreach event held in Riverwood by the Sydney Local health District from 2022.
