Save the Date: Hepatitis NSW Annual General Meeting 2026

We’re delighted to invite members to the 35th Annual General Meeting of Hepatitis NSW, taking place on Thursday 26 November 2026 at 6:00 pm at Level 3, 414 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills.

Join us as we reflect on the past year, celebrate our achievements, recognise new Honorary Life Members, and announce the recipient of the 2026 Cheryl Burman Award. Light refreshments will be provided.

RSVP by 19 November 2026 to membership@hep.org.au or (02) 8217 7717.

We look forward to seeing you there!

LiverCare at Parramatta and Blacktown

It’s been a very busy month in the hep B team with more than 90 people receiving testing through our comprehensive liver health screening program, LiverCare.

We’ve delivered the program at two outreach events with the Chinese community, one in Blacktown and one in Parramatta. It’s been fantastic to connect directly with community members and provide access to free, rapid, finger-prick hep B and C testing, along with a simple, painless liver scan.

As always, the success of these events is dependent on amazing partnerships with our friends at the Kirby Institute, Western Sydney Local Health District, and the Storr Liver Unit at Westmead hospital.

Looking ahead, the team will be delivering events with the Vietnamese and Filipino communities in October.

Senate Inquiry into Contaminated Blood and Blood Products

The Australian Senate is investigating the use of contaminated blood and blood products and the harm caused to thousands of Australians. The inquiry will focus on people exposed to hepatitis C, HIV and other viruses through blood transfusions and blood products during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s with a report due by 30 June 2027.

Among other things, the inquiry will consider the lasting impact on survivors, their families and carers.,

Hepatitis NSW welcomes the opportunity for the inquiry to provide people affected by contaminated blood—including those who contracted hepatitis C or another virus through a transfusion or treatment for conditions such as haemophilia—an opportunity to share their experiences.  This is important in informing recommendations arising from inquiry investigations, including in relation to issuing an apology and compensation.

Hepatitis Australia is working with Deakin University Law Professor, Dr Kate Seear, to compile a report documenting stories of people affected by the blood and blood products contamination event.  If you wish to be part of this process, call HepLink on 1800 437 222.

For full details about the inquiry, visit the Parliament of Australia website.

Reshaping Systems: Reflections from the 2026 NUAA Peers and Consumers Forum

In early September, two of our lived experience peers JD (Peer Partnership Project Officer) and Gracie (HepLink DBS) attended the NSW Users and AIDS Association (NUAA) Peers and Consumers Forum. Grounded in the theme “Shaping Systems, Storytelling, and Power,” the event focused on elevating the voices of people with lived and living experience and exploring how peer-led approaches can drive meaningful change.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

With Us, Not for Us: A panel featuring leaders from ACON Hunter, SWOP, and NUAA explored how the growing peer movement is being enriched by diverse, intersectional communities (including LGBTQ+ individuals, sex workers, people who inject drugs, CALD communities, and people living with disabilities or incarceration history). The panel challenged the sector to dismantle gatekeeping and build truly inclusive systems where no one is left behind.

The Multifaceted Leader: Daniel Madeddu PSM (Executive Director, Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs) delivered a moving keynote titled, ‘You Can Take the Boy Out of the Community, But You Can’t Take the Community Out of the Boy’. He shared how drawing from a rich tapestry of diverse life experiences, rather than just a single job title, drives impactful healthcare leadership.

Boom Gate Gallery: The forum showcased incredible artwork from the Boom Gate Gallery, which exhibits and sells art created by individuals in custody. It served as a powerful reminder of how vital creative expression is for rehabilitation, self-worth, and staying connected to the community during incarceration.

The Power of Connection: Beyond the sessions, the event was a fantastic opportunity to connect face-to-face with fellow peer workers. Sharing stories and celebrating collective wins reinforced the vital role peer support plays in our sector. We returned with fresh insights and a renewed commitment to embedding the philosophy of “nothing about us, without us” into our daily work.

South-West Sydney Men’s Health Forum

At the end of August, Hepatitis NSW attended the South-West Sydney Men’s Health Forum at Mounties, Mount Pritchard. The forum focused on often-overlooked aspects of men’s health, exploring topics such as mental health, chronic disease management, and the importance of regular cancer screenings.

South Western Sydney is home to many migrant communities, and the forum attracted strong participation from Arabic, Khmer, and Vietnamese speaking communities. Discussions centred on raising men’s awareness of health issues and identifying practical strategies to encourage help-seeking and improve access to healthcare services.

Hepatitis NSW attended as an invited exhibitor providing a chance to share information about liver health and highlighted the importance of hepatitis B testing and ongoing monitoring. We also advocated for greater government attention and support for hepatitis B screening, care, and regular monitoring within the communities of the region.

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