LiverCare in Canley Vale

In early October, our Hepatitis B and Liver Health team held another LiverCare outreach with the Vietnamese community in Canley Vale – and broke our record for the most hepatitis B tests completed in one day! We expected to test 60 people, but we tested an amazing 75.

Community members were grateful for free health care close to home. On the day, people could have rapid testing for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and a FibroScan of their liver. SBS Vietnamese also came along to cover the event.

As always, we couldn’t have done it without our partners: South Western Sydney Local Health District, the Kirby Institute, the Liverpool Gastro & Liver Department, our excellent Vietnamese casual staff and the Hepatitis NSW team.

More people registered than we had places for, so we’ll be back as soon as possible to test everyone who missed out.

Catch the SBS Vietnamese story here:

Khám viêm gan B miễn phí cho người Việt từ 50 tuổi tại Canley Vale | SBS Tiếng Việt

Hep C testing partnership in Redfern

Hepatitis NSW joined Community Corrections and Sydney Local Health District for a sunny day of outreach in Redfern early October. Together, we connected with local community members and completed 32 hepatitis C tests. A huge thank you to Sydney Local Health District for identifying and engaging people who could benefit from our support.

We also acknowledge Community Corrections staff for proactively encouraging their clients to attend and for supporting them throughout the day. Their involvement helped make the outreach welcoming, accessible and successful. Special thanks to Nathan, whose enthusiasm and commitment made him a Champion on the day.

Dried Blood Spot Testing in Western NSW

In mid-October, Hepatitis NSW visited Wellington and Dubbo in Western NSW as part of a Regional Communities testing program funded by Gilead Sciences which also incorporated our HepLink NSW initiative. The aim was to increase hepatitis C testing, raise awareness about prevention and support access to highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment in regional communities.

Eligible participants received a free hepatitis C dried blood spot (DBS) test and a $25 EFTPOS card for taking part.

Over four days, the Hepatitis NSW team visited local services and Aboriginal community organisations, yarned with community members, shared information about hepatitis C and tested nearly 80 people.

The visit was a success thanks to the support, knowledge and community connections of our local partners:

• More Cultural Rehabs Less Jails Aboriginal Corporation
• Wellington Community Health
• Orana Support Service
• Hope Street Baptist Care

Hepatitis NSW sincerely thanks Gilead Sciences and HepLink Australia for program funding and support, our service partners and everyone who contributed. Their support, expertise and strong community relationships made these events possible and meaningful.

Hepatitis NSW Networks in Europe

During a recent trip to Europe, Hepatitis NSW CEO Steven Drew met with Rachel Halford, CEO of The Hepatitis C Trust, in London. The Hepatitis C Trust is a peer-led charity, and most of its staff, volunteers and board members have been affected by hepatitis C. It aims to eliminate hepatitis C in the UK by 2030 and champions the right of everyone at risk to receive effective testing, treatment and care. It does this by empowering people with lived experience, influencing policy and practice, and working with health and treatment services to provide support and raise awareness.

They discussed changing patterns of drug use and injecting drug use in the UK and Australia, the evolving role of peers in hepatitis C elimination, reaching the shrinking group of people with undiagnosed hepatitis C, outreach to less visible communities, and what it means to be community-led.

Steven also met with Supa Chantschool, CEO of HepB Companion. HepB Companion is the UK’s first and only dedicated hepatitis B organisation. The non-profit advocates for the rights of everyone affected by hepatitis B and works to ensure access to health care, testing and clinical research. Its vision is to empower people living with hepatitis B and move towards a cure. Like The Hepatitis C Trust, it is peer-led: most of its staff and volunteers have been affected by hepatitis B, directly or indirectly. This lived experience keeps the voices of people with hepatitis B at the heart of everything it does.

Supa and Steven discussed the challenge of engaging communities where fear of stigma and discrimination runs deep – including fear of being rejected by their own community. They also talked about how experiences of hepatitis B differ between communities, the importance of community champions in leading awareness and culturally relevant responses, and the significant increase in investment needed to eliminate hepatitis B by 2030.

On the same trip, Steven was invited to take part in a World Hepatitis Alliance roundtable on developing an international framework for the role and scope of practice of lived experience peers in supporting elimination goals.

LiverCare in Blacktown

Our Hepatitis B and Liver Health team is on a roll, with its second LiverCare outreach this October – and seventh for the year!

This time, the team headed to Blacktown, home to one of the largest Filipino communities in NSW, to promote liver health and connect community members with accessible liver care. A total of 70 people attended our free liver health event, including rapid finger-prick testing for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, a liver scan and an on-site consultation with a liver health nurse.

Once again, the event was a collaboration with the Kirby Institute, Western Sydney Local Health District and the Storr Liver Unit at Westmead Hospital. Growing partnerships with faith-based groups and local organisations also helped us reach more people in the community. Next year, the team looks forward to building on this growing connection with the Filipino community through more outreach and education sessions.

The Filipino LiverCare initiative is made possible by funding provided by Hepatitis Australia through its HepLink Australia Targeted Outreach Grants scheme.

Calling First Nations Artists: Help Shape HEP CURED

Since 2022, our statewide HEP CURED campaign has shared a simple, powerful message across NSW: hep C can be cured. Now we’re creating a First Nations version of the campaign – and we’re looking for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artist to create the artwork at its heart.

We’re now commissioning an original artwork that connects with Mob across NSW, celebrates cultural strength and wellbeing, and spreads the message of a hepatitis C cure. The finished piece will feature in print, social media and digital resources across the state.

Painters, digital artists, photographers and visual artists working in other mediums are welcome to apply. You don’t need to create a new piece to apply. The commission fee is $3,500 + GST.

Applications open 31 October and close 30 November 2026.

Know an artist who’d be perfect? Please share this with them!

Find out more and apply here >>> DOWNLOAD BRIEF

Hepatitis B Testing Refresher Training

This month, LiverCare welcomed back our legendary tester, Gracie, for a hepatitis B testing refresher session. The session gave the team a chance to revisit testing procedures, strengthen practical skills and stay confident delivering high-quality point-of-care testing in the community.

Gracie is a valued member of our testing team, and it was great to have her back. Refresher training helps us maintain consistent quality and ensures our team is ready to provide safe, accurate and culturally responsive hepatitis B testing at LiverCare events.

A big thank you to Gracie for bringing her boundless enthusiasm and commitment to the team!

AI Gives Confident Health Answers. But Can You Trust Them?

People are using AI to understand health conditions, medical terms and treatment options. It can turn jargon into plain English and help you decide what to ask at your next appointment.

The problem is that a polished answer is not always an accurate one. AI may combine information from researchers, blogs, social media and overseas websites, then present everything in the same confident voice. It may not show which sources are reliable or relevant to Australia.

AI also cannot see your medical history, test results, current medicines or risks. That means an answer that sounds helpful may not be right for your situation.

So how can you use AI more safely? Check whether the answer names its sources. Look for Australian services, recognised health organisations, universities and medical bodies. Check the publication date and whether the information has a named author or clinical reviewer. Always confirm advice about testing, treatment or medicines with a health professional.

AI can help you start your research, but it shouldn’t make health decisions for you. Our new web page shows you what to check, where to find trusted hepatitis information and when to seek expert advice.

Find out more here >>> CLICK HERE

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