This World Hepatitis Day, Hepatitis ACT led a powerful city-wide campaign to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and drive action toward the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030. Through a series of events and initiatives across the ACT, the campaign brought together community, healthcare providers, and policymakers to spotlight liver health in a way that was visible, accessible, and deeply community focused.
Community at the Heart
The day began with our World Hepatitis Day Community Breakfast, held at the stunning Margaret Whitlam Pavilion where sector leaders, healthcare professionals, government representatives, and community organisations were gathered together to thank them for everything that they are doing. We gathered to reflect on the national and local progress toward viral hepatitis elimination. Breakfast started with a Welcome to Country from Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Violet Sheridan, and with heartfelt words from Hepatitis Australia CEO Lucy Clynes, Hepatitis ACT CEO Sarah Ahmed, Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, and Hepatitis ACT Board Member Stephanie Marion-Landais, the morning was filled with warmth, hope, and shared purpose. It was a true moment of unity grounded in care, collaboration, and action.
Later that day, we brought the conversation directly to the city with our pop-up coffee cart and outreach station at Petrie Plaza complete with a surprise visit from O’Liver, our much-loved mascot. The rain didn’t dampen the mood as we welcomed Canberrans from all walks of life to have relaxed, stigma-free conversations about liver health, testing and wellness. Alongside our limited-edition World Hepatitis Day coffee cups that stole the moment.
O’Liver made his way around the ACT and social media helping make health conversations fun, memorable and human. People were curious, engaged and more willing to talk which is exactly what we hoped for! It was many peoples first time hearing about viral hepatitis, and we were proud to be the ones to start the conversation.
Awareness in Action
Our digital communities played a huge role in spreading the message, with widespread support from partners, politicians, health workers, and community members alike. Our 2025 lapel pins appeared across Canberra, proudly worn by those standing in solidarity with the 2030 goal.
As the sun set, iconic Canberra landmarks lit up in green, the international colour for viral hepatitis awareness. Places like Questacon and the Canberra Times Fountain were glowing as the city stood in solidarity with the global movement to eliminate viral hepatitis, it was a striking and beautiful reminder that this is something we can eliminate, but only if we keep it in the light.
Buildings lit up in green for this World Hepatitis Day 2025
Commonwealth Av Bridge
Malcolm Fraser Bridge
Canberra Times Fountain
Royal Australian Mint
Captain Cook Memorial Globe
John Gorton Building
Treasury Building
Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD)
Old Parliament House
Albert Hall
ACT Government City Service Roads, Light Rail Stops – Access Canberra
National Museum of Australia (NMA)
Australian Academy of Science
Ian Potter House
The Shine Dome
Illumicube
This year’s global theme Let’s Break It Down and our messages Prevent. Test. Treat. Good Liver, Good Life. carried through every initiative. From morning to night, it was clear: together, we’re making hepatitis awareness stronger, conversations easier, and support more visible for our shared goal of a future free from viral hepatitis.
Thank you to everyone who showed up, every moment added to something bigger whether that was joining us for an event, snapping a photo of a green building, spreading our message online or simply starting a conversation about hepatitis, it all adds up! And we’re not done yet.
Prevent. Test. Treat.
Good Liver, Good Life.
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