Two is better than one when it comes to organisations providing community care. That’s why Hepatitis ACT and CAHMA are joining forces to provide a testing and information event at Oaks Estate as part of this year’s World Hepatitis Day (28 July) activities.
On Monday 27 July, the organisations will pack up testing equipment, resources, games, snacks and drinks and head out to the village on the Canberra border. While there, they will offer free information and testing to the residents and anyone in the area who wants to know their hepatitis status.
Since the teams established the partnership in 2022, they have undertaken more than 1,700 free hepatitis C tests for those in need. The organisations have taken turns in who spearheads the events and leads the testing component. Supporting each other is an important part of any effective partnership, explains Chris Gough, Executive Director, CAHMA.
“Working together to support people to access hepatitis testing and treatment means we can work to each organisation’s strengths to provide easy to understand support and system navigation to a wide range of community members, allowing our community to all live our best lives.
“It also allows us to bring support to people where they live, making it easier and quicker to access good treatment options. We can also link individuals who have other health needs into our wider service offering, allowing more person-centred care options.” Said Mr Gough.
“These partnerships are crucial, as they bring services together to deliver the care the community needs. The service is non-judgemental, stigma-free, and free of charge, with a wrap-around model of care that also links people to other health and social supports where needed.” Echoed Sarah Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer, Hepatitis ACT.
Although Hepatitis C treatment underwent a major revamp in the last decade, with the introduction of new medications cutting down treatment time and all but eliminating adverse side effects, there are still barriers when it comes to accessing it. These barriers include but are not limited to stigma, housing instability, social factors, and hesitancy around previous treatment options like interferon. One way to battle these barriers is using outreach events as pathways to accessing forms of care like testing, treatment and referrals to other services.
“Most of our testing is now conducted through outreach programs like this one. We must remove as many barriers to care as possible; one of the biggest being location. Rather than asking people to come to us, we take testing and treatment to where people are already located.” Said Ms Ahmed.Spreading outreach across the Territory, Hepatitis ACT delivers several sessions each month to sites such as pharmacies, community organisations, housing locations and other appropriate community settings. These sessions provide free and quick results through the use of point-of-care testing machines.
Rather than having to wait up to a week for traditional pathology, the portable point-of-care hepatitis antibody and RNA tests deliver results in under 60 minutes. If someone were to return with a positive test result on the day, they will have immediate access to support from Hepatitis ACT and CAHMA peer workers.
More than just support, a hepatitis ACT nurse and a nurse practitioner from Bridging Health can complete a clinical assessment and determine whether treatment can be started. In a traditional testing setting, this process can sometimes take up to five weeks or more.
The information and testing event at Oaks Estate runs from 11am- 3pm on Monday 27 July.
After information and support? We’re here to help
Visit us in person and check your hepatitis status at 36 David Street Turner, ACT 2612
Feel more comfortable over the phone? Call our Heplink line on 1800 437 222
If you are most confident asking for information through text, email us at info@hepatitisact.org.au