For our HIV and Related Programs (HARP) team, Hepatitis Awareness Week is more than a campaign. It’s a chance to connect with people, offer support and change lives.
During the last week of July, the HARP Liver Clinics, Health Promotion and Harm Reduction teams joined forces with Hepatitis NSW to bring the HEP CURED campaign to the District.
The campaign highlights viral hepatitis, especially hepatitis C, and the life-changing treatments now available. For many, it's a significant step towards curing their hepatitis C.
This year, the campaign gained momentum through strengthened partnerships with the Winsome and Lismore Soup Kitchen as well as the District’s Opioid Treatment Program (OTP). Together, the teams set up at these locations, offering information, support and access to care for clients, patients and the broader community.
The Liver Clinic staff were kept busy with constant testing and treatment support referrals, with support from the other team members to provide information and encouragement. In one morning alone, this resulted in a significant increase in testing for people who had not previously been tested or engaged with Liver Clinic services.
Kate Salisbury, Nurse Unit Manager of HARP Northern Liver Clinics, sees the impact of collaboration daily.
“The benefit of working with these services is that they already have strong relationships with their clients,” Kate said. “That trust means they’re in a great position to encourage testing and treatment for viral hepatitis.”
She believes expanding the partnership with services such as The Winsome and OTP is key to reaching more people. “That’s the impact,” she said.
Kate also values working alongside Hepatitis NSW Peer Workers, who share their lived experience of hepatitis C and treatment.
“It’s incredibly powerful. Hearing someone’s story can make all the difference in helping others gain confidence to seek support,” she said.
Looking ahead, Kate hopes hepatitis awareness and treatment continue to grow.
“Eventually, I’d like to see everyone who needs it gain access to testing, treatment and the chance to live free of hepatitis C,” she said.
“Hepatitis C affects all sorts of people from all different walks of life. It’s not about labels. It’s about support."
Kate said that for many clients, the experience is personal, being a quiet conversation, a reassuring presence or a moment of dignity. These are the things that build trust and open doors to care.
“Hepatitis C is curable, but sometimes stigma and silence still stop people from seeking help. Everyone deserves the chance to get well,” Kate said.
By working together, HARP, OTP and Hepatitis NSW are helping bring that chance to more people, moving us closer to NSW Health’s goal of eliminating hepatitis C as a public health concern by 2028.
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