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DECEMBER 2016 – World AIDS Day Edition | Scroll down for reports from the Australasian Sexual Health +HIV&AIDS Conferences, Sector News, Available Resources, Upcoming Courses, Details of Forthcoming

Conferences + more

ASHM NEWSWorld AIDS Day 2016 raises profile of HIV healthissues in a range of events Australia­wide HIV is still here ­ and it's on the move is the nationalWorld AIDS Day theme for Australia encouragingAustralians to educate themselves and others aboutHIV; to take action to reduce the transmission of HIVby promoting prevention strategies; and to ensure thatpeople living with HIV can participate fully in the life ofthe community, free from stigma and discrimination. In celebrating milestones and progress in the HIVresponse, World AIDS Day also marks a day to showsupport for people living with HIV and tocommemorate those who have died. ASHM reaffirmsour role in the virtual eradication of HIV throughsupporting the health workforce in Australia, NewZealand and the Asia and Pacific Regions. Over 110 public events mark World AIDS Day 2016across states and territories (listedat www.worldaidsday.org.au). ASHM with partnercommunity and health sector organisationsparticipated at Parliamentary Breakfast meetings inCanberra, Brisbane and Melbourne with a broadrange of discussion including health funding, HIVPrEP trials, and spikes in new HIV infection amongsome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpopulations. Read more Photo: ASHM President, Mark Boyd (second from right),sits part of group panel discussion moderated by DrNorman Swan (presenter Health Report, ABC RadioNational) at the World AIDS Day Parliamentary Breakfast atParliament House, Canberra

World AIDS Day marks an important reminder forprimary health care providers and other healthprofessionals of their crucial role in HIV testingtowards ENDING HIV transmissions by 2020 Data from NSW Health show that heterosexualpeople with HIV are more likely than homosexual mento be diagnosed with advanced HIV infection. Itfurther shows that in 2012, more than 50% of newlynotified HIV cases were diagnosed in a primary health

care setting. World AIDS Day 2016 is a day to reinforce the actionsthat all health professionals can take. Reducing HIVtransmission will depend critically on earlieridentification of undiagnosed HIV infections.Determining HIV status early is important to an enablean individual to access effective treatment and forreducing onwards transmission. Read more For information and tools for decision­making aboutHIV testing, link through also to NSW Health's HIVResources for Doctors Video: Watch GP, Dr Bill Kefalas explain how HIV testing,diagnosis and treatment has changed and how to makeHIV testing part of routine patient care

Now Available: Report from the 2016 AustralasianHIV&AIDS conference aims to help forgeevidence­based responses to HIV in our region 1 December 2016: The research presented at the2016 Australasian HIV&AIDS Conference has aprofound impact on policy, helping to forge evidence­based responses to HIV in our region. "We urge youto read and share this report, so that our national andregional programs continue to guided by latestresearch, and the collaborative efforts of community,clinicians and researchers,” says ASHM CEO, LeviniaCrooks. Access the report

HIV rates in Indigenous Australians at all­timehigh 14 November 2016: Australia’s HIV and hepatitis Csuccess was overshadowed by Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander neglect with new national statisticsreleased from the Australasian Sexual Health andHIV&AIDS Conferences revealled that HIV inAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is at anall­time high, with 2015 seeing the highest numberdiagnosed with HIV since 1992. Read More Video: UNSW's Kirby Institute's Aboriginal healthadviser James Ward says rates of HIV in Indigenousmen have doubled in the past five years (ABC News)

HIV Conference slams spitting laws 18 November 2016: Delegates at Australia’s nationalHIV/AIDS conference have condemned thegovernments of South Australia, Western Australiaand Northern Territory over laws that force peopleaccused of criminal offences to undergo mandatoryHIV and blood­borne virus testing. Read more Photo: The conference passed a resolution expressing its‘profound disappointment’ in the laws, which make itmandatory for people to undergo blood tests if they areaccused of spitting on or biting law enforcement personnel.

SECTOR NEWSDried blood spot (DBS) HIV testing now availablein New South Wales Free DBS HIV testing kits are now available forpeople living in New South Wales who are over 16years old who will not require a visit a doctor, clinic or

pathology centre. This project, which is a partnershipbetween the Sexual Health Infolink, St. Vincent’s HIVReference Laboratory and the NSW Ministry ofHealth, is currently open to men who have sex withmen (MSM); people from Africa or Asia, and/or peoplewho have current or previous sexual partners fromAfrica or Asia. For more information: Visit thewebsite

The dream to eliminate hepatitis C Melbourne doctor, Dr Joseph Doyle who specialisesin infectious diseases and public health medicine, hasset his sights on eliminating hepatitis C in Australiaand believes it can be done. His impressive researchhas landed him a nomination as one of fivefinalists for the Bupa Health Foundation’s EmergingHealth Researcher Awards for 2016. Read more

Australia's Annual Report Card: HIV, hepatitis andSTIs in Australia For twenty years, the Kirby Institute has collected andanalysed data relating to the occurrence of HIV, viralhepatitis and sexually transmissible infections inAustralia. They have now developed and releaseda new surveillance microsite containing interactivegraphs and infographics, which draws out key pointsand data from their Annual SurveillanceReports with the latest findings from the bloodborneviruses (BBVs) and sexually transmissible infections(STIs). Access the Microsite Note: The Kirby Institute’s 2016 Annual SurveillanceReport of HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissibleinfections in Australia and the 2016 Aboriginal SurveillanceReport of HIV, viral hepatitis, STIs were released at the2016 Australasian Sexual Health Conference, alongsidethe Annual Report of Trends in Behaviour 2016 byUNSW’s Centre for Social Research in Health

Sex in A New Era: Experts call for ‘rethink’ astechnology transforms the sexual health of theNation 14 November 2016: Rapid developments intechnology are transforming the face of Australia'ssexual health ­ both in terms of sexual activity and ourmeans to respond ­ and Australia needs to 'rethink' itsapproach to keep up with changing times, say sexualexperts gathered in Adelaide for the 2016Australasian Sexual Health Conference. Read more See also: Media Coverage from the 2016 AustralasianSexual Health + HIV&AIDS Conferences

Call for nationwide Indigenous Hepatitis Bvaccinations SBS News | 29 October: Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander Australians are at significant increased risk ofHepatitis B, according to a new World HealthOrganisation report. Its authors say that with thehigher rate of Hepatitis B for Indigenous Australians ­3.6 cases per 100,000 compared with 1.1 per

100,000 in other Australians, a national immunisationprogram would be beneficial. Read more

RESOURCESSexual transmission of HIV and the law: anAustralian medical consensus statement Criminal cases involving human immunodeficiencyvirus transmission or exposure require that courtscorrectly comprehend the rapidly evolving science ofHIV transmission and the impact of an HIV diagnosis.This consensus statement, written by leading HIVclinicians and scientists, provides current scientificevidence to facilitate just outcomes in Australiancriminal cases involving HIV. It was published in theMedical Journal of Australia on 7 November2016. Access the consensus statement See also: Australian law needs a refresher on thescience of HIV transmission published in TheConversation on 8 November 2016 Photo: Paul Kidd, Chair of HIV Legal Working Group ofLiving Positive Victoria, launches the statement at 2016Australasian HIV&AIDS Conference in Adelaide

HIV Management in Australasia: a guide forclinical care This is a key text used in ASHM’s accreditationcourse for HIV s100 prescribers and in the continuingmedication education scheme for community medicalpractitioners to maintain HIV s100 prescriber rights.Our invaluable clinical monograph is an essentialteaching tool in training programs for participants andeducators and is now available as a website. A new section HIV Management for nurses andmidwives has been added for HIV, sexual health andpublic health nurses from around Australia whopresent a nursing perspective on caring for peoplewith HIV in the Australian context. Visit the website

The Second edition of the Post­ExposureProphylaxis after Non­Occupational andOccupational Exposure to HIV: AustralianNational Guidelines is now available. Theseguidelines outline the management of individuals whohave been exposed (or suspect they have beenexposed) to HIV in non­occupational and occupationalsettings. There are currently no data from randomisedcontrolled trials of the use of post­exposureprophylaxis (PEP) and evidence for use has beenextrapolated from animal data, mother to childtransmission, occupational exposure and smallprospective studies of PEP regimens in HIV­negativemen. Download the resource or visit the website Health + community professionals can also join: The National PEP (Post­Exposure Prophylaxis)Guidelines: A critical update [free webinar]8 December 2016 | 6:30­8:00pmRegister for this webinar Presented by A/Prof David Templeton (RPA SexualHealth, The Kirby Institute) Ian Down (The KirbyInstitute) and Ben Wilcock (AFAO)

Annual Report 2015­2016 available to Members This year, in approaching the annual report wehave tried to simplify the format, provide keydata on our activities in tables or graphs and tohighlight key achievements. We also spend sometime looking at the major challenges facing ASHMas we move more comprehensively into a digitalworld. Access the ASHM Annual Report

ASHM COURSES – DECEMBER 2016 ASHM Training available for a broad range of clinicians, not just general practitioners. On offer is a range oftraining courses and format for clinicians at all levels who are seeking to up skill in HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis Bmanagement. While GPs usually make up the majority of participants in our courses, sexual health physicians, AoDand general physicians as well as ID physicians who might be wanting to update their viral hepatitis skills areencouraged to attend. Nurses working in hepatitis are also able to attend these, in addition to courses inthe Nursing Program. Our courses are accredited by Colleges and so build to your regular CME/QACPD and professional standardsrequirements. For more information on ASHM Courses, please contact education@ashm.org.au or+61 2 8204 0796 Click on the links below to see a list of ASHM accredited Continuing Professional Development training and coursesto be delivered nationally in 2016: HIV and STI Courses [PDF]Hepatitis B and C Courses [PDF]ASHM Courses in QLD [PDF]

Complex Chronic Hepatitis B webinar – HBV andco­infection HIV/HCV/HDV [free webinar]8 December 2016 | 6:00­6:30pmRegister for this webinar Presented by Dr David Speers, Infectious DiseasesPhysician, Nedlands WA Previous webinars from the series can be accessedvia the ASHM Vimeo channel from the links below:Hepatitis B Webinar Series (6 Parts)Hepatitis C Webinar Series (6 Parts)

Update in Viral Hepatitis for Primary Care Providers in Refugee Health Services1 December 2016Brisbane QLDRegister by email Viral Hepatitis Workshop for ACCHS staff5 December 2016Griffith AMS, Griffith NSWRegister by email Fundamentals of HIV & Sexual Health: Expanding the Scope of Primary Health Care Nurses5 December 2016Sydney NSWRegister by email Viral Hepatitis Workshop for ACCHS Staff8 December 2016 | 1:30­4:30pmIllawarra AMS, Illawarra NSWRegister by email HCV new treatment course10 December 2016Geraldton WARegister by email Update in Hepatitis B for primary care practitioners13 December 2016Broome WARegister by email

Blood Borne Viruses Training and CertificationProgram for GPs + Primary Care Practitioners inVictoria Victorian HIV and Hepatitis Integrated Training AndLearning (VHHITAL) delivers the VictorianDepartment of Health and Human Services BloodBorne Viruses Training and Certification Program,which includes a comprehensive education andtraining program for GPs for the diagnosis, treatmentand management of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.It includes the provision of training and certification forpractitioners who prescribe highly specialised drugsadministered under Section 100 (S100) of theNational Health Act 1953. ASHM is one co­partner ofa shared consortium delivering and managing thisprogram. For GPs seeking further information about VHHITAL,and training opportunities, please email JulieBrock or Rachael Ball or call (03) 9347 1188.

Seeking expressions of interest Australia­wide forViral Hepatitis Mentoring Program ASHM invites all health professions working the areaof viral hepatitis to be part of its Mentoring Program– a continuing professional development program thataims to strengthen collaborations between tertiaryand primary care (mentors and mentees) throughone­to­one relationships, and to enhance patient­centered continuity of care. ASHM will continue to roll­out the launch of thisprogram in Western Australia, South Australia,Victoria, and Queensland in 2017. Visit the websitefor frequently asked questions. Register yourinterest now via education@ashm.org.au or callBeni Falemaka on (02) 82040739

Are you providing care for patients with chronichepatitis B? With the end of the 2014­2016 triennium approaching,we encourage you to consider completing the'Hepatitis B: Clinical Management Audit' as part ofyour QI&CPD attracting 40 RACGP Audit Points. Thisonline learning module + audit aims to help to addresssome of the main issues in the management ofChronic Hepatitis B (CHB) and to improve linksbetween general practice + specialist services. VisitASHM's online learning platform

Reproductive & Sexual Health Education forHealth Professionals Iris Education announces two face­to­face workshopsin Brisbane: Sexual Health First Aid Workshop 18 February 2017Cost: Full fee $275.00 | Student fee $150.00Registration: visit the events page Best Practice in Transgender Health Workshop11 March 2017Cost: Full fee $275.00 | Student fee $150.00.Registration: visit the events page RACGP approved for 14 Category 2 QI&CPD points

CONFERENCESFinding relevant medical conferences and events made easyHealthcarelink.com.au has launched a new online platform for medical and healthcare professionals to access allCPD based conferences and courses information in one place. The platform offers all healthcare and medicalprofessionals the opportunity to register their profile with preferred topics and location. The system will send alertsas matching events and courses are offered around Australia and overseas. Sign up online 26th Conference of Asian Pacific Association forthe Study of the Liver (APASL 2017)15­19 February 2017 | Shanghai, ChinaVisit the website

ASID Annual Scientific Meeting29 March­1 April 2017 | Blue Mountains NSW Theme: Infectious Disease into the FutureTopics will include Climate Change, NewTechnologies, New Drugs and One Health. The ASMis the leading Australasian meeting for adult andpaediatric infectious disease + clinical microbiologyspecialists. More Info Abstract Deadline: 27 January 2017 Submit NowEarly Bird Registration Deadline: 27 January Register

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Gates Cambridge Scholarship ­ Non­US Scholars­Life Sciences | Application Deadline: 7 December2016 The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme wasestablished in October 2000 by a donation ofUS$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundationto the University of Cambridge; this is the largest eversingle donation to a UK university. Gates Cambridgeconsiders applications from citizens from outside theUnited Kingdom who wish to pursue a full­timepostgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge.Applications will open on 5 September 2016 for entryin October 2017. Read more on separate programsfor Non­ US Scholars and US scholars

ASHM Scholarships available for CROI 2017 |Application Deadline: 8 December 2016 The ASHM Scholarship Program is offeringscholarships to HIV s100 prescribers (GP/Primarycare), Sexual Health Physicians & Hospital BasedSpecialists managing HIV to attend the CROI 2017 tobe held from 13­16 February, 2017 in Seattle,Washington. Apply for the scholarship

PhD scholarships: National Drug Research Institute | Application Deadline: 16 December 2016 The National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) invites expressions of interest from suitably qualified candidates fortwo PhD scholarships related to new ARC­funded sociological research projects in the area of alcohol and otherdrug use. The projects are based in the Social Studies of Addiction Concepts (SSAC) Program, NDRIMelbourne. For further information, email Professor Suzanne Fraser or go to addictionconcepts.com The research projects are qualitative in method, and address the following issues:

Performance and image­enhancing drug (PIED) useUptake of naloxone, the lifesaving medication for reversing opioid overdose

A selection of ASHM's conference and course presentations, and related educational videos, are available forviewing free on VIMEO

Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis

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