PRESIDENT'S UPDATE

Hello members and friends

I write this message on the final day of Reconciliation Week. Now More Than Ever,  the AHA is committed to efforts to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to drive truth telling, reconciliation and improve equity and health outcomes.
 
Our work in hepatology demonstrates the need to strengthen our approaches to address health and well-being disparities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people impacted by liver disease and the AHA remains committed to listen, learn and work with colleagues and friends to achieve this.

The AHA Board is committed to ensuring that our focus and activities on behalf of the members is closely aligned with our Strategic Action Plan. The Board meeting agenda is framed on the 4 Priority Areas for Action – Leadership in Hepatology, Collaboration and Engagement, Professional Development and Organisational Sustainability and we’re sharing information under those headings in this edition of the eNews to show you how we’re all meeting those priority areas together.

Please enjoy this edition of the AHA eNews and have a look at our website for upcoming educational events.

Warm Regards 

Melinda Hassall
PRESIDENT

 

GOVERNANCE NEWS

ORGANISATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY
AHA Policies

The Board is currently working on the development of some new financial and risk management policies to reflect the updated Constitution and contemporary business practice.


Ever wondered what it's like to be on a Board, what happens at Board meetings, and more importantly, how do I get myself on a Board?

The AHA Board are all expert nurses with governance skills that have been developed through leadership and project management in their clinical work and additional learning and development through organisations that are expert at Board governance. Here are just a few ideas (there are many, and these shared are not endorsements) on how you can start your governance learning with options for free resources, blogs, podcasts, paid online and face to face courses.

Get On Board Australia – Joining a Board

Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) – Director Tools

​Institute of Community Directors Australia – Board members and what they do

  
 

COLLABORATION AND ENGAGEMENT
AHA at Hepatitis Australia

AHA Board member Alex Wade presented to a recent Hepatitis Australia Members Forum on a Workforce Development Orders initiative to support people on the Mid North Coast impacted or at risk of hepatitis C to reduce their debts by seeking healthcare. Read more HERE about Alex and her work in a write up about her success in winning the Hepatitis NSW Cheryl Burman Award in 2023.

AHA at RPAH Hepatology Nurse Masterclass

The AHA were invited to present at the recent annual RPAH Hepatology Nurse Masterclass. AHA President Melinda Hassall presented on behalf of the Board and shared information about the AHA, who we are, what we do and why we’re such a great association to be a member of!

AHA at GENCA 2024 National Conference

 

2024 GILEAD EDUCATIONAL AND CONFERENCE GRANTS

After a competitive process the AHA would like to congratulate the successful 2024 AHA Gilead Educational and Conference Grant recipients.

 
 

 

LEADERSHIP IN HEPATOLOGY
AHA and MAFLD

AHA member and past President Sinead Sheils is an AHA representative on a steering committee for the GESA MAFLD guidelines and the AHA will be an endorsing organisation for the ‘Recommendations for the Assessment of Metabolic-dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) in Primary Care: A Consensus Statement’. A short publication is planned as a summary document of the guidelines and will include key tables and referral pathways.

Hepatitis C DAA Prescribing Authority

On behalf of members, the AHA Board has added endorsement to a letter ASHM is submitting to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). The letter advocates for the reclassification of direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of hepatitis C from Authority Required items to Authority Required STREAMLINED items. The proposed change will enhance patient access through reduced administrative burdens for prescribers.

Hepatitis C in Children

AHA have endorsed the updated Hepatitis C in Children: Australian Commentary on AASLD-IDSA Guidance and the accompanying ASHM Decision Making Tool Hepatitis C in children.
The 2030 Accord - Hepatitis B and C elimination by 2030

In 2021, the AHA signed on to support an initiative founded by Hepatitis Australia to:

  • Achieve viral hepatitis elimination in Australia by 2030

  • Ensure viral hepatitis elimination is an Australian national health priority in policy, investment and action.

Continued efforts by government, organisations and individuals are required to support the elimination of hepatitis B and hepatitis C. The VH2022 Action Plan HERE outlined seven actions needed to reach elimination.

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Our aim is to educate registered nurses across primary and tertiary care about the specialised management of patients with cirrhosis of the liver. By sharing evidence-based protocols and guidelines, and using specific case studies, this course will give nurses the knowledge and confidence required to care for patients with advanced liver disease.

Click HERE for more information about the course on 23 and 30 July.

 
AHA key learnings and implementation to liver disease practice WEBINAR

2023 Gilead Conference and Education grant recipients Fiona Ratcliffe, Jeffrey Stewart, Hayley Thompson, Inga Tribe and Dr Jacqui Richmond shared their insights and learnings from conferences they had attended in 2023.

If you missed it, you can access the 1 hour recording of the webinar on the AHA website. With thanks to Gilead for their continued support of education for hepatology nurses. Click HERE to watch.
 

 

MEMBER NEWS

 

  

 

 

MEMBER EVENTS

WORKING GROUP UPDATES

 

  

If you are interested in joining or finding out more about the AHA Working Groups or Special Interest Groups please contact secretariat@hepatologyassociation.com.au to connect.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Special Interest Group (HCC SIG)

The HCC SIG met again this week, with a planned meeting every 2 months. The plan for further meetings is to present case studies or education/updates on what is happening in different areas. It’s quite interesting how patients are managed in different centres, such as whether oncology or hepatology manage patients on immunotherapy. There is also very different access to treatments across centres so we have a lot to learn from each other. We have planned case studies for our next meeting in July, and we are also looking into have a guest speaker on Voluntary Assisted Dying as this is something that more of us may be asked about as we look after our patients with HCC.

Advanced Liver Disease Working Group (ALD WG)

The group has reviewed course content and identified speakers for the upcoming AHA Advanced Liver Disease Courses scheduled for July and November. There is a meeting for nurse-led paracentesis group planned for June.

NP Special Interest Group (NP SIG)

The NP SIG is working on establishing opportunities mentorship for AHA members.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated Fatty Liver Disease Working Group (MAFLD WG)

The group is engaging with experts (exercise physiologist and dieticians) to explore guidelines and recommendations currently being developed.  There is also a MAFLD related webinar in the works, with more details to follow.

 

  

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR 2024

Wonderful educational opportunities available for 2024 - please visit CLICK HERE to view calendar of events.
   

 

  

26 JUNE 2024 - 6:00PM TO 8:30PM AEST

UPDATES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF HEPATOCELLULAR CANCER (HCC) MANAGEMENT

CARLTON, MELBOURNE

Join host Prof Peter Gibbs, VCCC Alliance Research and Education Lead, Gastrointestinal Cancer and A/Prof Jessica Howell, Gastroenterologist and Senior Research Fellow, Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and the University of Melbourne – as well as many others who work across oncology, radiology and surgical practice, as they explore a range of topics to identify existing and potential opportunities to change the liver cancer landscape here and overseas. The discussion will focus on cutting-edge developments, promising treatments and novel approaches to this disease.

Key topics include:

  • Epidemiology and screening
  • Interventional radiology
  • Surgery including transplantation
  • Management strategies for advanced stages, including systemic and palliative therapies.

CLICK HERE for more information.
 

This Single Topic Conference (STC) includes keynote lectures, scientific sessions, panel discussions, and poster presentations with the main theme "MAFLD, More than A Fatty Liver Disease: Interplay between obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, HBV, HCV and HCC" in the field of MAFLD. Experts around the globe will be sharing their valuable insights and offering comprehensive perspectives exploring the latest developments in screening, diagnosis, assessment, pathogenesis and therapeutic approaches by participating in panel-based discussions on controversial topics and future clinical management in case-based multidisciplinary approaches.

CLICK HERE for more information.
 

DISCOUNTED REGISTRATION

1-3 AUGUST 2024 14TH AUSTRALASIAN VIRAL HEPATITIS CONFERENCE

DARWIN, NORTHERN TERRITORY

Significant discounts available on registrations for those working across a variety of occupations and community roles.

At VH2024, connect with researchers, community workers, healthcare professionals, and people with living/lived experience uniting to harness the strength of community, honour and celebrate the contributions and innovations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforces, and forge partnerships towards eliminating viral hepatitis.

The 14th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference is running from 1-3 August 2024, at Darwin Convention Centre, Garamilla (Darwin), Larrakia Country.

CLICK HERE for more information.
 

7-9 AUGUST 2024 DANA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The conference centres around the theme of "Transforming Opportunities into Reality" and will provide delegates the opportunity to hear from leaders in the field — a chance to share knowledge about contemporary issues and effective clinical practice.

CLICK HERE for more information.

 

14-16 AUGUST 2024 AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF NURSING NATIONAL NURSING FORUM

CAIRNS, QUEENSLAND

The National Nursing Forum (NNF) is an annual leadership and educational event bringing together nurses, students and other health professionals from around the country and across the globe. The 2024 NNF theme will be ‘Regenerate, Reinvigorate, Reclaim – Sustainable solutions for our future’.

CLICK HERE for more information.

 

  

8-11 OCTOBER 2024 INHSU

ATHENS, GREECE

The 12th International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU 2024) will feature over 100+ sessions on hepatitis C and other infectious diseases, harm reduction and drug policy. There will be tracks on epidemiology and public health research, clinical research, social science and policy research, and good practice models of care for people who use drugs.

CLICK HERE for more information.

 

  

6-8 NOVEMBER 2024 ACNP NATIONAL CONFERENCE

CAIRNS, QUEENSLAND

Expecting a record crowd with over 500 delegates, a 5th track of abstracts and a huge exhibition hall with plenty to see and do. Come together with the country's NP community to experience our comprehensive and diverse program specifically curated just for you. 

CLICK HERE for more information.

 

 

ARTICLES & PODCASTS OF INTEREST
Inside Melbourne's medically supervised injecting room

Tour an exceptional health service with the people who know it best, health workers and people who inject drugs, in this 12 episode series. Winner Best Documentary Australian Podcast Awards 2023.

CLICK HERE to access.
 
Blood borne viral and sexually transmissible infections in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: Annual surveillance report 2023

Key findings - in 2022, among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, diagnosis rates of STIs remain higher than among non-Indigenous people: infectious syphilis and gonorrhoea were more than 5 times, and chlamydia was almost twice as high. 

In 2022, there were 25 new HIV diagnoses in among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of which 30% reported male to male sexual contact as exposure risk. Both hepatitis B and hepatitis C diagnoses declined in 2022 from the previous year, however, were 7 times and 1.5 times higher than non-Indigenous people, respectively.

CLICK HERE for the report or CLICK HERE to explore the findings from this report on the interactive data site.

 

SCHOLARSHIPS

GLOWS GRANTS PROGRAM 2024-26

The Guiding Local Opportunities for Wellbeing (GLOWS) Grant Program 2024–26 offers scholarships and research grants to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, community organisations and their partners for work relating to HIV and viral hepatitis over the next three years. 

Lowitja Institute aims to further increase health equity, address disparities that continue to drive disease transmission, and work towards elimination of HIV and viral hepatitis in all of our communities. 
 
CLICK HERE for more information.

 

MERCHANDISE

Purchase your AHA merchandise today - scrubs are available in a selection of styles, sizes and colours with an option to include 'Nurse Practitioner' or 'Registered Nurse' in the embroidery.  Keep your coffee hot longer with a AHA coffee cup.  Please CLICK HERE for the Merchandise Order From.
 

 

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Contact the AHA if you would like to promote employment opportunities in the eNews.

 

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BRISBANE QLD 4000
E: secretariat@hepatologyassociation.com.au
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