#69 HepSA Community News

#69 • January 2016

Community News

New Treatments Available from 1 March!

FREE! Please take one

Hepatitis SA provides free information and education on viral hepatitis, and support to people living with viral hepatitis.

Street Address: 3 Hackney Road, Hackney Postal Address:

PO Box 782 Kent Town SA 5071

Phone:

Fax:

(08) 8362 8443 1300 437 222

About the Front Cover: Detail from an image by Charis Tsevis [flickr.com/photos/tsevis], used under a Creative Commons license About the Back Cover: Artwork from Roland R., an education session participant at Lakalinjeri Tumbetin Waal Frahns Farm.

Used with permission. Lakalinjeri Tumbetin Waal Frahns Farm is a non-medical ‘dry’ rehabilitation centre located on a farm at Monarto in South Australia. Clients live-in for a 12-week period and are assisted to recover from alcohol or other drug use lifestyles. Lakalinjeri Tumbetin Waal Frahns Farm adopts a holistic approach by treating the underlying grief as well as the disorder.

Correspondence: Please send all correspondence to The Editor at PO Box 782, Kent Town, SA 5071, or email editor@ hepatitissa.asn.au.

Editor: James Morrison

(08) 8362 8559

Online:

www.hepsa.asn.au admin@hepatitissa.asn.au

HEPATITIS SA BOARD Chair Arieta Papadelos Vice Chair Bill Gaston Secretary Lindsay Krassnitzer Treasurer Sam Raven Ordinary Members Catherine Ferguson Ratan Gazmere Kristen Hicks Nicci Parkin Kerry Paterson (EO) Sharon Jennings Jeff Stewart

Contents

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New Hep C Treatments

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New Treatments, New Hope

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PBS for Prisoners

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New Treatments FAQ

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Tim’s Story

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New Year, New You?

12 Prison Health Expo 15 What’s On 16 In Our Library

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of Hepatitis SA. Information contained in this newsletter is not intended to take the place of medical advice given by your doctor or specialist.

We welcome contributions from Hepatitis SA members and the general public.

Department for Health and Ageing, SA Health has contributed funds towards this program.

New Hepatitis C Treatment For All Breakthrough medicines finally come to PBS

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ustralia has become the first country to publicly subsidise new antiviral hepatitis C treatments for the entire population, no matter their condition or location.

Announcing the $1 billion funding just before Christmas, Minister for Health Sussan Ley described the listing of the drugs on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) as a “watershed moment”.

The treatments will be available on the PBS from 1 March, 2016.

The PBS investment, said to be the biggest since the funding of the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, will fund hepatitis C treatments over the next five years.

Under the subsidy, the drugs will cost $38.30 for general patients and $6.20

if you have a concession card. The treatments will also be available to people in prisons (see p4).

Game-Changing

Ms Ley said the gamechanging new drugs have a success rate of more than 90% across the entire hepatitis C population.

“The drugs are faster, less invasive and inflict fewer side effects than anything currently available,” she said. “In a majority of cases the medicines can be taken orally, with treatment duration as short as eight weeks.

“Hepatitis C takes a heavy toll on patients and their families, but also the health system and the economy.”

She said it was therefore important to provide the medicines to vulnerable

Health Minister Sussan Ley

populations where infection rates are high.

Describing the decision as “simply terrific”, Hepatitis Australia CEO Helen Tyrell said many people had been anxiously waiting for that announcement and it was wonderful news and a relief to have an end to the uncertainty.

The New Treatments to be made available on the PBS

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• SOFOSBUVIR (under the trade name Sovaldi)

• SOFOSBUVIR and LEDIPASVIR (combined under the trade name Harvoni) • DACLATASVIR (under the trade name Daklinza) and RIBAVIRIN (under the trade name Ibavyr).

January 2016 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 69

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» “We were incredibly disheartened that the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) announcement did not include funding for new hepatitis C medicines, but today we are overjoyed that the waiting is almost over,” she said.

health concern within a generation.

Healthier Future

230,500 Australians are living with the hepatitis C virus which damages the liver, leading to liver scarring (cirrhosis), liver cancer and liver failure.

Each month approximately 250 people with hepatitis C develop serious and potentially life-threatening liver disease or liver cancer.

“We congratulate Minister Ley who has delivered on her commitment to list these medicines as swiftly as she can and to make them available for everyone with hepatitis C, which hasn’t been achieved elsewhere,” Ms Tyrell said.

“The Turnbull Government is to be congratulated for showing leadership and investing in these game-changing therapies which represent the greatest innovation in the treatment of the hepatitis C virus in a generation.”

Eliminating Hepatitis C

“If we can combine access to new treatments with improved access to needle and syringe programs across the country and in all populations, we have a real chance of preventing deaths and eliminating hepatitis C as a public

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HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 69 • January 2016

“We look forward to 2016 as the watershed year for hepatitis C in Australia as more people are treated and cured and we start to arrest spiralling rates of liver disease,” Ms Tyrrell added.

Ms Tyrell urged all Australians with risk factors for hepatitis C to get tested and talk to their doctor about new treatments.

Cecilia Lim

Thinking of getting onto the new hepatitis C treatment?

Call us on 1800 437 222 Ask for the Hepatitis Helpline We will link you to the viral hepatitis nurses who will work with you to get ready for the treatments when they become available.

Hope with the stroke of a pen

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he Australian Government’s announcement of universal access for the new hepatitis C drugs was a welcome surprise to people waiting since mid-2015 for the treatments to be listed.

Hepatitis Australia invited Australians to share their hepatitis C experiences.

Community News asked some people for their reaction to the news of funding for the new treatments.

With the stroke of a pen, the Health Minister brought hope to thousands of Australians that their health, and their lives, can turn around.

“Until the announcement, there had not been much to make me feel positive about the drugs getting listed,” said Dana.

Late last year when listing of the new drugs seemed uncertain,

“The news has changed the whole outlook in our household.

“When we talked about treatment, we’d be wondering if it would be better to do it one after the other so the boys don’t have to put up with two irritable parents all at once. Now, that’s not an issue any more!”

“Before, when we talked about treatment, we’d be wondering if it would be better to do it together so we’d both be irritable together, or to do it one after the other so the boys don’t have to put up with two irritable parents all at once.

“Now, that’s not an issue any more. We only need to get ourselves organised and do it. My health is still good so I can take the time to plan it out.

“I know there are people who don’t have the time to wait and I feel really glad for them that the treatments are going to be available soon.

For Elle, the Government’s announcement was a lovely early Christmas present.

“I had been waiting 26 years for an effective treatment that wouldn’t affect my ability to function,” she said.

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Photo CC by Paul Vaarkamp [flickr.com/photos/paulvaarkamp]

“On the other hand, it’s also very sad to think about people who’d just missed out,” she added, referring to friends who had recently died because of hepatitis C.

PBS to cover prisoners’ hepatitis C treatments The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) will fund the new hepatitis C medicines for prisoners even though health care in custodial settings are usually paid for by state and territory governments.

Minister for Health, Sussan Ley, said in the announcement of funding, that it was important to tackle hepatitis C head on.

That would include providing the medicines to all Australians, particularly vulnerable populations where rates of infection are high, she said.

According to a Department of Health fact sheet, this

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“I have got a referral from my GP to see the treatment nurse so I am at the top of the list when the medicines become available on the PBS. I want to start ASAP.” Elle hopes the hospitals and clinics are prepared for the anticipated rise in demand for treatment.

“I will be extremely disappointed if I have to wait,” she said.

“I want to know what it is like to live without hepatitis C.”

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recognises that “prisoners are a priority population for the treatment of hepatitis C”. State and territory health and justice departments will ensure that processes are in place so that prisoners are prescribed and provided with these medicines.

The fact sheet for health consumers was released together with the announcement of a $1bn investment to make the new hepatitis C drugs available on the PBS from 1 March this year.

The fact sheet reiterated that the new treatments will be available through the PBS for all patients with chronic hepatitis C,

The buzz around the soon to be available new medicines is reflected in Penni’s plan to hop on board the “treatment bandwagon”.

“I have a genotype which still needs interferon,” she said. “But combined with the new DAAs it’s only 12 weeks. I’ve done all my work up and I’m raring to go.

“The nurse tells me there will be new combinations coming and I can wait, but I don’t want to wait any more.”

HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 69 • January 2016

regardless of genotype and disease severity.

It pointed out, however, that the treatments which are available for a particular patient will depend on the patient’s disease genotype and whether there had been previous treatment for the condition.

The new hepatitis C medicines can be prescribed by General Practitioners in, or following, consultation with a specialist physician.

Specialists may also prescribe these medicines.

To read the full factsheet, go to http://bit.ly/ healthhcvfaq.

Cecilia Lim

Penni works at clean needle program and drug treatment sites. “Work wise, I’m seeing a flood of interest,” she said. “Before, people weren’t interested but now they’re asking about treatment.

“I’m wondering how the services are going to cope.”

Find out more about the new hepatitis C treatments.

Call the Hepatitis Helpline on 1800 437 222.

Cecilia Lim

New Hepatitis C Treatments FAQ Hepatitis Australia has put together a list of answers to frequently asked questions about the new hepatitis C treatments. We have listed a selection of the questions and answers below. For the complete list, go to http://bit.ly/newmedsfaq or call 1800 437 222. Even more info can be found at https://www.hep.org.au/treatment.

Q: What are the names of the new medicines?

A: The medicines being made available on the PBS from 1 March 2016 are: • sofosbuvir and ledipasvir (Harvoni) • sofosbuvir (Sovaldi)

• daclatasvir (Daklinza) • ribavirin (Ibavyr)

Q: Are the new medicines better than the older ones?

A: There are a number of benefits. The new medicines:

• are more effective resulting in a cure for 90% of people;

• are taken as tablets only and have very few side effects; • can be taken for as little as 8-12 weeks for most people; and

Q: Do you have to be getting very sick to access the new medicines?

A: No. Everyone who has been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C infection will be eligible to receive the new medicines regardless of their stage of disease.

Q: Will people who currently inject drugs be able to access the new medicines?

A: Yes. There will be no restrictions applied for people who inject drugs who are a priority population for hepatitis C treatment.

Q: Will access to the new medicines be restricted or limited in any way?

A: No. The new medicines will be available through the PBS to all people who hold a Medicare card and have chronic hepatitis C - regardless of their stage of liver disease. The particular combination of medicines prescribed will depend on a number of individual clinical factors.

Interferon-free treatment options will be available for all major genotypes in Australia.

Photo CC Brian Moore [flickr.com/photos/doctabu]

• do not require the use of peg-interferon as part of the regimen.

January 2016 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 69

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The Longest Wait Tim’s story

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n 1993 I tested positive for the hepatitis C virus.

I’m not sure where I picked it up, but I had first used intravenous drugs and shared needles in the mid-‘70s (I was in my 20s, and access to new needles want easy at the time). I had been told earlier by a doctor, who was taking a biopsy for a skin rash, that if you use intravenous drugs then you get what you deserve.

While this approach seems harsh these days, I didn’t completely disagree with him as ultimately I had responsibility for my actions. I don’t think I ever took any drug without some concerns about the associated risks.

After the positive test result, I was referred to a specialist at the RAH. A subsequent liver biopsy revealed that I had cirrhosis. Following six months of abstinence from drugs and alcohol, I went on an early hep C treatment trial, with six months of daily selfadministered injections of interferon. The now well-known side-effects

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were debilitating: fatigue, headaches, hair loss, blotchy skin and so on.

Some days I would arise only to return to bed a few hours later. During this time I tried meditation and some acupuncture, though my doctor wasn’t keen on the latter since he thought it might interfere with the trial. I also suffered from depression, but my doctor saw this as just part of my personality.

Later, after a number of people committed suicide, depression was officially recognised as a side-effect of the treatment.

Unfortunately, the trial didn’t achieve the desired outcome. I kept on seeing my specialist every 12 weeks or so, and would have regular blood tests and endoscopies. I had now turned 40, and I envisaged that my life would be dramatically shortened—I thought that, with the cirrhosis, I might only have another decade to live. My understanding was that a transplant was out of the question, since the virus would just attack the new liver with renewed

HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 69 • January 2016

vigour. It was only many years later that I learned this was not necessarily the case.

Between periods of abstinence I resumed drinking, smoking and taking various drugs. Once, while interstate, I overdosed and regained consciousness with two paramedics standing over me.

By 2000 I was back in Adelaide and beginning my second trial. This time it was a combination of interferon and ribavirin delivered via a dial-up pen.

Unfortunately, this trial came to an early halt when tests showed I was at high risk of a stroke. Around this same time I started taking antidepressants and seeing a psychiatrist, but after a while I stopped the medication when I felt that each time I took it, it was like making a negative affirmation about my mental health. Instead I told myself that I was fine!

Eventually I ceased using alcohol, cigarettes and drugs—marijuana aside. Symptoms of the virus were developing:

along with fatigue I had oesophageal varices, fluid retention and swelling in my feet, and cramps.

New medications like Deralin (a beta-blocker) and Moduretic (to reduce

I was now exercising daily and maintaining the best diet I could in preparation, as well as having two teeth removed (with antibiotics and a platelet transfusion each time).

surgeon, an anaesthetist, a social worker and a transplant recipient. At the end I was finally accepted as a suitable transplant candidate, along with having another endoscopy,

the swelling) became part of my daily ritual, and I went onto a disability pension while doing some volunteer work.

The transplant team at the FMC examined my case and decided—not yet!

So it was back to blood tests and ultrasounds at the RAH until my doctor applied for me again. In December 2012 I was back at Flinders for a five-day assessment and tests, as well as meetings with a

colonoscopy and a round of hepatitis B shots.

By 2011 my doctor at the RAH was talking to me about the possibility of a liver transplant, and referred me to Flinders.

Having been told at one stage that I couldn’t have the transplant because my risk of dying was too high, I now learned that without the transplant I would perhaps live only one or two more years. I

January 2016 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 69

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» signed the consent forms, made out my will, took out ambulance membership and bought my first mobile phone in preparation.

I signed a form stating I would not take illicit drugs or drink, and saw a psychologist about my marijuana usage. I was asked to submit to random urine tests to check for any substance abuse.

In early September 2013 I was officially on the transplant waiting list.

Waiting for that call to come, not knowing when and if it would, and staying ready and prepared (I had a small bag all packed) was an experience. Daytimes were OK, but at night when I tried to sleep with the phone at my side I felt that I had no respite and no personal space. Knowing that the whole process depended on someone else dying so that I could live was not lost on me.

I visited Hepatitis SA for company, support and to speak with others who had undergone transplants.

After five months on the waiting list, the call came at 10pm on a February evening. My operation was the following morning.

Having been provided with detailed literature about the procedure, I knew I

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would wake up in intensive care with lots of tubes attached. On day two I was moved into a room of my own, to lower the infection risk. I spent a total of 16 nights in hospital, the days filled with numerous doctors, specialists and nurses examining and instructing me. I developed pneumonia, an antibioticresistant enterococci, and diabetes. People coming into my room had to wear protective clothing.

I couldn’t sleep for days, and had hallucinations, paranoia and general confusion. The levels of drugs being administered would vary daily, and mess with my emotions.

Eventually I was given a walker and had some tubes removed, so that I could start to walk again— something I did day and night, shuffling slowly around the ward.

By May I was able to cease the insulin and blood glucose tests I’d needed because of the diabetes. My doses of medication were slowly dropping, and some were stopped altogether.

I wrote a heartfelt letter to the donor family, expressing my gratitude and thanking them and their loved one for my gift of life.

HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 69 • January 2016

It’s now about 18 months since my transplant.

I’m well, my test results are good, and my antirejection drugs are down to a very low level. But now I want to finally rid myself of HCV. I’m hoping that, with the new drug treatments being made available, this might finally be possible in 2016.

If I’ve learned anything from this process, it’s how much I wanted to live: this world is all I’ve known, and I’m not ready to leave it just yet. In the last five years, four people I’ve known have developed liver cancer. One is still alive after having part of his liver removed, while the three others are dead. A while back I told my doctor that I would still get teary, mostly while watching the TV news. She asked me if I was depressed, but I explained that I wasn’t—I just think the world is a very sad place. But it’s also very beautiful!

I am extremely grateful to the transplant coordinators, nurses and doctors at the Flinders Medical Centre. I cannot praise and thank them enough for their incredible care and expertise.

Tim K.

New Year, New You? 5 tricks to make your resolutions stick

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any of us use January 1st to get ourselves going on some cherished goals, often the same ones year after year. But is the way we think about and plan to tackle our habits setting us up to fail— again?

You might be surprised what the latest behaviour science has to say about how we can really change ourselves.

Forget about stern resolutions and an iron will.

It turns out that feeling good, doing what you want to do and being kind to yourself are the real keys to success.

The big three The big three foundation habits—sleeping enough, eating well and exercising regularly—can make a big difference to your quality of life, especially if you’re living with conditions like chronic hepatitis B or C. Most people list these as the top habits they’d like to change but although we know that they’re really good for us we can’t seem to make ourselves stick at it for very long, no matter how hard we try.

1 January rolls around and we start out full of

enthusiasm and proceed to wear ourselves out with our unrealistic schedule of daily exercise and diet of kale juice and goji berries. Sometimes we even make it to February until real life takes over and we’re back where we started, slightly more defeated than last year.

Luckily for us there’s a lot of focus on habits and creating lasting behaviour change at the moment and researchers are coming up with some surprising and pretty useful findings whatever habits you’d like to change.

Why is it so hard for us to make changes that stick?

One of the things that makes it so difficult to change is what’s sometimes referred to as our “two brains”.

There’s the “hot , emotional, do what feels good in the moment” brain and the “cold, rational, we should do what’s good for us in the long run” brain.

Generally, the “immediate brain” is more powerful than the “strategic brain” because we want to feel good, now.

On top of this, research has found that almost 40 per cent of our daily behaviour is habitual - done on automatic pilot, with no conscious thought and mainly cued by

our environment.

Running our brain takes a lot of energy and we don’t have enough of it to consciously think about brushing our teeth, tying our shoelaces and changing gears every time we have to do them.

Finally, the thing that most of us rely on, willpower, is limited and wears out quickly and easily. Studies have shown that when people have to use self-control for one task, there is less of it left for the next. Think about how often you need to use your willpower throughout the day.

Getting out of bed, eating breakfast, driving the kids to school while not swearing at other drivers (or the kids!), all takes self-control.

By the end of the day when we want to get to the gym, not eat ice-cream for dessert or get to bed early, our willpower is seriously drained. Sadly, willpower just isn’t reliable enough on its own.

What should we do instead?

Using these insights we can arrange things to give ourselves the best chance of changing our behaviour by: •

Making a new habit using approaches that are more

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reliable than willpower

•

Making what we want to do enjoyable and immediately rewarding

•

Learning how to deal with setbacks

Create a new habit Use your strategic brain to think through any challenges you might face and come up with solutions for them in advance.

This is sometimes called if/ then planning. For instance if you’re trying to avoid drinking coffee your plan could be “If someone offers me a coffee when I’m out, then I’ll order a hot chocolate”.

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Remember the automatic pilot? Exploit our tendency to respond to what’s right in front of us and set your environment up for success.

You should also make it easier to do the right things and harder to do things you’re trying to avoid. This one is a combination of using environmental cues and “the strategy of convenience”.

It’s human nature to take the

easy way so you really do want to put out a bowl of fruit and hide the chocolate biscuits, put out your exercise clothes the night before and put your laptop on a timer that cuts off your power at the time you

HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 69 • January 2016

want to go to bed.

These things might seem silly but they really work, regardless of how much willpower you have at the time.

Make it enjoyable Your strategic brain is no good for this one. We want to use the “feel good now” part of our brains to fuel our new habit.

Research suggests that most of us have some pretty negative associations with exercise that make it a chore or even a punishment.

Michelle Seger, an expert in the field of motivation

suggests that you examine how you really feel about exercise or other healthy behaviours you’re trying to incorporate.

Does it have negative associations built up over your lifetime?

Are there more enjoyable ways to reach the same end?

Or can you think about it in new ways that highlight the “feel good in the moment” aspect of what you’re doing?

Image Credit: Let Grow Therapy and Counseling - Helping Children to Thrive: www.letgrowtherapy.com

Choose something that you really like - swimming, walking in the park, ice skating. Do it because of the way it makes you feel right now - “happy to be outside in nature”, “clearing your head after work”, “having fun with your kids”.

See if this approach leads you to be more active in the long term.

Don’t tell yourself that it’s also really good for your health though. Introducing more than one motivation for doing something can lead to mixed feelings about your chosen activity. Stick to the feel good reasons.

By the way, her approach is backed up by activity guidelines which say it’s ok to do small amounts of moderate exercise regularly.

And if working out hard is what feels good to you, keep it up.

Deal with setbacks by being your own friend Setbacks are a normal part of trying to change our

behaviour, even if we’ve set things up to give ourselves every chance to succeed.

When we inevitably fall back into old habits we respond pretty harshly towards ourselves - “You’re such a failure, why can’t you ever get it right?” followed by either giving up all together or steely resolve to “try harder”.

It’s a commonly held belief that only a serious talking to similar to what we might have received in the headmaster’s office will put us back on track. But research doesn’t support this at all.

In fact, the exact opposite is true.

People who accept setbacks as a normal part of behaviour change see themselves as fallible human beings just like everybody else. They respond with self-compassion, get back on track more quickly and, ultimately, have more success at reaching their goals.

Try to keep any backwards steps in perspective, give yourself a friendly little pat on the back just like you would with a friend and get going again.

SUMMING UP 1. One at a time

Choose one thing at a time. We don’t have the internal resources to change everything at once. Success breeds success.

2. Don’t rely on willpower Willpower just isn’t reliable. Give yourself every opportunity to succeed by thinking through your challenges and putting the right environment in place for yourself.

3. Feel Good

Tap in to your inner motivation - highlight the “feel good in the moment” aspect of what you’re trying to do and you’ll be amazed how much energy and motivation you have.

4. Get some help

Think about getting some help. Your doctor can be a great place to start and may be able to make subsidised referrals to dieticians, exercise physiologists or other practitioners that can help you.

If you’re trying to tackle smoking, drinking or using drugs in a way that makes you unhappy you will almost certainly need some outside help as addictions can be much harder to change than ordinary habits.

5. Be kind to yourself

And finally, be kind to yourself. Change can take time before it reaches the magical habit stage and feeling good really helps you stick to your plan.

Rose Magdalene

January 2016 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 69

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Prison Health Expo Education on Remand

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ince 2014, one of our Outreach Hepatitis C Peer Education and Support Project Peer Educators, has attended the Adelaide Remand Centre each fortnight to provide hepatitis C information and support to individuals at the Remand Centre, as hepatitis C is a key health issue within the Australian prisoner population with a higher risk of infection than the general community.

Imprisonment is recognised as an independent risk factor for hepatitis C infection.

It is estimated that up to 35% of men and 50% of women in South Australian prisons may be affected by hepatitis C, and the incidence of new infections occurring in correctional settings is significantly greater than found in the community.

The Peer Educator is able to provide information regarding transmission risks, testing for hep C, symptoms, living well with hep C, support and treatment services that are available in

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custodial settings and in our community, with particular importance for those who may be new to the prison system.

The Adelaide Remand Centre, in our CBD (known as the ARC) accommodates close to 300 men who are remanded in custody for a range of reasons.

The Department for Correctional Services (DCS) provides programs and services for remand prisoners including crisis intervention and support services, case management, structured recreation and education.

In August, SA Prison Health Service Staff there called for expressions of interest from key service providers, including Hepatitis SA, to attend the first ever Health Expo, planned for later in the year.

The original idea for the Expo was to provide a forum for the introduction of a variety of healthylifestyle services to remandees, in order to prepare for the Centre becoming a ‘Smoke-Free’ facility on 1 March 2016.

However, this evolved into

HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 69 • January 2016

a much broader event.

The revised aim of the Expo was to hopefully assist the integration of a sense of self-care and health promotion with those on remand at the Centre, supplementary to the nurse care and support that is provided there on a daily basis and for an opportunity for visiting agencies to share information with the remandees, which would empower them to access services to further their wellbeing, upon release from custody.

In mid-September we were informed that our expression of interest was accepted by DCS and Hepatitis SA was invited to be a part of this important event. Members of our Education Team and Clean Needle Program Team, joined by a representative from Drug and Alcohol Services of SA’s ‘Drug Policy & Population Health Division’, were also eager to attend to provide hepatitis C education and information.

Together we engaged with over a hundred people, distributing

information resources on all aspects of hepatitis C, as well as hepatitis B vaccination, harm reduction information including safer injecting and overdose awareness.

We conducted a short quiz with each person comprised three questions relating to hepatitis C, with a small prize for a randomly drawn participant from each group that was brought through to the common area where the Expo was held.

We found that while all were at risk, not all participants knew the facts about hepatitis C. However, others had excellent knowledge of the virus and its impact on our community. We were

asked a wide variety of questions about all aspects of hepatitis C and there was a great deal of interest about the long awaited Direct Acting Anti-viral treatments and a date for access to them, as well as a commonly held interest in Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs amongst the attendees.

Those in attendance, including Correctional Services Officers and Prison Health Staff, were extremely positive in their feedback about the event, with all in agreement that this event should be held regularly. The General Manager of the Adelaide Remand Centre, Darren Hosking was also pleased with the great work achieved, passing

this message on to all of the stakeholders that came together on the day to deliver a positive community outcome, saying, “I can honestly say that it exceeded everyone’s expectations with over 120 prisoners attending the Expo. While the Expo was initially aimed at promoting our smoke-free message, I believe with all of you being involved we truly achieved even broader health outcomes and opportunities for prisoners.”

We look forward to our involvement in the next Health Expo at the ARC soon.

Lisa Carter Outreach Hepatitis C Peer Education & Support Project Coordinator

January 2016 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 69

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Free Workforce Training: Hepatitis B & Hepatitis C

Do you know what to do if you are exposed to blood? Do you know which services are available for clients living with viral hepatitis? Do you worry about needle-stick injury? Do you know if there is a vaccination or a cure for these viruses?

Hepatitis SA’s workforce training sessions cover a range of topics, including: • Basics about hepatitis A, B and C • Transmission risks and transmission myths (including issues like needle-stick injury) • Priority populations • Testing and treatments • Standard precautions and prevention (best practise around blood) • Disclosure (i.e when do people have to tell others they are living with a blood borne virus) • Referral pathways • Lived experience from the perspective of a Positive Speaker • Any other topics relevant to your workplace—we will tailor the session to you!

To book, ask for the Education Team on 8362 8443 or email education@hepsa.asn.au. We will come to your workplace.

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HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 69 • January 2016

Call Us! Free, confidential information and support on viral hepatitis:

1800 437 222

Affected by hepa

Affected by hepatitis C? Photo © S. Allen

Warinilla Outpatients Hepatitis C Treatment Clinic 92 Osmond Tce, Norwood Tuesdays monthly 2–4pm Upcoming dates: Ring Lisa on 8362 8443 for details

Calming

Calming the C • Information and support in a confidential, friendly environment • Speak to others who have had treatment • Partners, family and friends welcome

2015 Dates

Calming the C: Hackney

Now20meeting at HACKNEY, ELIZABETH Tuesday, January Tuesday, 12 May Tuesday, 1 September Tuesday, 26 May Tuesday, 15 September and PORT ADELAIDE Tuesday, 3 February Tuesday, 29 September Tuesday,For 17 February Tuesday, 9phone June information, 8362 8443 Tuesday, 23 June Tuesday, 13 October Tuesday, 3 March See over for datesTuesday, 27 October Tuesday, 17 March Tuesday, 14 April Tuesday, 28 April

Tuesday, 7 July Tuesday, 21 July

Tuesday, 4 August Tuesday, 18 August

Hepatitis C peer educators are also available to provide information and support to clients at the following services:

Tuesday, 10 November Tuesday, 24 November Tuesday, 8 December

CALMING the C in the NORTH

• Information and support in a friendly environment DASSA Southern Service • Speak to others who have h 82 Beach Rd,• Partners, family and friends w Christies Beach 2015 Dates Monday monthly 10am–1pm Calming Upcoming dates: the C: Hackney Now meeting Tuesday, 12 at MayHACKNEY Tuesday Tuesday, 20 January Ring Lisa on 8362 8443 Tuesday, 26 May Tuesday and PORT ADELA for details Tuesday Tuesday, 3 February

9 June ForTuesday, information, phone Tuesday, 23 June Tuesday DASSA Northern Service Tuesday Tuesday, 3 March See over for dat 22 Langford Dr, Elizabeth Tuesday, 17 February Tuesday, 17 March

Tuesday, 7 July

Thursday fortnightly Tuesday, 21 July Tuesday, April 10am14–12 pm Tuesday, 4 August Tuesday, 28 April Upcoming dates: Tuesday, 18 August Ring Lisa on 8362 8443 for details

Tuesday Tuesday

Tuesday

CALMING the C in the N Hutt Street Centre

258 Hutt St, Adelaide Thursday, 14 May Thursday, 22 January

Thursday, 22 January

Thursday, 14 May

Thursday, 3 September

Thursday, 19 February

Thursday, 11 June

Thursday, 1 October

Thursday, 19 March

Thursday, 9 July

Thursday, 29 October

Wednesday Thursday, 11 June Thursday, 19 Februaryweekly 10 am –12.30 pm Thursday, 9 July Thursday, 19 March

Thursday, 16 April

Thursday, 6 August

Thursday, 26 November

Thursday, 16 April

Thursday

Thursday

Thursday

Thursday, 6 August

Thursday

Tuesday, 27 January

Tuesday, 19 May

Tuesday, 8 September

WestCare Centre 17 Millers Court (off Wright St), Adelaide CALMING the C at Wednesday weekly 10.30am–12.30pm Tuesday, 27 January

Tuesday, 19 May

Tuesday

Tuesday, 24 February

Tuesday, 16 June

Tuesday, 6 October

Tuesday, 24 February

Tuesday, 16 June

Tuesday

Tuesday, 24 March

Tuesday, 14 July

Tuesday, 3 November

Tuesday, 24 March

Tuesday, 14 July

Tuesday

Tuesday, 21 April

Tuesday, 11 August

Tuesday, 1 December

Tuesday, 21 April

Tuesday, 11 August

Tuesday

CALMING the C at the PORT

January 2016 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 69

15

the PO

Comprehensive Tomes

If you feel like sinking your teeth into something chunky, these titles might appeal to you.

Making disease, making citizens: the politics of Hepatitis C S. Fraser and K. Seear (Monash Uni, Aust).

Ashgate Publishing, UK, 2011 Since the naming of hepatitis C in 1989, knowledge about the disease has grown exponentially. So too, however, has the stigma with which it is linked.

Associated with injecting drug use and tainted blood scandals, hepatitis C inspires fear and blame.

Making Disease, Making Citizens takes a timely look at the disease, those directly affected by it and its social and cultural implications.

The ABC of behaviour change: a guide to successful disease prevention and health promotion

101 Things your GP would tell you if only there was time

J. Kerr, R. Weitkunat, M.Moretti. Elsevier, London, 2005

A hands-on guide to negotiating the management of your health: from practical information on how to communicate with your doctor, to definitive outlines of evidencebased strategies in remaining diseasefree, to a debunking of many common myths in medicine. Dr Gillian Deakin outlines the most common pitfalls in health care and details how patients can communicate effectively with medical professionals.

Addresses the basics of behaviour change: what to change and how. It has been written by a multi-disciplinary team of international experts to provide a broad summary of the factors involved and give concrete recommendations on how to manipulate the most important ones.

Particular attention is given to: personal and psychological factors; social and environmental factors; communication, and the problems faced in changing behaviour.

Dr. G. Deakin. Random House, Sydney, 2007.

Location number: 5.6 DEA 3

Location number: 8.5 KER 8

Location number: 6.4 FRA 5 If you would like to know more about our library, including our comprehensive catalogue of free-to-access online resources, please contact us at hepatitissa.asn.au/library, or at 3 Hackney Road, Hackney. Phone us on 8362 8443 or email librarian@hepsa.asn.au.

16

HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 69 • January 2016

Useful Services & Contacts Hepatitis SA Free education sessions, printed information, telephone information and support, referrals, clean needle program and library.

(08) 8362 8443 admin@hepatitissa.asn.au www.hepsa.asn.au Hepatitis SA Helpline 1800 437 222 (cost of a local call) Adelaide Dental Hospital A specially funded clinic provides priority dental care for people with hepatitis C with a Health Care Card.

Call Hepatitis SA on 1800 437 222 for a referral. beyondblue Mental health information line

Lifeline National, 24-hour telephone counselling service.

Positive Life SA Services and support for HIVpositive people.

13 11 14 (cost of a local call) www.lifeline.org.au

(08) 8293 3700 www.positivelifesa.org.au

Mental Health Crisis Service 24 hour information and crisis line available to all rural, remote and metropolitan callers.

13 14 65 MOSAIC Counselling service For anyone whose life is affected by hepatitis.

(08) 8223 4566 Nunkuwarrin Yunti An Aboriginal-controlled, citybased health service with clean needle program and liver clinic.

SA Sex Industry Network Promotes the health, rights and wellbeing of sex workers.

(08) 8351 7626 SAMESH South Australia Mobilisation + Empowerment for Sexual Health www.samesh.org.au Youth Health Service Free, confidential health service for youth aged 12 to 25.

Youth Helpline: 1300 13 17 19 Parent Helpline: 1300 364 100

1300 224 636 www.beyondlbue.org.au

(08) 8406 1600

Clean Needle Programs in SA For locations call the Alcohol and Drug Information Service, or visit the Hepatitis SA Hackney office.

P.E.A.C.E. HIV and hepatitis education and support for people from nonEnglish speaking backgrounds.

1300 131 340

(08) 8245 8100

Community Access & Services SA Alcohol and drug education; clean needle program for the Vietnamese and other communities.

Viral Hepatitis Community Nurses Care and assistance, education, streamline referrals, patient support, monitoring and follow-ups. Clients can self-refer. Contact nurses directly for an appointment.

(08) 8447 8821

Central

headspace Mental health issues are common.

Find information, support and help at your local headspace centre

North

1800 650 890 www.headspace.org.au

Vincentian Centre Men’s night shelter run by St Vincent de Paul Society.

Assistance hotline: 1300 729 202

Margery - 0423 782 415 margery.milner@health.sa.gov.au Jeff - 0401 717 953 Lucy - 0401 717 971 South

Rosalie - 0466 777 876 rosalie.altus@fmc.sa.gov.au Emma - 0466 777 873

Are you interested in volunteering with Hepatitis SA? Give us a call on 8362 8443 or drop us a line at admin@hepatitissa.asn.au.

We rely on volunteers for many of our vital services.