PBAC have endorsed authorised Nurse Practitioner prescribing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV medicines
Source: ASHM News, 4 February 2020
Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) welcomes the recent recommendation from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) to endorse authorised Nurse Practitioners (NP) to prescribe hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV medicines under the Highly Specialised Drugs (HSD) program. The PBAC recommendation states:
Prescriber eligibility requirements currently in place for the relevant medicines under the National Health (Highly specialised drugs program) Special Arrangement 2010 will be extended to NPs, including the accreditation and/or state or territory approval requirements.
What does this change mean?
NPs experienced in the care and management of people living with HIV and hepatitis B in the community and hepatitis C in corrective services settings will be eligible to prescribe s100 medicines within their scope of practice and in accordance with their individual employment agreements.
Sexual health services need to be strengthened for PrEP users
Source: Mirage News, 3 January 2020
However, a global study co-led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Monash University in Australia, has shown that people who are seeking PrEP to prevent HIV are also at high risk of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Supported by the World Health Organization, the study, published in JAMA Open Network, suggests PrEP services could be an ideal place to test for, prevent and treat both HIV and other STIs.
The review highlights the limited focus and investment in STI management within HIV programmes. It found that a quarter (24%) of people initiating PrEP were diagnosed with either chlamydia, gonorrhoea or syphilis before they started taking PrEP. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of those continuing to use PrEP were diagnosed with either chlamydia, gonorrhoea or syphilis within a year of starting PrEP.
The research team found that the same factors that place people at substantial risk for HIV, such as low condom use, barriers to accessing or using condoms and having more than one sexual partner, also increase their risk for acquiring other STIs.
Young Deadly Free eNewsletter December 2019
YDF News in the sector
Syphilis is still on the move
Syphilis is still on the move with the Pilbara and Goldfields in WA and Central QLD now being declared as outbreak regions. We must continue to raise awareness of Syphilis with over 3140 cases sine 2011. To see the latest surveillance report click here
A/Prof James Ward - UQ in 2020
Young Deadly Free project leader, Associate Professor James Ward, will be leaving the South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute at the end of December 2019 and relocating to the University of Queensland in January 2020. James will take up the role of Professor in the School of Public Health and Director of the UQ Poche Centre. We are very sorry to see James leave SAHMRI but heartily congratulate him on his new position. Young Deadly Free will continue through UQ, with some of James’ team remaining at SAHMRI until mid-2020.
For young people
Some people say sexual health is taboo but here at Young Deadly Free we are smashing through the barriers and encouraging our youth to step up and yarn about these important issues; with over 63% of infectious syphilis notifications being in the 15-29 year age group this message is important. Get the low down on sexual health from First Nations youth with our Youth Yarn series, now available on our website on YouTube. video messages from our mob, for our mob
For people of influence
The im
portance of engaging with elders, parents and guardians cannot be understated in First Nations sexual health. Young Deadly Free takes a whole of community approach and we are calling on everyone to get involved by helping spread the word. Unfortunately, this is often easier said than done so with that in mind, we have created a series of short videos to encourage adults in the community to yarn with youth. These can be watched as stand-alone resources but would certainly pack more of a punch if used as part of community education or training- check them out here: https://youngdeadlyfree.org.au/resources/health-messages/empowering-videos/
For clinicians
Where do we begin?! There are now a total of 23 videos aimed at clinicians on our website and YouTube channel. Get online and check them out to see the vast array of new resources available to support orientation, in-services or other training programs.
Two of our faves at the moment are Community experiences & opinions about STI testing – which provides valuable insight from our patients, and The Importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff in Sexual Health Work which may be useful for staff new to the Aboriginal health sector and really promotes valuing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
YDF social media
Social media is integral to the campaign, with social media platforms used as information hubs for young people to learn about and discuss STIs and testing, chat about issues, participate in the campaign and share campaign news, information and resources.
Young Deadly Free has joined Twitter and we already have over 80 followers and have made quite an impression.
In the last 28 days
| In the last 28 days | ||||
| Tweets | Tweet Impressions | Profile Visits | Mentions | Followers |
| 8 | 7689 | 37 | 17 | 80 |
Currently has over 300 followers
Instagram impressions this year
Facebook
Currently has 1,248 followers
| In the last 28 days | |||||
| Post Engagement | Page Views | Videos | Page Likes | Post Reach | Page Followers |
| 3650 | 148 | 3889 | 56 | 8150 | 60 |
Your team can help us get important messaging out to community by promoting our social media accounts in the work you do. Please encourage clients to look us up and follow us, and share our content where ever you can.
YDF conferences / events
Our team has been busy promoting YDF and advocating for First Nations’ sexual health across many conferences over the past 3 months.
Australasian Sexual Health Conference 16th – 18th September
YDF was strongly represented at the Australasian Sexual Health Conference 16 – 18 September 2019. As well as presenting on YDF, James Ward gave a powerful keynote presentation about First Nation’s Sexual Health.
“We are a collective, we are connected. To the other Aboriginal people present in the room, I want you to all own this presentation, this is for all of us. When one of us wins, we all win; when one of us loses, we all loose” - Associate Professor, James Ward
Team member Amanda Sibosado launched the Noongar Boodja Statement.
“No one should be left behind and when they are, as we have been, it is each and everyone’s responsibility to step up and be accountable to create a just world for us all.” – Amanda Sibosado
Please sign up if you haven’t already https://bit.ly/2PeeUCB
NACCHO Youth Conference Nov 3rd & NACCHO Members’ Conference, November 4th & 5th
NACCHO’s theme this year “Because of them we must: improving health outcomes for people aged 0-29 years” meant that sexual health had a strong presence at both conference. The youth conference had 2 sexual health workshops, one run by YDF and one run by AHCWA, and the main conference had a strong sexual health stream with YDF having a stall to promote and disseminate our whole range of resources.
Communicable Diseases Control Conference, 19th – 21st November
youngdeadlyfree.org.au
is the national platform for hosting information, education and health promotion resources. Our resources have been developed by the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), in consultation with project participants and their communities.
To ensure relevance of resources provided on this website to local communities, community reference groups have been convened:
- Community action groups including Aboriginal young people, clinicians, community stakeholders, trained youth peer educators and Aboriginal community members;
- People of influence who have strong connections with Aboriginal young people in the community, including parents, Elders, carers, teachers, school support workers, youth workers, sport and recreation officers, youth sport coaches, sexual health workers, and educators;
- Regional clinician working groups, including doctors, nurses and health workers in each region.
The development and trialling of the project’s Peer Education Program and other resources has also been guided by input from local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service project partners.
Other news
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HIV Awareness Week (ATSIHAW)
Each year in the first week of December, to coincide with World AIDS Day, we host Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander HIV Awareness Week – “ATSIHAW”.
The inaugural ATSIHAW was held in November 2014 to get a conversation going in our community about HIV prevention and the importance of regular testing for HIV. Each year ATSIHAW events that aim to promote awareness of HIV are run in local community based organisations. Engagement is continuing to grow with the number of events reaching over 60 during the week of ATSIHAW, most hosted by Aboriginal community controlled health services. The theme of ATSIHAW is U AND ME CAN STOP HIV.
HIV in Australia - where are we are at in 2019?
- 835 HIV diagnoses in 2018, compared to 2,412 at peak of epidemic in 1987
- 23% decline in HIV rates in Australia over past 5 years
BUT
- No decline in HIV rates for heterosexual or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the last 5 years
- HIV rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in 2018 was more than twice as high as the rate for Australian-born non-Indigenous people
- Ongoing higher proportion of HIV cases among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a result of sharing drug injecting equipment compared to non-Indigenous people
- Ongoing higher proportion of HIV cases among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heterosexual people as a result having sex without a condom compared to non-Indigenous heterosexual people
Click on the link to see our new animation on HIV: youtu.be/QGpqa4orwk4
For more information on HIV and ATISHAW, see SAHMRI’S booklet HIV and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities in 2019 or go to our website: www.atsihiv.org.au/.
The Young Deadly Free project team would like to
wish you all a safe and happy Xmas
Get regular updates by subscribing to our eNewsletter
Young Deadly Free's Amanda Sibosado at NACCHO Youth Conference
Source: NACCHO Aboriginal Health Australia, News Alerts, 5 December 2019
Amanda Sibosado from SAHMRI talks with NACCHO about her experience at the NACCHO Members’ Conference 2019 and tells us a little bit about the Young Deadly Free Project and her role as coordinator.
Amanda ran a workshop with our young professionals at the NACCHO Youth Conference held on the first day of our Members’ conference. The groups came up with some new ideas and input on how health services can assist young people in the approach to STI testing with shame gremlins and how services can work with young people to over come these.
World AIDS Day 1 December 2019 – more support for Australians living with HIV
Source: The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, Media Release, 27 November 2019
World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year. It raises awareness across the world and in the community about HIV and AIDS.
World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year. It raises awareness across the world and in the community about HIV and AIDS.
It is a day for people to show their support for people living with HIV and to remember and honour those who we have lost.
In the 2019–20 Budget, the Morrison Government invested $45.4 million to implement Australia’s five National Blood-Borne Viruses (BBV) and Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI) Strategies.
These strategies will make a deep and profound difference in reducing the health impacts and stigma of BBV and STI, including HIV.
Today, I am pleased to announce that our Government will provide additional, ongoing support for people with HIV and other BBV and STI’s by extending funding to six national peak organisations, providing almost $3 million for 2020-21.
Public health alert: syphilis outbreak in Central Queensland
Source: PHN Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast, Jasmin Midgley, 1 May 2019
Outbreak of infectious syphilis in Central Queensland
Attn: All clinicians in Central Queensland
There has been an increase in cases of infectious syphilis in Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service area where it’s considered to be an outbreak.
The recent syphilis cases in the region appears to be mainly in two relatively distinct groups: heterosexual Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and non-Indigenous gay men and other men who have sex with men.
Read full story for Patient Management Recommendations
Podcast on eliminating viral hepatitis in Indigenous communities
Source: UNSW SpeakEasy Poscast, 29 August 2019
S04 SpeakEasy AVHEC 2019 with James Ward and Chris Cunningham
Associate Professor James Ward, a Pitjantjatjara/Narungga man and a national leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research on STIs, health and wellbeing, and Professor Chris Cunningham, of the Ngati Toa and Ngati Raukawa tribes of New Zealand and Professor of Maori Health, join Annie and Carla in our second AVHEC19 (Australasian Viral Hepatitis Elimination Conference) special episode. The awesome foursome join heads to discuss how viral hepatitis elimination is going in Australian and New Zealand Indigenous communities and where there's room for improvement.
$440 million funding boost for vital health and medical research for all stages of life
Source: The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, Media Release, 29 August 2019
$440 million funding boost for vital health and medical research for all stages of life
The Morrison Government will invest over $440 million in world-leading health and medical research projects to improve the lives of all Australians.
Our Government will strengthen Australians’ health through research to prevent illness and deliver better health care.
A total of 298 new projects will receive funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Announcing launch of new resource - Clinical practice manual
Source: Young Deadly Free, 1 August 2019
NEW CLINICIAN RESOURCE
STI and BBV control in remote communities: clinical practice and resource manual
A key component of the Young Deadly Free project has been the development of resources to support doctors, nurses, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners with their remote practice.
Our new resource the STI and BBV control in remote communities: Clinical practice and resource manual has been developed for new and more experienced remote clinicians in the areas of STI and BBV testing, care and management.
We consulted widely with remote clinicians in developing this resource. Many highlighted the following challenges:
- difficulty navigating health systems and models of care
- limited exposure to and knowledge with some of the STIs and BBVs endemic in many remote communities
- accessing and navigating relevant STI and BBV clinical guidelines
- limited cultural orientation, and or guidance on how to best engage young people in the clinic and community settings.
This feedback informed the development of this manual and guided us in identifying online induction resources, training modules and remote practice manuals from across Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia.
The manual also collates national, jurisdictional and regional STI and BBV clinical guidelines as well as highlighting national guidelines for addressing the current syphilis outbreak affecting much of remote Australia.
Using this resource
This manual is available only as an online resource on the Young Deadly Free website. Keeping the resource online is not only good for the environment but also enables us to regularly update it especially as guidelines, references, and epidemiological data are renewed. Or as feedback from you is received. We’ll keep you informed of updates via newsletter alerts.
It's important to note that the information contained within this manual does not substitute clinical advice or guidance and should not be relied on by health practitioners in providing clinical care.
Don't forget to check out all the other deadly resources on the Young Deadly Free
Thank you!
A huge thank you to the many doctors, nurses and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners who generously provided feedback and advice in developing this manual. We also acknowledge the young people, Elders, community leaders – and whole communities – who graciously and enthusiastically offered their time to developing the Young Deadly Free health promotion resources catalogued in the manual.
Young Deadly Free on Triple J's The Hook Up
Source: Triple J, The Hook Up, 7 July 2019
Young Deadly Free's Amanda Sibosado was featured on Triple J's The Hook Up, talking about the project.
Tune in and have a listen to Amanda.
Or listen to the full show on Triple J.