10 July 2025
On 18 June 2025, 46 participants gathered in Ipswich, Queensland, for the Queensland Hepatitis C Intervention Symposium—an event designed to spark collaboration, strengthen partnerships, and advance hepatitis C care across the state. It also marked our first-ever symposium in Australia.
Sponsored by Queensland Health and Abbvie, and endorsed by a valued group of partners including West Moreton Health, Hepatitis Queensland, AIVL, QNADA, QuIVAA, and QuIHN, the event brought together representatives from government, community organisations, research institutes, and frontline services from organisations including Kombi Clinic, the Kirby Institute, Brisbane Harm Reduction Centre, Prison and Youth Detention Health Services, and the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health. The event targeted staff working specifically in mental health and drug and alcohol settings, with the program designed to troubleshoot challenges faced to scaling up HCV care in these unique settings.
The individuals in the room were engaged, collaborative, and focused on solutions. The day saw new partnerships form between practitioners, outreach clinics, Aboriginal Health Services, and other providers, with participants expressing genuine appreciation for the practical insights and resources shared. The symposium also created momentum for the upcoming INHSU QLD Community of Practice, taking place on 1st August.
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Key insights from the discussion
During the practical support session, participants shared what’s working—and where challenges remain—in HCV care in Queensland:
What’s working:
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Strong staff commitment and leadership support
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Multidisciplinary teams and peer involvement
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Access to point-of-care (PoC) testing, starter packs, and dedicated resources
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Coordinated efforts leading to better client outcomes
Where barriers remain:
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Gaps in training around stigma and discrimination
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Lack of culturally appropriate resources
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Limited access to electronic medical records (EMRs)
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Few incentives to encourage testing and treatment uptake
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Low public awareness due to limited campaigning
What are the solutions?
Participants highlighted the need for flexible, client-centred models of care, including onsite and mobile services like the Kombi Clinic, which we profiled in a short film as part of our Connecting with Care Project.
They also called for increased staffing—particularly peer workers and nurse navigators—and stronger collaboration between AOD, mental health, and justice services to reduce fragmentation and improve referral pathways. It’s hoped that the connections forged during this event will help facilitate the change needed.
How do we measure success?
Attendees also shared ideas for how to track progress, including:
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Monitoring SVR rates and treatment outcomes
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Gathering client feedback through yarning and surveys
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Using The Consumer Integrated Mental Health and Addiction (CIMHA) application to track testing, treatment, and cure data
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Capturing client stories that reflect long-term engagement
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Monitoring follow-up and retention rates to identify service gaps
The first symposium in Queensland was a resounding success with 87.5% of delegates saying the symposium enhanced their knowledge and would change their practice, and 100% saying they made valuable new connections they plan to maintain. The symposium demonstrated the power of bringing the right people together in the one room—and we hope to see that ripple effect continue.
INHSU Programs and Policy Manager Olivia Dawson
Join us in NSW for the next symposia
Our next Australian symposium will be held in Sydney, NSW on 4th of September 2025.
