23 September 2025
Welcome to the next Webinar Wrap-Up, where we attend sector webinars and distil the most relevant insights for those working to improve the health of people who use drugs. In this edition, we look at how hepatitis C care is being delivered in mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) services across Queensland, Australia.
On Friday 12 September, the INHSU hosted a webinar exploring best practice in hepatitis C service delivery in mental health and AOD services in Queensland, Australia. This is part of our ongoing Community of Practice. Speakers included:
- Lisa Ball – Clinical Nurse, Ipswich Alcohol and Other Drug Service, West Moreton Health
- Grace O’Donoghue – Clinical Nurse, Ipswich Alcohol and Other Drug Service, West Moreton Health
- Kim Rayner – Innovation and Health Strategy Lead, Nurse Practitioner, Micah Projects
INHSU Project Officer Fabiana Porto organised the webinar and here, she shares her key takeaways.
What was the core theme of the webinar?
Mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) services are often the first and most consistent point of contact for people at risk of hepatitis C, so embedding testing and treatment into these settings is essential.
Speakers showed that success doesn’t always come from big new programs, but from practical approaches — building hepatitis C into everyday practice, strengthening partnerships, and making sure clients are supported at every step of their journey.
What gap, risk, or issue was highlighted that is often overlooked?
A key challenge that came up for all speakers is how easily clients can slip through the cracks. People moving between correctional facilities, mental health units, and AOD services often miss opportunities for testing and treatment. Rural and regional distance adds another barrier. Without consistent systems to capture and follow up, hepatitis C care is often fragmented or lost altogether.
What ideas or innovations stood out that could change practice or thinking?
This webinar was all about showcasing practical strategies that don’t require big budgets, just commitment and creativity:
- Use visual reminders: Lisa and Grace described how they manually went through their database of clients (such as long-acting injectable clients) to see if people had been tested for hepatitis C. If they hadn’t, they made it “impossible to miss” with bright post it notes on patient charts advising staff to test. After testing was completed (or if the client refused) red dots were added to charts, immediately giving a visual reminder and eliminating gaps
- Get creative with case finding: Kim shared how Micah Projects uses vulnerability index surveys and data lists to actively identify people most at risk. Originating from the US the tool is widely used in homelessness and community health settings to assess risk and prioritise support. It collects information on:
-
- Housing status and stability
- Health conditions (including hepatitis C and other BBVs)
- Experiences of trauma or mental health concerns
- Contact with justice or emergency services
- Other social determinants that increase vulnerability
By running these surveys across their client base, Micah can generate a data-driven list of people at higher risk of hepatitis C or more likely to be disengaged from care. This allows their nurse practitioners and outreach teams to proactively follow up, offering testing and treatment directly rather than waiting for clients to present.
- Have patient-centred conversations: Speakers shared how one client only agreed to treatment after understanding the risk to his children, showing how personal motivations can unlock engagement.
What does this mean in practice for people working in the field?
Innovation doesn’t always mean new technology — sometimes it’s the basics done well. Visible reminders, dedicated registries, and follow-up systems lead to much higher consistency. Outreach and home visits extend reach to people who are hardest to engage. Most importantly, hepatitis C care should not be treated as an “add-on” but as part of core business across mental health and AOD services.
If there’s one thing to take forward from this webinar, what should it be?
That persistence matters. Clients may decline testing several times before saying yes, but consistent conversations, reminders, and follow-up can make the difference. Pairing this persistence with simple systems creates real momentum towards elimination. I loved West Moreton Health’s commitment that no client should leave the service without being offered a hepatitis C test.
Fabi’s final thoughts
Queensland’s experience shows that small, practical steps can drive real change. When services commit to testing everyone, following up, and never giving up on clients, elimination shifts from an ambition to a reality.
