Theme: Models of Care Year: 2019
Background:Australia’s Fifth National Hepatitis C Strategy was released in December 2018. With the
aim of achieving elimination by 2030, a significant investment has been made to provide directacting antiviral (DAA) treatment to all citizens, including those incarcerated. Australia is well-placed
to achieve hepatitis C elimination, however policy and structural barriers continue to impede
treatment of people living with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in custodial settings.
AIVL, the national peer-based drug user organisation, was a key stakeholder in the development of
the abovementioned Strategy. Whilst the new Strategy emphasises a renewed focus on people who
inject drugs in custodial settings, given the lack of coordination between federal and state
jurisdictions there is a substantial risk that improvements in models of care will not be fully
achieved. There are also significant structural barriers in linking people exiting custodial settings to
HCV care.
Description of model of care/intervention: This presentation will examine and analyse the policy
and structural barriers that exist in relation to the goals of the National Strategy and explore how
best practice models of care can be consistently implemented across Australia. An emphasis will be
on the effectiveness of and need for enhanced peer-led programs, which assist people exiting
custodial settings whilst on treatment to make the necessary linkages with primary health care in
the community.
Effectiveness: As this is the fifth iteration of the National Hepatitis C Strategy, the effectiveness of
the approach will be reviewed in terms of what models of care have previously been supported by
the strategies and how effective these have been. There will also be an exploration of what has been
missing from the implementation of previous strategies if Australia is going to reach its elimination
goal.
Conclusion and next steps: AIVL will release a report which outlines recommendations on how best
practice models of care can be developed and implemented for custodial settings, including a focus
on peer-based programs. Furthermore, AIVL will continue to advocate to the Australian Government
regarding the policy changes required to ensure Australia achieves hepatitis C elimination.
Disclosure of Interest Statement :The Australian Injecting & Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL) is funded
by the Australian Government Department of Health. No pharmaceutical grants were received in the
development of this study