Hepatitis C Training

People who inject drugs represent approximately 90% of newly acquired hepatitis C (HCV) infections. This course aims to provide addiction physicians, general practitioners, nurse practitioners, and other practitioners working in Drug and Alcohol settings with the skills and knowledge to diagnose HCV, manage comorbidities and treat HCV.    

Target Audience: Addiction medicine physicians, general practitioners, nurse practitioners, and other practitioners prescribing or intending to prescribe s85 DAA medication for HCV in alcohol and other drug settings.  

CPD:  This activity has been approved by the RACGP as a CPD accredited activity and has been allocated 40 CPD points. 

Components: 

• Part 1: A 2-hour eLearning component introducing the learner to assessment, management and treatment of hepatitis C in drug and alcohol settings.
• Part 2: An interactive face-to-face workshop building on the knowledge and skills gained in Part 1 through practical case discussions.
• Part 3: A tailored capacity strengthening toolkit including: a checklist for the assessment and treatment of HCV in drug and alcohol settings; local referral pathways; Fibroscan® access forms; assessment pro forma; and quick reference guides. 

Learning Outcomes :

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:   

• Describe risk factors for HCV, enabling discussions with clients around prevention and harm reduction    
• Screen, order and interpret tests appropriately to diagnose chronic HCV infection   
• Perform the recommended pre-treatment assessment, including liver disease staging   
• Determine the appropriate antiviral therapy for treatment of HCV and explain treatment to patient 
• Implement monitoring and post-treatment follow-up recommendations  

A comprehensive education program for practitioners working in drug and alcohol settings or with people who inject drugs. The program is designed to provide participants with the confidence and clinical decision-making skills to be able to increase testing and linkage to HCV care in their practice, and to prescribe DAA therapy either independently or in consultation with a specialist.  

The program includes an online learning module and an interactive workshop enabling practical and collaborative application of HCV management principles through case study discussions. 

Target audience: General practitioners, nurse practitioners, other practitioners prescribing or intending to prescribe s85 direct-acting antiviral medication for HCV in primary care settings. 

CPD:  This activity has been approved by the RACGP as a CPD accredited activity and has been allocated 40 CPD points. 

Components: 

• Part 1: A 2.5-hour eLearning component introducing the learner to assessment, management and treatment of hepatitis C in a primary care setting.
• Part 2: An interactive face-to-face workshop building on the knowledge and skills gained in Part 1 through practical case discussions. 

Learning Outcomes :

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:   

• Screen, order and interpret tests appropriately to diagnose chronic HCV infection   
• Discuss strategies with patients to minimise transmission risk and improve liver health 
• Perform the recommended pre-treatment assessment, including liver disease staging
• Determine the appropriate antiviral therapy for treatment of HCV and explain treatment to patient 
• Implement monitoring and post-treatment follow-up recommendations

Primary care providers can play a critical role in the elimination of hepatitis C in Australia by 2030. This 2.5 hour workshop will provide an overview of the management of HCV in primary care settings, including case finding, testing, patient assessment and treatment.   

Target audience:

General practitioners, nurse practitioners, nurses, primary care-based practitioners 

CPD:  This activity has been approved by the RACGP as a CPD activity and has been allocated 4 CPD points. 

Learning Outcomes :

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:   

• Screen, order and interpret tests appropriately to diagnose chronic HCV infection   
• Discuss strategies with patients to minimise transmission risk and improve liver health   
• Perform the recommended pre-treatment assessment, including liver disease staging   
• Determine the appropriate antiviral therapy for treatment of HCV and explain treatment to patient   
• Implement monitoring and post-treatment follow-up recommendations   

Frontline workers in NSP settings have a crucial and unique role to play in eliminating hep C. Every day, you’re talking to people who might be living with hep C. By sharing messages about testing and treatment, you can support people to protect their health.  

This training aims to provide participants with the confidence to initiate conversations around hep C in the needle and syringe program (NSP) setting and provide referrals to testing and treatment.    

Target audience:

Frontline workers in primary, secondary and pharmacy NSP services; including health education officers, peer support workers, needle and syringe program workers, social workers, nurses, administration officers, pharmacists, and pharmacy assistants.  

Accreditation:  This course is endorsed by the ACN according to our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Endorsed Course Standards. It has been allocated 4 CPD Hours according to the Nursing and Midwifery Boards of Australia – Continuing Professional Development Standard. 

Components: 

• Part 1: A 1-hour eLearning component introducing the learner to the topics of testing, management and treatment of HCV in addition to how to provide education in the NSP setting.
• Part 2: An interactive face-to-face workshop building on the knowledge and skills gained in Part 1 through practical case discussions and referral pathway mapping. 

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:   

• Describe risk factors for hep C, enabling discussions with people around prevention and harm reduction   
• Describe hep C testing and liver disease assessment   
• Recognise the treatment options for hep C    
• Identify your local referral pathways for linking people to hep C testing and treatment   
• Communicate confidently with people about hep C testing, treatment, and follow-up processes in the NSP   

Nurses have an important role in ensuring improved health outcomes for people with hepatitis C (HCV).  This 1.5-day course developed in collaboration with the Australasian Hepatology Association (AHA), aims to provide nurses with the skills and confidence in the clinical management of HCV to support individuals and their families.   

Target audience:

Nurses working in general practice, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services, sexual health services, corrective services, drug and alcohol and mental health, as well as tertiary settings.  

Accreditation: 

This activity has been endorsed by APNA according to approved quality standards criteria.  Completion of this educational activity entitles eligible participants to claim 11 CPD hours.  

This course is also endorsed by the ACN according to our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Endorsed Course Standards. It has been allocated 10.25 CPD Hours according to the Nursing and Midwifery Boards of Australia – Continuing Professional Development Standard.

Components: 

• Part 1: A recommended pre-reading and a 1-hour eLearning component on advanced liver disease
• Part 2: A 1.5-day interactive face-to-face workshop building on the pre-reading and eLearning content 1 through presentations and practical case discussions. 

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:   

• Describe risk factors for HCV, enabling discussions with patients around prevention    
• Discuss HCV serology to identify opportunities for screening, testing and linkage-to-care   
• Explain the nurse’s role in providing culturally appropriate care, free from stigma and discrimination, to people from priority populations   
• Explain the nurse’s role in the management of chronic HCV, advanced liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma    
• Outline strategies for supporting patients with medication adherence   

This online learning module consists of 4 individual modules covering: prevention and starting the conversation around HCV; HCV testing; treatment for HCV; and ongoing engagement with people in the NSP. These modules are designed for those working at the frontline of the NSP, with the goal of increasing ability and confidence to have conversations around HCV in the NSP and to link people to appropriate health services.  

Duration:  1.5 hours  

This online learning module consists of 4 individual modules covering; HCV epidemiology, prevention and natural history; HCV testing and liver disease staging; Treatment options for HCV; and Monitoring, adherence and post-treatment follow-up. These modules are designed for medical practitioners working in drug and alcohol settings or with people who inject drugs.  

Duration:  2 hours  

• Part 1 of this online learning consists of 4 individual modules covering; HCV epidemiology, prevention and natural history; HCV testing and liver disease staging; Treatment options for HCV; and Monitoring, adherence and post-treatment follow-up. These modules are designed for medical practitioners, nurses and other health care professionals working in primary care settings.  
  Duration:  2.5 hours 
   
• Part 2 of the eLearning is a case-based Refresher Module that aims to reinforce the assessment, management, treatment selection and monitoring for people with chronic  hepatitis C.    
  Duration: 30 mins 

Developed by AIVL, the ‘Normal Day’ podcast series and resources features conversations between healthcare professionals and people who use drugs on the challenges and misunderstandings that sometimes occur within the clinical relationship. The six-part series includes interviews with GPs, pharmacists, researchers, emergency room physicians and GP receptionists who provide unique insights and rarely heard perspectives.  

Duration: 1.5 hours 

ASHM has collaborated with the International Network on Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU) to adapt and deliver the Hepatitis C in Primary Care and Drug and Alcohol Settings Education Program, internationally. 

INHSU is a not-for-profit, member-based organisation dedicated to scientific knowledge exchange, knowledge translation, and advocacy focused on HCV prevention and care among people who use drugs. To find out more please visit www.inhsu.org. 

In close partnership with local organisations, ASHM and INHSU tailor and translate the education program to ensure materials and resources meet the needs of practitioners, are in-line with local guidelines and appropriately support increased HCV screening, linkage-to-care and treatment for people living with HCV.