News

Healthcare professionals, support services and community groups came together in Wodonga on Thursday 31 July for the inaugural Ovens Murray Regional Viral Hepatitis Forum – a powerful day of learning, connection and collaboration focused on improving prevention, testing and treatment for people living with or at risk of viral hepatitis. 

Co-hosted by the Ovens Murray Public Health Unit (OMPHU) and LiverWELL, the event took place at The Cube Wodonga and brought together over 40 attendees and 15 guest speakers with the aim to increase understanding of gaps in the cascade of care, strengthen regional referral pathways, and explore collaborative mechanisms to improve health outcomes.  

The day opened with a compelling reminder of Victoria’s commitment to hepatitis elimination, delivered by Elizabeth Birbilis, Manager, Blood Borne Virus and Sexually Transmissible Infections, Communicable Diseases at the Department of Health Victoria. Her address framed the importance of regional leadership in delivering on statewide goals of prevention, treatment, and stigma reduction. 

The urgency is clear: viral hepatitis is now the world’s deadliest communicable disease, claiming over a million lives each year (World Hepatitis Alliance)¹. Globally, an estimated 300 million people are living with hepatitis B or C, yet most are unaware until it causes irreversible liver damage². Hepatitis is also the leading cause of liver cancer, with global diagnosis rates projected to double by 2040³.

Speakers explored how regional services can respond through earlier detection, equitable care and community-led strategies. Topics ranged from the epidemiology of viral hepatitis in the Ovens Murray region to overcoming stigma and ensuring equitable access to care. Presenters shared real-world insights from harm reduction programs, hospital settings, Aboriginal health services and community organisations. 

Highlights included: 

• An insightful talk from a lived experience speaker 

• Practical regional perspectives on testing, prescribing and treatment 

• A Lunch and Learn session for GPs and nurse practitioners on becoming s100 prescribers 

• A workshop session to co-create a regional mission statement and action plan for viral hepatitis 

• Panel discussions  

Anthony Zheng, Clinical Director from OMPHU said the forum created a valuable space for collaboration and forward planning, reinforcing the need for locally tailored, community-driven approaches to hepatitis care in rural and regional areas. 

“Viral hepatitis continues to affect people in our region, but we have the tools and partnerships to change that. Today was about bringing those voices together to shape a local response that truly meets community needs,” Mr. Zheng said. 

Attendees could claim self-reported CPD hours, with both in-person and online options available.  

Participating organisations included: 

Ovens Murray Public Health Unit, LiverWELL, Department of Health Victoria, Gateway Health, Harm Reduction Victoria, New South Wales Health, Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service, Multicultural Health and Support Services, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, and Royal Melbourne Hospital. 

Source: World Hepatitis Alliance, 28 July 2025, https://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/news/world-hepatitis-day-2025-president-address/[1]
Source: World Hepatitis Alliance, 28 July 2025[1]
Source: World Hepatitis Alliance, 28 July 2025