Liverwell

29/05/2026

This week, the LiverWELL team delivered an interactive StreetShot education session at Oxygen Youth Space in Coburg with the Merri-bek Youth Ambassadors. The session included a presentation on hepatitis awareness for young people, fun StreetShot games, a Q&A and discussion portion, and a fun art workshop!

During the art workshop, participants created powerful artworks and call-to-action posters inspired by hepatitis facts they learned during the session. It was incredible to see so much creativity, curiosity, and engagement throughout the evening.

Thank you to the Merri-bek youth leaders for bringing such great energy to the session, and to Oxygen Youth Space for hosting us!

Want to learn more about StreetShot? Visit: https://liverwell.org.au/services/community-programs/streetshot-youth-program/

25/05/2026

National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June) is a time to reflect on Australia’s reconciliation journey, acknowledge the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and recognise the role we all play in creating meaningful change.

Beginning with National Sorry Day on 26 May, the week also honours Stolen Generation survivors and the ongoing healing journey for Aboriginal communities. This year’s NRW theme, All In For Reconciliation, encourages all Australians to engage in reconciliation.

At LiverWELL, we recognise the disproportionate impact viral hepatitis has on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and are committed to supporting better liver health outcomes for all.

Learn more about National Reconciliation Week 2026: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/

22/05/2026

A big thank-you to our amazing volunteers!

This Week is National Volunteers Week 2026, which means it's time to shed some light on the dedication, hard work and selfless contribution that our volunteers bring to LiverWELL.

This year the theme of National Volunteers Week is ‘Your Year to Volunteer' which honours the contributions of volunteers and invites people across Australia to make 2026 a year of meaningful involvement, in ways that work for them.

Every month, we award of of our amazing volunteers as our 'Volunteer of the Month', sharing their story, the work they've done with our organisation, and a bit about their goals and dreams for the future.

You can read our volunteer stories or apply to become a volunteer here: https://liverwell.org.au/get-involved/volunteer/

16/05/2026

May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex Discrimination, and Transphobia. Go rainbow to create safer workplaces, schools, and communities.

This IDAHOBIT, we’re recognising the importance of inclusive, stigma-free healthcare for LGBTQIA+ communities. LGBTQIA+ people in regional areas are at an increased risk of contracting viral hepatitis and often face barriers to care including discrimination, stigma, fear of judgement, and a lack of culturally safe health services. At LiverWELL, we believe everyone deserves access to healthcare that is safe and inclusive.

Get involved by visiting www.idahobit.org.au

07/05/2026

Yesterday in Bendigo, Liverwell and Thorne Harbour Health Country hosted the Bendigo Regional Forum 2026, bringing together BBV, rainbow, and health sector professionals from regional Victoria and Melbourne for a day of connection and shared learning.

The day opened with updates from the Victorian Department of Health and the Loddon Mallee Health Network, with discussions quickly centring on stigma in healthcare, and how it is layered, complex, and shaped by identity, place, and lived experience.

Across the forum, Harm Reduction Victoria (Australia) highlighted equity-driven approaches in regional settings, while Budi Sudarto spoke to intersectionality and how overlapping stigma can affect access to care.

Steven Taylor shared his lived experience of Hepatitis C, reflecting on stigma and delayed treatment, while Thorne Harbour Country spoke to its history, ongoing discrimination faced by people living with HIV, and the importance of LGBTQIA+ visibility in regional communities.
Participants could also check out the StreetShot exhibition showcased youth artworks raising awareness of viral hepatitis throughout the day.

Finally, the resource Design Workshop brought people together to design more inclusive, accessible liver health resources for the Bendigo region. Bringing action to what was shared and learnt on the day.

The forum highlighted that improving health outcomes requires coordinated effort, shared insight, and community-informed design.

A big thank you to everyone who attended, and to the LiverWELL team for bringing the day together. Special thanks to Jon Kok and Damien Stevens from Thorne Harbour Country for leading the event.

Read the whole story: https://liverwell.org.au/the-liverwell-bendigo-regional-forum-2026-spotlighting-stigma/

01/05/2026

C the Whole Story – Forum IV: Reframing Cultural Safety to Strengthen Person-Centred Care

A free, live online forum on Wednesday, 20 May 2026 (11am–2pm) exploring how to rethink cultural safety and strengthen person-centred care in hepatitis C services.

Hosted by ASHM Health, this interactive session includes:
• A webinar presentation
• A panel on lived experience & stigma
• A practical workshop to turn insights into system-level change

Open to health workers, clinicians, nurses, AOD and peer workers, and anyone involved in hepatitis C care.

Gain practical insights into culturally responsive care, the impact of stigma and unconscious bias, and ways to build more inclusive, equitable services.

Learn more: https://ashm.org.au/education/c-the-whole-story-forum-iv-advancing-integration-of-hepatitis-c-care/



Learn more:

30/04/2026

The WHO is calling for urgent action to eliminate viral hepatitis.

While global progress is being made, too many people remain undiagnosed and untreated, putting millions at risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

LiverWELL is working hard to encourage Victorians to get tested for hepatitis and to speak with a doctor about treatment and ongoing care. If you have any questions or concerns, call LiverLine on 1800 703 003 for free, confidential information, support, and referrals.

The tools to eliminate hepatitis exist. What's needed now is greater access to prevention, testing and treatment worldwide.

Read more: https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/04/1167395?utm_source=miragenews&utm_medium=miragenews&utm_campaign=news

Via United Nations News

29/04/2026

28/04/2026

Tune in this Thursday 30 April at 9pm on JOY 94.9 🎙️

LiverWELL Workforce Development and Research Officer Jon Kok will be joining the Well, Well, Well team to talk about intersectionality, stigma in healthcare, and LiverWELL Regional Forum happening in Bendigo on 6 May 2026.

📻 Listen live in Metro Melbourne, or stream via joy.org.au or iHeartRadio
The episode will also be available shortly after on joy.org.au/wellwellwell, plus Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio Podcasts.

28/04/2026

We’re excited to announce our newest Liver Legend!

Charissa Feng is a passionate leader in liver cancer prevention at Cancer Council Victoria. She is dedicated to bringing together the viral hepatitis and cancer sectors to improve outcomes for people at risk. Driven by a strong belief that everyone deserves equal access to healthcare, her work focuses on reducing inequities, breaking down stigma, and connecting communities to care.

Her story highlights the power of collaboration and thinking beyond traditional boundaries to tackle complex health challenges.

Read her story: