Victorian HIV and Hepatitis Integrated Training and Learning (VHHITAL)

Essentials

STI Essentials

Before attending the STI courses, we recommend you watch the primer videos below to support your learning.

Over the past 10 years in Victoria rates of syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea have all increased, and primary health care practitioners are the key to bringing these epidemics under control.  STIs are not always visible, but can cause severe health problems if left undiagnosed and untreated.

This informative and interactive session provides the understanding and tools to confidently manage common STI screening and care, making sexual health a routine everyday part of your primary health care practice. The option of referring complex cases and receiving other supports from the new sexual health sentinel clinics will be highlighted. 

Learning outcomes:

Improved understanding of sexual health care for young people, pregnant women and other key populations.
Know how to approach taking a sexual history.
Be able to describe the clinical presentation of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis.
Be able to correctly perform comprehensive sexual health screening, including testing for the most common STIs.
Manage treatment, contact tracing and, if necessary, referrals using the Health Pathways tool.

Format: Online, 2 hours.

Presenters & Facilitators: Dr Melanie Bissessor, Sexual Health Physician, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre.

Dr Melanie Bissessor

Learning Methods: Presentation, case discussion, Q&A.

Continuing Professional Development:  4 x RACGP CPD hours (Educational Activity)/2 x ACRRM PDP points. All participants will receive a certificate of attendance.

PrEP & HIV Essential

Pre-Exposure Prophyslaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention strategy in high demand within the community. On April 1st 2018, PrEP was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) as a general schedule s85 item. GPs and nurse practitioners can prescribe it, and community pharmacies are able to dispense it.

This session will guide you on which populations the treatment is suitable for, and how to initiate it with ease.

Learning outcomes:

Describe different HIV prevention strategies.
Explain different options for PrEP dosing.
Use the PrEP decision-making tool to manage patients.
Explain the effectiveness and appropriate use of PrEP/PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) to patients.

Format: Online, 2 hours.

Presenters & Facilitators: Dr Tom Dickson

Continuing Professional Development:  2 x RACGP CPD Educational Activity hours.

To register your interest for future sessions contact the VHHITAL team at vhhital@nwmphn.org.au, with subject line: ‘EOI (name of course)’.

Hepatitis C for Nurses and Midwives

This free facilitated online training course by VHHITAL and ASHM provides nurses with the knowledge and confidence to increase screening and management of hepatitis C in primary care settings. The training is for nurses and midwives working in VIC and ACT.

Learning outcomes

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.

Learning objectives align with the Australiasian Hepatology Association (AHA) Practice Standards for the Hepatology Nurse (2015) and the AHA Consensus based Nursing Guidelines (2019). The course is also endorsed by the AHA.

Format: Online. The course is run over two days, each consisting of a 3 hour session 9.30am-12.30pm.

Target Audience: Nurses and Midwives working in sexual health services, public and private medical clinics, refugee and migrant services, correctional facilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services, drug and alcohol services, mental health services, and youth services.

Presenters & Facilitators:

Dr Jacqui Richmond, Burnet Institute
Mieken Grant, Viral Hepatitis Educator

Dr Jacqui Richmond

Mieken Grant

Continuing Professional Development: 6.5 CPD Hours

Hepatitis B for Nurses and Midwives

The course will provide nursing and midwifery professionals with advanced practical skills and knowledge in hepatitis B nursing.

The course includes presentations and case discussions that introduce the epidemiology and natural history of hepatitis B; vaccination; testing; fibrosis assessment; advanced liver disease; stigma and discrimination and the cultural context of hepatitis B nursing and midwifery.

Learning outcomes:

Outline the epidemiology of hepatitis B and the risk factors for hepatitis B transmission.
Identify opportunities for screening and testing, vaccination and linkage to care
Outline nurses’ and midwives’ role in providing culturally appropriate care, free from stigma and discrimination
Outline the nurses’ and midwives’ role in identifying, diagnosing, assessing, monitoring and treating patients with chronic hepatitis B and advanced liver disease.
Utilise innovative strategies and models of care that deliver care for patients with hepatitis B.

Course components:

This course will be presented as a mix of self-paced and live facilitated learning, providing attendees an opportunity to discuss and practice strategies with peers and specialists. This is comprised of:

Online learning modules
Video modules
Two 4-hour interactive webinars via Zoom

This course is endorsed by ACN according to our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Endorsed Course Standards. This activity, including all required pre-course and post-course work is allocated 10 CPD hours according to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia – Continuing Professional Development Standard.

Australian College of Midwives CPD Endorsed Activity.

Target audience:

Nursing and midwifery professionals working with patients at risk of or living with hepatitis B based in Vic.

Presenters & Facilitators:

Dr Jacqui Richmond, Burnet Institute
Mieken Grant, Viral Hepatitis Educator
Gabrielle Bennett, St Vincent’s Health Australia
Phoebe Trinidad, Latrobe Community Health Service

Dr Jacqui Richmond

Mieken Grant

Continuing Professional Development: 10 CPD hours

Upcoming sessions

20 and 22 May 2025, 9:30am – 1:30pm

To register your interest for future sessions, contact the VHHITAL team at vhhital@nwmphn.org.au, with subject line: ‘EOI (name of course)’.

STI Community of Practice

Communities of Practice (CoP) provide opportunities for learning, networking and collaboration for all primary health care practitioners. See the BBV/STI calendar for dates.

The STI CoP is facilitated by Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and affiliated general practices.

Upcoming sessions

Hepatitis C Community of Practice

People who inject drugs and experience social and structural inequities such as homelessness are at increased risk of acquiring HCV and are therefore a priority population for HCV models of care.

This Hepatitis C Community of Practice session is intended to support the alcohol and other drugs workforce with the opportunity to bring case based studies for discussion and mutual learning. This peer learning approach enhances the practice of AOD workers to recognise those who may be living with or at risk of HCV and supporting them onto the care pathway, particularly if they are disengaged with traditional health care services.

All practitioners are invited to submit cases for discussion. Presenters will be selected based on the needs of each case so early submission is encouraged.

Topic: Working with Corrections

Learning outcomes

Identify appropriate point of care testing options for people at risk of HCV
Plan appropriate pathways to care, from testing to treatment and beyond
Learn about innovative models of care of service delivery which can be successfully used in marginalised/challenging populations, including:
- incorporation of POC testing
- initiation of therapy in non-healthcare or outreach settings
- retention in care for challenging population

Format: Online

Presenter & Facilitator: Dr Jacqui Richmond, Burnet Institute

Dr Jacqui Richmond

Continuing Professional Development

This session is not currently accredited with RACGP Portal. Participants will need to self-record this activity via Quick Log through their RACGP myCPD dashboard. Your Statement of Attendance will include a breakdown of hours and activity types.

Upcoming sessions

12 May 2025, 12pm – 1:30pm

Advanced courses

Syphilis Advanced Course

Before attending the STI courses, we recommend you watch the primer videos below to support your learning.

Infectious syphilis has significantly increased in Victoria over the past decade. There were 298 cases in 2010 but the rate is now close to 2,000. Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men continue to make up the volume of cases.

This course builds on VHHITAL’s STI Essentials course and provides skills and resources for primary health care practitioners to confidently implement guideline-based management of patients diagnosed with syphilis, improving patient outcomes. Course numbers are limited to maximise participation in the case study discussions. 

Learning outcomes:

Understand and reinforce that sexual health is everyday routine business for primary care.
Describe the clinical presentation of primary, secondary and latent syphilis.
Correctly perform testing for syphilis.
Implement guideline-based management of patients diagnosed with syphilis.
Recap contact tracing and its key role in managing STIs.
Apply learning in case study discussions.

Presenters & Facilitators: Dr Melanie Bissessor, sexual health physician, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health.

Dr Melanie Bissessor

Format: Online, 2 hours.

Learning Methods: Presentation, case discussion, Q&A.

Continuing Professional Development: 4 x RACGP CPD hours (Educational Activity)/2 x ACRRM PDP points. All participants will receive a certificate of attendance.

Mycoplasma Genitalium (MG) and Drug Resistant STIs

Before attending the STI courses, we recommend you watch the primer videos below to support your learning.

Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) and gonorrhoea are relatively common in Australia. Both have developed antimicrobial resistance in recent years, rendering them increasingly difficult to treat. This course delves into treating them and other evolving drug-resistant STIs.

Learning outcomes

Define the epidemiology and mechanisms of microbial resistance in sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Identify the testing methods for the presence of microbial resistance
Discuss treatment options for microbial resistant sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with patients
Describe other emerging sexually transmitted infection (STI) resistance possibilities and options for specialist advice and referral in managing treatment.

Format: Online, 2 hours.

Learning Methods: Presentation, case discussion, Q&A.

Presenter & Facilitator: Dr Melanie Bissessor, Sexual Health Physician, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre.

Dr Melanie Bissessor

Continuing Professional Development: 4 x RACGP CPD hours (Educational Activity). All participants will receive a certificate of attendance.

Upcoming sessions

8 May 2025, 6:30pm – 8:3opm

To register your interest for future sessions, contact the VHHITAL team at vhhital@nwmphn.org.au, with subject line: ‘EOI (name of course)’.

Hepatitis B s100 Prescriber Course

Advanced level training that enables Victorian GPs and nurse practitioners to effectively diagnose, manage and treat chronic hepatitis B in primary care settings. Successful completion of the training and assessment accredits community-based medical practitioners to prescribe s100 highly specialised drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

Learning outcomes:

Outline the critical role of primary care in the diagnosis, management and treatment of people living with chronic hepatitis B.
Plan long-term care, including guideline-based monitoring and hepatocellular carcinoma screening, for patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Select and prescribe first-line antiviral treatment when clinically indicated.
Identify situations where specialist advice or referral is required.
Integrate principles of person-centred and culturally competent care into hepatitis B management.

This course is in high demand and places are limited. By agreeing to register you agree to also gain HBV s100 accreditation, and can commit to attending all the live sessions and course work.

Format: Online, over 3 weeks.

Requirements

Prior to the course:

Pre-course survey (10 minutes to complete)
Hepatitis B introductory online modules (about 1 hour to complete).

During the course:

Completion of pre-recorded video modules. Between each webinar, 30-minute video lectures are available for participants to watch in their own time. The interactive webinar activities are based on content these lectures.
Live webinars. Attending three webinars is compulsory for completion of the course and to receive accreditation.
Completion of assignment. One assignment, which contains a case study, must be completed during the course. It takes about 30 minutes.

After the course:A post-course online assessment and survey must be completed to become an accredited hepatitis B s100 prescriber. This comprises 30 case-based multiple choice questions.

Presenters & Facilitators: VHHITAL has a faculty of specialists and general practitioner trainers for its hepatitis B prescriber course, including Professor Ben Cowie, Dr Nicole Allard and Dr Lester Mascarenhas.

Professor Ben Cowie

Dr Nicole
Allard

Dr Lester Mascarenhas

Continuing Professional Development: 6 x RACGP CPD Educational Activity, 3.5 x Reviewing Performance hours

HIV s100 Prescriber Course

This course is designed to support GPs and nurse practitioners in managing and treating HIV in the general practice setting, providing the opportunity to establish relationships with local specialist services for ongoing mentoring and referral. Upon successful completion of this training and the associated assessment, you may apply to your relevant state department of health for authority to prescribe section 100 drugs for the management of HIV in Australia.

This course is in high demand and places are limited. We kindly ask that you only register if you intend to gain HIV s100 accreditation and can commit to attending all the live sessions and the course work.

Learning outcomes:

Describe current HIV epidemiology at local, national and global levels.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the science of HIV, the implications for the prevention of disease and the clinical management of HIV and co-infections.
Demonstrate understanding of the principles of antiretroviral therapy and competence in selecting, prescribing and monitoring antiretroviral therapy in a range of clinical scenarios.
Demonstrate understanding of the scientific principles on which diagnostic and treatment decisions in HIV care are based.
Demonstrate competence in interpreting clinical and other relevant information to guide effective care of people living with HIV.
Demonstrate competence in planning, implementing and evaluating the clinical care of people living with HIV across all stages of the virus.
Outline the importance of demonstrating respect for patients’ choice and adhering to legal obligations.

Format: Online, over 4 weeks.

Requirements:

Pre-course activity. Multiple choice questionnaire (8 mins)
Clinical Foundations of HIV Online Learning Module (60 mins)
Clinical Extensions of HIV Online Learning Module (80 mins)

During the course:

Completion of pre-recorded video modules. Each week, video lectures lasting between 8 and 40 minutes will be available for participants to watch in their own time. The interactive webinar activities will be based on content from these lectures.
Live webinars. Attending of 4 live webinars is compulsory for successful completion of the course.
Completion of assignments and online learning modules. One 25-minute case study assignment and three online learning modules between 20 and 45 minutes must be completed during the course.

After the course: A post-course online assessment comprising multiple choice questions must be completed to become an accredited HIV s100 prescriber.

Presenters & Facilitators: VHHITAL has a faculty of highly experienced specialists and general practitioner trainers for our HIV s100 prescriber course, including Dr Olga Vujovic, Dr Matt Penn, Dr David Griffin, Professor Jenny Hoy, Dr Emma Paige, Dr Melanie Bissessor, Dr Tom Dickson, Daniel Sankar.