Concurrent Session 5A: Testing innovation and point-of-care pathways
Tracks
Track 1
| Friday, August 14, 2026 |
| 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM |
Speaker
Mrs Kindness Bondezi
Hepatology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Westmead Hospital
The Use of Interconnected Nurse Led Models of Care to Improve Treatment Uptake for Hepatitis C Elimination
11:50 AM - 12:02 PMBiography
Credentials: RN, MIPH, Dip PR
Hepatology Clinical Nurse Consultant at Storr Liver Centre Westmead Hospital.Kindness currently leads a team that is focused on testing, treating and managing the healthcare needs of people living with viral hepatitis, advanced liver disease, Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Cancer.
Ms Grace Jin
Project Officer
ASHM Health
Outcomes from six-years of NSW Hepatitis C Remote Prescribing Program
12:05 PM - 12:17 PMBiography
Jana Van der Jagt is a Hepatology Nurse Practitioner in the Mid North Coast Local Health District, NSW, with over 27-years experience in the field of Hepatology. Besides her family, her passions include education and in developing flexible models of care that meet the needs of people from marginalised groups.
Mr Corey Markus
Program Lead (Quality Assurance & Training)
Flinders University
Standardised point-of-care operator training is associated with embedded skills post implementation
12:20 PM - 12:23 PMBiography
Corey Markus is a senior medical scientist with over 20 years’ experience. He began his career in paediatrics and has recently moved into the areas of point-of-care testing for viral hepatitis at the Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing.
Dr Marianne Martinello
Senior Research Fellow / ID Physician
Kirby Institute / Prince of Wales Hospital
Comparative evaluation of point-of-care anti-HCV antibody tests for diagnosis of hepatitis C infection
12:25 PM - 12:28 PMBiography
Corey Markus is a senior research officer with the Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing and PhD Candidate at the Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney. He is Program Lead of Operator Training, Education and Quality Assurance for the National Australian Hepatitis C Point-of-Care Testing Program.
Bridget Leppien
Rn, Hep C Programme Manager
Tu Ora Compass Health
Professor Tom Snelling
Professor
The University of Sydney
The effectiveness of financial incentives for increasing uptake of hepatitis C treatment in primary care: results from the MOTIVATE C trial
12:35 PM - 12:38 PMBiography
Tom Snelling is a clinical scientist, Director of Health and Clinical Analytics at the University of Sydney School of Public Health, and infectious diseases physician at the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. He leads national collaborative research using Bayesian methods to improve immunisation, gastroenteritis, food allergy prevention, and cystic fibrosis outcomes.
Ms Imogen Elsum
Research Program Manager
Macfarlane Burnet Institute
Community pharmacy-based models of care for hepatitis C testing and linkage to care: interim results from a national cohort study
12:40 PM - 12:43 PMBiography
Imogen works within the viral hepatitis program at the Burnet Institute. She has a diverse research background with experience across public health, international health and biomedical research. She's interested in innovative solutions that facilitate access, and in improving health outcomes and equity through health system strengthening.