Concurrent Session 6B: People, families and community-centred care
Tracks
Track 2
| Friday, August 14, 2026 |
| 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM |
Speaker
Tania Patrao
Contractor
Hepatitis Queensland
Co-Presenter: THE EVOLUTION TO STRONG LIVER, STRONG MOB – HOW COMMUNITY CONNECTION DRIVES VIRAL HEPATITIS AWARENESS.
2:20 PM - 2:35 PMBiography
VH2026
Welcome & Introduction
1:30 PM - 1:35 PMBiography
Miss Grace Burton-mckeich
Phd Student
Kirby Institute, Unsw
Who defines good care? Comparing clinicians’ and mothers’ perspectives on the management of perinatal hepatitis C using care ethics
1:35 PM - 1:50 PMBiography
Grace is a PhD candidate in the Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program at the Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney. With her research, she aims to improve access to and the quality of infectious disease care for women from underserved populations, especially pregnant and parenting women.
Dr Heather Valerio
Research Fellow
The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney
Hepatitis C across generations: Demographic and behavioural insights into affected mothers and children in New South Wales, Australia
1:50 PM - 2:05 PMBiography
Heather Valerio is a senior research associate in the Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program at The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney.
Daniel Storer
Research Associate
UNSW
Beyond the cascade: Migrant health practices and the limits of public health metrics
2:05 PM - 2:20 PMBiography
Daniel is a health sociologist with an interest in HIV, sexual health and working with marginalised communities across projects focused among marginalised communities. Daniel is a Research Associate with the Health+Law project at the Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW
Jessie Badger
Manager, Communications And Health Promotion
Hepatitis Queensland
Ms Annabelle Stevens
Manager
Nsw Health
Declining Hepatitis C Prevalence Among Priority Populations Accessing Dried Blood Spot Testing in Community and Prison Settings in New South Wales
2:35 PM - 2:50 PMBiography
Annabelle is the Manager of the Hepatitis Programs and Policy Unit in the Centre for Population Health, overseeing implementation of the NSW Hepatitis Strategies to support hepatitis elimination. She is also completing a PhD at UNSW, focused on evaluating hepatitis C diagnostic testing strategies to improve access.
Georgia Myers
Hepatology Clinical Nurse Consultant
St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
Examining the characteristics of people who tested positive for hepatitis C that were reached through a mobile nurse and peer-led model of care in Melbourne, Victoria
2:50 PM - 2:55 PMBiography
Georgia is a Hepatology Clinical Nurse Consultant on the 'C No More' mobile hepatitis C van; a nurse and peer partnership targeting community corrections populations across Melbourne. She has a background in homeless health, HIV and emergency nursing and has worked in remote and regional areas across Australia.
Malinna Yeang
Hospital Scientist
NSW Health Pathology
Improved HCV case finding and management using enhanced testing of Dried Blood Spots (DBS)
2:55 PM - 3:00 PMBiography
Malinna Yeang is a Research Scientist working at the intersection of molecular biology, virology and genomics. Her research focuses on developing molecular assays - including RT-PCR, and NGS - to detect, type and track viruses. Malinna is committed to bridging the gap between diagnostic science and real-world public health applications.
Mark Belzer
Peer
Harm Reduction Victoria
Graffiti art as an peer engagement tool
3:00 PM - 3:05 PMBiography
Mark is a peer worker on the C No More project with Harm Reduction Victoria. He previously lived with hepatitis C for 30 years and completed both interferon treatment and DAAs. Mark's activity in the Melbourne graffiti scene makes him recognisable and relatable to C No More punters.