Facilitate collaboration and information exchange across Australian jurisdictions to develop the necessary health infrastructure for HCV testing and treatment in custodial settings nationally.
The Australian hepatitis and risk survey in prisons (AusHep)
OVERVIEW
AusHep is a Commonwealth-supported national prison-based blood-borne virus surveillance program that assesses the prevalence, risk behaviours, and care cascades for hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV in the Australian prison sector. The first round of AusHep was conducted in 2023-2023 and the second round is planned to commence in 2025.
AusHep fills a critical gap in national prison-based blood-borne virus surveillance and serves as a mechanism for effective monitoring of the prison-based contributions to the national and state-based investments in the push to eliminate hepatitis C and hepatitis B as public health threats. AusHep replaces the previous triennial National Prison Entrants Blood-Borne Virus Survey (NPPBVS; 2004 - 2016) as the key national prison-based blood-borne virus surveillance program.​​
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of AusHep are to:
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monitor the prevalence of hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV (including exposure, current infection, immunity and reinfection) in the Australian prison sector;
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monitor the engagement in blood-borne virus care cascades (i.e. engagement in testing and treatment) among people in prison;
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collect important health and risk behaviour data (e.g. injecting practices, harm reduction access) among people in prison.
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The bio-behavioural survey involves point-of-care testing for hepatitis C antibodies, hepatitis C RNA (if antibody positive), hepatitis B surface antigens, and HIV antibodies and an interview-style survey.
The first round of AusHep was conducted in 2023-2023 in 23 representative prisons and involved 1599 randomly selected participants from six states and territories.
PARTNERSHIP & FUNDERS
AusHep was initiated with funding through strategic research and surveillance funding provided to the Kirby Institute from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing and is now funded through an NHMRC Partnership Project. AusHep is an NPHN initiative led by researchers at the Kirby Institute in partnership with state and territory sector stakeholders.​ Partner organisations from AusHep Round 1 include:
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Corrective Services NSW
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Justice Health NSW
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NT Department of Correctional Services
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NT Department of Health
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QLD Corrective Services
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QLD Office of Prisoner Health & Wellbeing (QLD Health)
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SA Department of Corrective Services
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SA Prison Health Services
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Correctional Primary Health Services (TAS)
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Tasmanian Prison Service
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WA Department of Justice
CONTACT
For any questions about AusHep, please contact:
Lana Pasic, AusHep Study Coordinator
lpasic@kirby.unsw.edu.au