Last month more than 400 researchers, clinicians, scientists and community members from across the viral hepatitis sector descended on Melbourne to attend the 15th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference (VH2025). Co-convened by The Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Professor Benjamin Cowie, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, the conference centred on the theme Real People, Real Action, Real Results.
This year, the WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis sponsored the first-time attendance of five trainee physicians from The Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Victorian Government Department of Health. They provided reflections on their VH2025 experience:
“At the VH2025 Conference I was struck by what genuine community-led design looks like – handing over plenary planning to people with lived experience and shifting from “designing for” to “designing with.” The conference reinforced that lived experience is deep expertise that should be centred as equal to technical and policy knowledge in strategy, research, funding, and service delivery.
Going forward, there is a clear opportunity to strengthen my own public health practice by creating more space for community leadership and partnership, and ensuring programs and policies reflect both evidence and the voices of those most affected. It was also valuable to hear the latest evidence-based approaches on point-of-care testing, engaging priority populations, and delivering services in priority settings.”
Dr Liz Bennett, Principal Public Health Medical Officer, Department of Health, Victoria
“The VH2025 conference was unique in that it was developed and led by people with lived experience. Community engagement forms a large part of the work we undertake each day in public health medicine, and I left the conference with several new learnings and practical tools that I can implement now and into the future. I am already looking forward to next year’s program.”
Dr Taylah van Leerdam, Public Health Registrar, Department of Health, Victoria
“I was very grateful for the opportunity to attend the 15th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference. It was a fantastic few days, and I was particularly impressed by the high level of involvement from affected communities in the academic program. Hearing about the ongoing initiatives aimed at eliminating viral hepatitis was inspiring. The sessions provided practical insights and new perspectives that I am excited to apply in my clinical practice.”
Dr Georgie Oakman, Registrar, Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital
“It was a great privilege to attend the 15th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference. I learnt so many valuable lessons about viral hepatitis but more importantly about the people that live with the burden of these diseases and the innovative ways we can identify, treat and care for these people.
It was refreshing to have the powerful voice of the hepatitis community articulating the lived experience of those living with viral hepatitis and guiding researchers and healthcare workers to focus on the person rather than the disease, and to work on real solutions to real problems. I look forward to attending the next one! “
Dr Joe Cavanagh, Registrar, Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital
“I was very grateful to be sponsored to attend the 15th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference. The conference centred the voices of those affected by viral hepatitis, which was a powerful opportunity to learn more about those we care for and how best to care for them.”
Dr Travis Lines, Registrar, Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Congratulations to the team from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis who presented at the conference, including Dr Beth Hamilton, Ms Jennifer MacLachlan and Professor Benjamin Cowie.
Congratulations also to Professor Cowie, for being presented the inaugural Champion of Hepatitis B award by Hepatitis B Voices Australia, for his commitment to promoting the voices of lived experience, and embedding community voice across all areas of the hepatitis response.
The 16th instalment of the conference will head across the country to Perth in August 2026.
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