Australia is at a turning point in eliminating hepatitis B and C, two diseases that continue to disproportionately affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. On World Hepatitis Day, NACCHO and Hepatitis Australia are calling for urgent national action, putting community leadership and cultural strengths at the centre of the solution.
Communities Leading the Way
"Every day, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) prove what's possible when you back local leadership," says NACCHO Chair, Donnella Mills. "Our clinics are woven into the fabric of community. We know what works because it's built on culture, trust, and a genuine understanding of our people's needs. When we're supported to lead, the results are clear: health outcomes improve, and gaps start to close."
Treatment Within Reach
Lucy Clynes, CEO of Hepatitis Australia, says, "There is a cure for hepatitis C. It's tablets that you can access through primary care, and most people have no side effects. Yet, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are not benefiting equally from it."
"There is a vaccine and medication to help you live well with hepatitis B. Managing the condition can be as simple as getting a liver check twice a year."
What the Numbers Tell Us
Dr Megan Campbell, Medical Advisor at NACCHO, highlights the challenge: "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples now make up 18% of people living with hepatitis C in Australia. This figure is rising as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people do not equitably benefit from new hepatitis C cures and are disproportionately more likely to be reinfected. The diagnosis rate among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is more than six times higher than the national average. With hepatitis B, the story is similar; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represent 7% of people living with chronic hepatitis B but are less likely to have accessed care and treatment. Despite high childhood vaccination rates, many adults who aren't immune have limited access to vaccination."
She adds, "But we know what works. When communities have the resources and support to drive solutions, we see real progress. In the Northern Territory, the Hep B PAST program has more than doubled treatment rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compared to the national average. Community leadership works; it just needs backing."
Steven Drew, CEO of Hepatitis NSW, says, "Community Hepatitis Organisations play a vital role in partnering with ACCHOs to expand access to hepatitis services. Bringing together topic expertise, peer experts, and cultural knowledge ensures services are not only effective but also trusted and embraced by the communities they serve. When communities are resourced and empowered, we see dramatically better outcomes. It's time to scale up these efforts nationally."
Now is the Time for Action
Both NACCHO and Hepatitis Australia agree: Australia can't close the gap unless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are truly leading the way, with the resources and support to deliver what works on the ground.
This means:
Backing ACCHOs and communities to drive prevention, testing, treatment, and care
Expanding culturally safe services, especially in high-risk places like prisons
Improving data, especially on Indigenous status, so every person is counted and
cared for
Investing in proven programs like Hep B PAST and supporting a strong, community-led workforce
"As a country, we can't claim progress if the most affected communities are still missing out," says Donnella Mills. "The way forward is in our hands, and with real commitment, we can end viral hepatitis for everyone, leaving no one behind."
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