This World Hepatitis Day, HepatitisWA is launching a new Hep B WA website and telehealth service to provide remote and culturally diverse communities with life-saving hepatitis B information and treatment to tackle the widening health gap in hepatitis B care across Western Australia.
"WA falls well short of the national targets of 20% of people living with chronic hepatitis B receiving treatment and 50% engaging in regular care," says HepatitisWA CEO Rebecca Smith.
"Only 9% of the people in Perth living with hepatitis B received care in 2023 , while country WA is even lower at 4%, and less than 2% of people in regional areas access regular care."
Australia has signed up to the global drive to end viral hepatitis by 2030. At current rates of progress, Australia will not achieve any of its viral hepatitis elimination targets.
There is a cure for hepatitis C and a vaccine and effective treatments for hepatitis B but they are not getting to all the people who need them. Left untreated, hepatitis B and C slowly destroy the liver and can develop into serious liver disease and liver cancer.
"Our primary focus is on culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities from countries with a high prevalence of hepatitis B - people who are often overlooked in mainstream healthcare and who juggle complex, competing health needs, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, who continue to face significant barriers to care. No matter where you live in WA or who you are, if hepatitis affects your life, this service is here for you," Rebecca Smith says.
Stage One of the rollout will focus on the Midwest, with a spotlight on Geraldton, where local hepatitis services are limited or difficult to access.
"By prioritising regions with the greatest need, we can ensure the service has immediate impact while building a scalable model for future expansion. Access will be managed through the Hep B WA website and supported by health workers, with clear pathways to ensure culturally safe, evidence-based care reaches the people who need it most.
"Hepatitis C also continues to affect around 800 more people per year in WA. Regional communities are often the hardest hit, with limited access to healthcare pathways, hepatitis C testing, and harm reduction services like needle and syringe programs," Rebecca Smith says.
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are the leading causes of liver cancer globally and in Australia, causing 90% of liver deaths. Liver cancer mortality rates are growing faster than any other cancer in Australia. The symptoms of hepatitis B and hepatitis C are easy to ignore because they are similar to the symptoms of ageing - tiredness, feeling achy, having brain fog. Hepatitis B can also cause yellowing of the skin and eyes, nausea and loss of appetite.
"Our new digital lifeline means that people unable to attend a local clinic can now access testing and treatment directly, from wherever they are. If we're serious about eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, we need to prioritise equitable access - ensuring that postcode is no barrier to care. Every Western Australian deserves the same opportunity to know their status and receive treatment, no matter where they live.
"If you or anyone you know is experiencing these symptoms, please encourage them to access our telehealth website at HepBWA.com.au or come to the Deen Clinic for a simple blood test. Get tested even if you don't have symptoms," Rebecca Smith says.
HepatitisWA runs the Deen Clinic in Perth's Northbridge, a walk-in clinic focusing on the testing and treatment of viral hepatitis. It also runs outreach clinics through Point of Care (POC) Test and Treat Blitz's at St. Pat's Community Support Centre in Fremantle. HepatitisWA has a mobile outreach programme ready to go to remote communities but requires funding to make it a reality.
