HIV Virtual Elimination - Topical Session

This session will explore how far we have come with Virtual Elimination in Australia, and how Virtual Elimination can be supported in primary care practice.

The Victorian HIV and Hepatitis Integrated Training And Learning (VHHITAL) program are keen to explore how far we have come with Virtual Elimination in Australia, and how it may be addressed in the new Victorian Sexual and Reproductive Health and Viral Hepatitis Strategy 2022-30.

For people newly diagnosed with HIV, the first conversation they have with their primary healthcare provider is often pivotal in predicting future health outcomes, including attached stigma, understanding of their diagnosis and possible health outcomes, and ongoing engagement with treatment.

VHHITAL are dedicated to training clinicians in the HIV sector and have developed this session to re-energize the HIV field’s capacity to continue to drive change towards stigma elimination, supportive STI care, and partnerships with peer navigators.  

This session will cover the following topics: 

• The meaning of virtual elimination in the new strategy 
• The clinical science re elimination – where are we and what is in the pipeline? 
• Considerations re Injectable PrEP 
• Considerations re on demand PrEP 
• Supporting virtual elimination via primary health care practice

Presenter:

This session will be facilitated by A/Prof Edwina Wright, a HIV Clinician and Researcher, Chair of the HIV Working Group of the Victorian Health Department’s Committee on Blood Borne Viruses and STIs, the Lead for the HIV Prevention Service at The Alfred Hospital, and Chair of the ASHM PrEP Guidelines Group. 

Continuing Professional Development: 4 x RACGP Activity points; 2 x HIV s100 CPD points for Prescribers. Attendees will be provided with a certificate of attendance.

This session will held on Zoom. A recording will be available to registrants for one month afterwards.

Learning outcomes:

• Implement recommendations to support Virtual Elimination from the new HIV strategy with patients, considering how it relates to General Practice. 
• Discuss both new and pre-existing options for PrEP with patients at high-risk of contracting HIV.
• Describe treatment advances in the HIV sector with patients living with HIV.