ASHM

ASHM Developing a sustainable HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexual Health workforce.

ASHM is a professional, not-for-profit, member-based organisation that supports its
members, sector partners and collaborators to generate knowledge and action in
clinical management, research, education, policy and advocacy in Australasia and
internationally

We are committed to quality improvement, and our products and services are sought after by governments, members, health care workers and affected people.

This year’s keynote speakers bring global perspectives on the past, present, and future of the HIV response. The Austr...
25/08/2026

This year’s keynote speakers bring global perspectives on the past, present, and future of the HIV response.

The Australasian HIV&AIDS Conference (HIV&AIDS26) is happening on 14 – 16 September 2026 in Naarm (Melbourne). Explore the full program on the official website: https://buff.ly/295Bo4X

Meet some of the creative minds behind the next chapter of ✨🧵 Ahead of HIV Unwrapped 3.0 taking place at the Australas...
21/08/2026

Meet some of the creative minds behind the next chapter of ✨🧵

Ahead of HIV Unwrapped 3.0 taking place at the Australasian HIV&AIDS Conference in Naarm (Melbourne) next month, we're introducing some of the talented Australian designers bringing new stories to life by exploring the intersection between fashion and HIV science.

From early sketches to the final runway, each designer has collaborated with a HIV scientist to create a garment inspired by HIV research, innovation, and lived experience.

Swipe through to meet some of the designers, learn about their creative inspiration, and get a sneak peek at what's coming to the runway!👀

See the finished creations come to life on the runway at HIV Unwrapped 3.0, at the Australasian HIV&AIDS Conference in Naarm (Melbourne), taking place from the 14 - 16 September 2026.

Find out more about HIV Unwrapped at: https://buff.ly/iFVz3lw

The Viral Hepatitis in Primary Care webinar series is quickly approaching – with the first session taking place on Wedne...
20/08/2026

The Viral Hepatitis in Primary Care webinar series is quickly approaching – with the first session taking place on Wednesday 2 September! 🌟

Over two webinars, primary care workers can look forward to a comprehensive overview of viral hepatitis and practical guidance on using national guidelines and decision-making tools to provide stigma-free, culturally-safe hepatitis care.

Don’t miss out – register now to secure your spot: https://buff.ly/KK9q6c3

To get the most out of this course, it is highly recommended that you attend both webinars in the series. However, you are still able to only register for one session if you are unable to attend both.

This course is sponsored by Gilead Sciences and AbbVie. Sponsorship is provided in accordance with the ASHM’s Sponsorship Policy. ASHM does not endorse or promote any sponsor’s product or service.

“It is not just the end of the Symposium, it’s the beginning of the next phase of the Pacific HIV response,” said Renata...
19/08/2026

“It is not just the end of the Symposium, it’s the beginning of the next phase of the Pacific HIV response,” said Renata Ram, Pacific HIV Adviser at UNAIDS, during her closing remarks at the inaugural Pacific HIV Symposium.

The message across the two days was clear: the time for Pacific-led, collective action on HIV is now.

Across two days, almost 400 delegates from 15 countries came together in Nadi, Fiji to stand together in the face of rising HIV cases. While the challenge remains great, the feeling in the room was one of hope – that together, we can take collective action on HIV in the Pacific.

As Dr Nano Gideon said during the closing panel presentation: “Be like water, find a way forward. We live in the Pacific, surrounded by water, and the water always finds a way through.”

Thank you to all our delegates for joining us, our speakers for sharing your knowledge and insight, and our sponsors for making it happen.

Ministry of Health & Medical Services - Fiji, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, United Nations Development Programme - UNDP, Health Equity Matters, Roche, Medica Pacifica PTE Limited

HIV treatment has transformed the global epidemic. Today, more than 32 million people are receiving life-saving treatmen...
17/08/2026

HIV treatment has transformed the global epidemic. Today, more than 32 million people are receiving life-saving treatment and when treatment leads to viral suppression, people can live healthy lives and HIV is not sexually transmitted.

But progress is far from equal. Nearly 9 million people living with HIV were still without treatment in 2025 globally, and around one quarter of them live in Asia and the Pacific.

For Pacific countries facing rising HIV infections, closing the treatment gap means more than supplying medicines. It means finding people earlier through testing, linking them quickly to care, keeping treatment uninterrupted and working with communities to reach people who health systems too often miss.

At the Pacific HIV Symposium 2026, the message is urgent: the tools exist. They need to reach everyone who needs them.

“Because HIV deals with people, our response must always begin with people,” said His Excellency Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu...
17/08/2026

“Because HIV deals with people, our response must always begin with people,” said His Excellency Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, President of Fiji, at the official opening ceremony of the Pacific HIV Symposium in Fiji today.

“We must remember what every number represents. A diagnosis belongs to a person who might be frightened about the future.”

The first day of the inaugural Pacific HIV Symposium had a clear message: while data and the rising case numbers are crucial in shaping our understanding of the rising HIV epidemic, we cannot lose sight of the people behind every diagnosis.

UNAIDS Regional Director Eamonn Murphy echoed the sentiment during his keynote address.

“Behind every tool, every principle and every strategy is a human life. One of our family of the Pacific, one of our community. And we need to make sure they are able to claim their right to health… to live a full and sustained life as anybody else.”

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd called on everyone, and every country in the region, to come together to combat the rising HIV epidemic.

“The window for action is right now. A determined, coordinated response can change the trajectory. The challenge we’re facing is serious, but not beyond reach.”

The official opening also included opening remarks from leaders in HIV across the region, including ASHM CEO Alexis Apostolellis, Fiji Interim Lead SRH and HIV Unit Dr Jason Mitchell, Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network CEO Loata Tucker, FJN+ Executive Director Joeli Colati, Communicable Disease Manager at the Papua New Guinea Department of Health Pilly Mapira.

Thank you to all our delegates and speakers for a huge first day of the Symposium – we’ll see you tomorrow for day two.

That’s a wrap on !The final day celebrated the work being done in Australia and around the world towards the virtual el...
14/08/2026

That’s a wrap on !

The final day celebrated the work being done in Australia and around the world towards the virtual elimination of viral hepatitis.

The day opened with a government welcome by Zoe Wainer, Director-General, Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC), followed by plenary presentations and a panel bringing together international perspectives on a functional cure for hepatitis B.

A variety of practical and riveting sessions were held throughout the rest of the day, highlighting the power of collaboration between government, community, and healthcare to achieve our shared goals.

The afternoon session chaired by ASHM and the WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis (Doherty Institute) saw representatives from across the Pacific and Africa share their experiences moving towards integrated approaches to eliminating mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B.

The day finished with the closing ceremony, including this year’s awards recognising impactful work happening on-the-ground and rising early career researchers in the hepatitis sector.

Thank to everyone who attended and made VH2026 such a memorable event. We can’t wait to see everyone next year for the 17th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference 18-20 August 2027 at Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, on the traditional lands of the Dharawal people.

ASHM will lead the $8 million AUD Australian Support for Pacific HIV Action (ASPHA) National System Stream with consorti...
14/08/2026

ASHM will lead the $8 million AUD Australian Support for Pacific HIV Action (ASPHA) National System Stream with consortium partners Fiji National University, The Pacific Community (Pacific-Community-SPC), Burnet Institute, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, and Kirby Institute.

The ASPHA National System Stream consortium will work with the Ministry of Health & Medical Services - Fiji and other Pacific Island country governments to support their responses to HIV and related infections, strengthening health systems for prevention, testing, treatment and care of HIV.

Australian Support for Pacific HIV Action (ASPHA) is a new Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) initiative supporting Pacific Island countries to respond to rising rates of HIV. The ASPHA National Systems Stream will work in strong collaboration with the Community stream, led by Health Equity Matters, and Commodities Stream, led by United Nations Development Programme - UNDP, to deliver coordinated assistance for locally-led responses.

“As a consortium, we will work together across countries, institutes and governments, to enable change through facilitation, direct action and cross-country collaboration,” said
Dr Michelle O’Connor, ASHM Director of Global.

“ASHM’s focus has always been on strengthening national systems and workforce capacity. By translating the data, understanding the workforce needs and balancing these priorities with emerging epidemics, we can ensure we are co-developing the best solutions.”

Read the full release: https://buff.ly/VbRo2Tm

BES International

kicked off with an early start at the Nurse Breakfast, followed by a jam-packed day of practical sessions focused on v...
13/08/2026

kicked off with an early start at the Nurse Breakfast, followed by a jam-packed day of practical sessions focused on viral hepatitis care, community, and connections.

Several sessions highlighted the work being done on-the-ground and future directions for integrated care and clinical pathways that are accessible, equitable and peer-led.

The Ask Us Anything Live session gave audience members the opportunity to ask the questions they don't always get to ask and hear honest answers from people with lived and living experience of viral hepatitis.

Delegates early in their career were able to meet each other and experienced leaders in the field and build meaningful professional relationships at the Early Career Networking Session, supported by AbbVie Australia

We're not done yet! Join us for the final day of the 16th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference tomorrow.

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