We were thrilled to welcome the Australia Awards Fellowship recipients from Thailand to our Melbourne office this month, for two weeks of professional development around harm reduction to prevent HIV and viral hepatitis.
The Australia Awards Fellowships program is funded by the Australian Government to build strong partnerships between Australian organisations and partner organisations in our region.
Coordinated by Dean Cassano, senior international health project officer, and Dr Jacqui Richmond, Program Manager for EC Australia, we worked alongside senior and mid-career professionals to share lessons on Australia’s community-based harm reduction programs that address HIV and viral hepatitis.
One of the Fellows, Kritima Jemma Samitpol, works with trans and gender-diverse populations in Thailand to assist with their holistic healthcare needs as the Tangerine clinic supervisor at the Institute of HIV Research and Innovation.
"We work in the same fields, but in different settings, landscapes and policies," she said.
"But there are many things I have learnt and identified that I can bring back to Thailand, including the science behind long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) injections and different ways we can advocate for health equity."
The Fellowship focused on key outcomes including strategies to make harm reduction more relevant and accepted by young people, increasing knowledge about the links between HIV and viral hepatitis in key populations, and better understanding how to address both HIV and viral hepatitis together.
Mr Cassano said the program explored ways to improve health promotion, prevention, testing, and treatment.
The goal was to develop interventions that community-based services can use to support their networks.
"The 15-day program was aligned with Thailand’s HIV and viral hepatitis strategies, and included workshops with Australian experts in public health, policy, advocacy, clinical management, and community engagement," Mr Cassano said.
"The Fellows explored practical ways to tailor Australia’s approaches to their own local and cultural contexts, paving the way for lasting impact in the fight against HIV and viral hepatitis."