This national webinar will explore the critical role of Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) in preventing hepatitis C (HCV) transmission and reinfection in correctional settings. Delivered as a “Lunch & Learn” session, it features insights from the authors of the National Consensus Statement on OAT in custodial settings, alongside implementation experiences from New South Wales and Queensland correctional health programs. 

Designed as a constructive and inclusive session, the webinar will: 

• Highlight the public health impact and programmatic benefits of OAT in custodial settings. 

• Share real-world insights from implementation teams in diverse jurisdictions. 

• Present practical strategies for national scalability and continuity of care. 

Date, Time & Platform: 

Date: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Time:

• 12:00–1:30 PM (AEST: NSW, VIC, ACT, TAS, QLD) 

• 11:30 AM–1:00 PM (ACST: SA, NT) 

• 10:00–11:30 AM (AWST, WA) 

Delivery Format: Online webinar (Lunch & Learn) 

Target Audience: 

This webinar is designed for: 

• Correctional healthcare professionals (nurses, GPs, psychiatrists, and AOD specialists) 
• Peer support workers and peer navigators 
• Prison health program managers and custodial health administrators 
• Public health and HCV program teams 
• Policy makers involved in correctional health 
• NGOs and advocacy groups working in prison healthcare and system reform 

Speakers/Facilitators: 

Webinar Chair: 

• Dr Rebecca Winter – Deputy Head of Justice Health and Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Burnet Institute and St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne. Specialises in health and social outcomes for people involved in the criminal justice system. 

Keynote Presenters: 

• Dr Thileepan Naren – Addiction Medicine Specialist at Western Health and Chair of the National Prisons Addiction Medicine Network. 

• Dr Jocelyn Chan – Addiction Medicine Registrar at Western Health and Postdoctoral Research Officer at the Burnet Institute. 

Case Presenters: 

• Katerina Lagios – Clinical Director, Population Health Drug & Alcohol, NSW Justice Health. Focuses on program development and transition to depot buprenorphine. 

• Graham Kraak – Director, Office for Prisoner Health and Wellbeing, Clinical Excellence Queensland. Leads correctional health strategy and implementation across Queensland. 

Note: Case presentation titles to be confirmed before final CPD submission and marketing. 

Panel Discussion:
Title: Best Practices, Real-world Implementation, and Future Directions for OAT and HCV    Prevention in Prisons 
Chair: Dr Rebecca Winter 
Panellists: Dr Jocelyn Chan, Dr Thileepan Naren, Katerina Lagios, Graham Kraak 

Course Components: 

This 1.5-hour Lunch & Learn webinar will include the following components: 

• Live welcome and introduction by the Chair 

• Keynote presentation on the National Consensus Statement on OAT in custodial settings 

• Two case presentations showcasing real-world implementation in New South Wales and Queensland 

• Facilitated panel discussion with audience Q&A 

• All components are delivered live via Zoom with time allocated for participant interaction during the panel discussion. 

Learning Outcomes:

To explore best practice recommendations for Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) implementation in prisons in the context of hepatitis C prevention. 

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: 

• Describe the role of Opioid Agonist Therapy in hepatitis C prevention in custodial settings. 

• Identify opportunities and scalable strategies to expand OAT service delivery. 

• Analyse successful state-level models and apply lessons learned to their own practice. 

Endorsement and CPD: 

RACGP:
Pending accreditation with RACGP.

Funding:

This event is supported by an unconditional education grant from Gilead Sciences. Sponsorship is provided in accordance with the ASHM’s Sponsorship Policy. ASHM does not endorse or promote any sponsor’s product or service. 

For more information: 

Please contact ASHM Education at [email protected] or call 0431 320 429. 

Help us keep ASHM courses free! 

At ASHM, we are committed to developing a sustainable HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexual health workforce. We pride ourselves on the ability to offer high quality educational opportunities, that are free to attend. If you are unable to attend one of our courses, please let us know as soon as possible, high rates of non-attendance impacts ASHMs ability to continue providing free education. You can cancel your attendance by calling 0431 320 429 or emailing [email protected].