From 1 September 2026, the prescriber accreditation requirement for hepatitis B medicines under the PBS Section 100 (s100) Highly Specialised Drugs Program will be removed. As a result, all medical and authorised nurse practitioners will be able to prescribe hepatitis B antiviral treatment without additional specialist accreditation. ASHM is currently updating its website, education and resources to reflect this change.

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Supporting Triple Elimination in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste (STEPT)

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B is largely preventable through testing, treatment and vaccination at birth.

Dates:

2022 – Ongoing

Led by ASHM in collaboration with in-country partners, the STEPT project supports efforts to achieve the ‘triple elimination’ of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B via parent-to-child transmission in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.

STEPT:

  • Delivers training and knowledge exchange forums between countries
  • Provides training for health workers
  • Clinical mentoring at selected health facilities 
  • Strengthens existing monitoring and surveillance systems to promote quality reporting.
 
Midterm review

 

In July 2025, ASHM conducted a midterm review at the halfway point of the STEPT project. This report acts as a structured reflection on the progress of the project, offering a snapshot of how it is progressing against its objectives, what is working well, and areas for improvement.  

STEPT is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

Funded by:
Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) and ASHM Members.
In country partners:
Maluk Timor, Catholic Church Health Services PNG, Papua New Guinea National Department of Health, Timor-Leste Ministry of Health

Upcoming Conferences and Events

Australasian HIV&AIDS and Sexual and Reproductive Health Conferences

14 - 17 Sep 2026
Pullman Melbourne Albert Park, Naarm (Melbourne) (VIC, Australia)

Global Prisons Infectious Disease Network (GPIDN) 2nd Annual Conference

30 September 2026 - 2 Oct 2026
Grand Plaza Hotel & Congress Center (Ljubljana, Slovenia)

The 14th International Conference on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users

6 - 9 Oct 2026
Clarion Congress Hotel Prague (Czech Republic)