LiverWELL

Melanie Eagle was interviewed on World Liver Day on the launch of Eating Well: A LiverWELL™ Lifestyle Guide by Chris Isley on Perth radio station 6PR.

Melanie explains what's in the Guide and why it is an urgently needed resource.

On 19 April, World Liver Day, Melanie Eagle was interviewed by presenter Chris Smith from radio 2GB in Sydney about the launch of Eating Well: A LiverWELL™ Guide.

Melanie explains the kind of recipes are in the book, as well as the hints and tips for good liver health. She talks about why it is so important to look after your liver especially as an estimated 6 million Australians have the beginnings of liver disease.

Will Scott has worked as both a volunteer and staff member at Hepatitis Victoria.

In this short interview he reflects on what he has learnt and gained from working for a dynamic and fast-paced non-for-profit.

He also talks about his own personal experience of overcoming viral hepatitis, and gives advice for those thinking of volunteering or working for the organisation.

Priscilla is a nutritionist and Kessavee head chef at the Merri Cafe, an organic restaurant using fresh, local ingredients. Priscilla and Kessavee have collaborated creating simple and delicious recipes for Eating Well: A Guide for Better Liver Health.

This short podcast interview was made during the testing and sampling of several recipes at the Merri Cafe.

The Eating Well Guide is free and will be available soon in digital and hard copy format. www.liverwell.org.au/eatingwell

Ross Williams is a Hepatitis Victoria Board member, HEP Hero and a HEPSpeaker. On 7 March, he spoke passionately about his lived experience of hepatitis C during the Brimbank HEPReady forum.

In a short interview, Ross talks about what lived experience speakers can add to an event and why 'self-stigma' is so damaging and difficult to overcome.

In the final analysis, "..it's your life, and being anxious about how people will treat you is a secondary consideration," he says.

Cr Lucinda Congreve is the Mayor of Brimbank, one of the most culturally diverse areas of Victoria. She opened the HEPReady Forum in Brimbank on Thursday 7 March.

In this short podcast, Cr Congreve talks about the multiple health challenges in Brimbank and what her Council is doing in response.

"We have a new health and wellbeing centre in St Albans with a whole range of wrap-around services for the community and it might be we consider treating hepatitis at the centre," she said.

Andree tells us, when her doctor had written ‘HEP C POSITIVE’ on a pathology slip, which she unknowingly carried in her bag for some time.

Upon realising, Andre stated she was shocked and explains about the negative repercussions this unwanted disclosure could’ve had on her, or anyone else in a similar situation.

She talks about the lack of education on these matters that is still evident in the healthcare system, and notes that complaining is an option in response.

Jules Cassidy has been an advocate for viral hepatitis, harm reduction, and mental health for decades.

She lived with hepatitis C from as early as the 1980’s, and was cured just a few years ago.

Jules reflects on how hepatitis C and the stigma that sometimes came with it added to the many complexities of her life.

"You could stand in a bucket of infected blood and still not catch the infection...as long as you don't have any cuts on your feet."

That's one of the little anecdotes Steven Taylor uses to illustrate how viral hepatitis can only be passed from one person to another through infected blood.

Steven has worked at Hepatitis Victoria as a volunteer, performer and now Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Workforce Training Officer. Steven presents the facts about viral hepatitis in a two-hour summary, to organisations in the AOD sector.

He talks about his new job, what the training involves and why there is a "...real need in the AOD community for this kind of information."

If you would like to contact Steven to invite him to train your organistion call 03 9385 9101 or email [email protected]

Neylan Aykut is a health promotion officer at Hepatitis Victoria whose job mainly involves working in Victoria's prisons combatting viral hepatitis.

Neylan talks about the challenges of working in custodial settings, and some of the surprising -and inspiring- things she has learnt.

"I really enjoy working in prisons," she says. "People inside respond very well to being spoken to with respect, they speak with candour and the sessions are great."

Neylan uses art as a teaching aid in some of her sessions, an approach she says brings multiple benefits.