Birds and BBVs Program - Veronica Walshe AHCWA

1. Empowering the Workforce Yarn
The Birds and BBVs Program
Veronica Walshe RN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hGeDj-V1c0

2. I would like to acknowledge the traditional
custodians whose ancestral lands we gather on. I
acknowledge the deep feelings of attachment and
relationship of Aboriginal people to their culture,
their country and their water ways.
I wish to pay my respects to elders past and present
and extend that respect to Aboriginal people in the
room today.

3. • Background information
• Evaluation findings
• Training model
• Where to from here

5. BACKGROUND:
 INTERVIEWED: 25 AHW/Practitioners
 INTERVIEW RESULTS: 24 out of 25 AHWS/P were not
routinely offering STI testing to the at risk age group
 PARTNERSHIPS: Hepatitis WA, Sexual Health Quarters
SHQ, SiREN, WA Mental Health Commission,
Corrective Services, WA Community Health Services,
Population Health, Harm Reduction WA and
WA AIDS Council.

6. EVALUATION FINDINGS
 24 deliveries
 17 in most major regional towns in WA (bring staff in from
remote communities)
 3 remote community deliveries
 4 Perth metro deliveries
 214 people have participated in the training including
AHWs and Practitioners, Nurses and others who work with
Aboriginal people including community members

8. Since 2016

9. Impact of training on practice

10. Marked increase from 20 to 55 non-clinical participants
attending the training over a three year period

11. Has the training helped you to do anything differently?
• “Became more confident with more practice”
• “Developed my own way of talking about things once I got used to
it.”
• “Statistics – provided from training to back up information I gave
to clients”
• “Find it a lot easier to offer now”
• “I find it not so awkward, I normalise it”
• “Having resources to give is good”
• “Less embarrassed”
• “I wasn’t doing testing before the training, I now offer daily.”

12. TRAINING MODEL: What works/what doesn’t work

14. Dispel myths

18. Consequences of untreated
STIs
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
infertility, ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain
• Pain in testicles, infertility in men
• Preterm labour, low birthweight babies
• Pneumonia and conjunctivitis in
newborn babies
• Higher risk of HIV

20. Ways to raise the topic
 Even though you are here for another reason today, I just want to let you know that
we offer all 15-35 year olds a routine STI and BBV check.
 I already have your urine sample, it can be used to test for STIs that are really
common in our community, we are also offering testing because there is a Syphilis
outbreak… we can do a blood test as well.
 Have you ever been tested for HIV? Would you like a blood test for this and other
Blood Borne Viruses.? you could be at risk if you have had a tattoo or piercing, or
have had to share anything that could have blood on it like a razer, a piercing, a
needle?
 I see you don’t come to the clinic very often so while you are here is it OK if we
check that your immunisations are up to date? We also offer an STI test to all
young people your age.

22. WHERE TO FROM HERE
 Sexual Health Training for both clinical and non clinical
workforce can increase their confidence to yarn with clients and
community about why STI and BBV testing is important
 We know that most STIs and BBVs have no signs and
symptoms so normalising an STI and BBV test as part of a
routine health check is important if we want to increase testing
rates
 Having dedicated Sexual Health Workers within our Community
Controlled Health Services is vital
 Sharing and partnering with other organisations helps lighten
the load

23. What can be done to increase
testing for STIs and BBVs
at your Health Service?

24. Its also so important to remember that everyone
has the right to safe and pleasurable sex…BUT if
it doesn’t feel or look right OR you are
worried…OR you have no idea…then its our duty
of care to provide a safe environment for you to
feel comfortable and provide care and follow up
that is confidential, prompt and effective.

25. Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following services for their input and
data for this presentation:
 Funded by the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Program of the WA
Health Department
 Matthew Armstrong from Hepatitis WA
 SiREN
 Staff from Nganganawilli Aboriginal Health Service Wiluna.
 Kirby Institute
 Professor James Ward and Amanda Sibosado from SAHMRI
 Katy Crawford and the team at KAMSC
 Lisa Bastian and the team from the Sexual Health and Blood Borne
Virus Program of the WA Health Department
 WACHS Services staff
 Population Health staff in the regions
 AHCWA Member Services staff
 WAAC
 All participants who have participated in the Birds and BBVs who have
taught us as much as we have taught them …THANKYOU