Sexual health and blood-borne viruses – workforce development

Nurse practitioner scholarships

Scholarships are available to help registered nurses and midwives working in the Western Australian public health system to study sexual health and/or blood-borne virus specialisation courses at nurse practitioner level to increase their working knowledge.

The course must be undertaken at a Western Australian tertiary institution or recognised organisation.

The value of scholarships varies depending on the cost of the course and the number of successful applicants.

If the demand for the scholarships exceeds funding, priority will be given to nurses and midwives with more than 2 years post registration experience.

Download a nurse practitioner scholarship application form (Word 90KB).

Government and non-government organisations

Professional development bursary

The Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program (SHBBVP) has limited funds available to help people employed within government and non-government organisations to attend sexual health and/or blood-borne virus related workforce education and training.

People working within Western Australia (WA) are eligible to apply for a training bursary. Conference attendance will not be considered under this bursary program.

Download a professional development bursary application form (Word 334KB).

Organisation development grant

The SHBBVP has limited funds available to assist government services and non-government organisations to apply for an organisation development grant to improve or develop sexual health and/or blood-borne virus related workforce training or services.

Only services based within WA are eligible to apply for a grant. Conference attendance will not be considered under this grant program.

Download an organisation development grant application form (Word 331KB).

Sexual health post-graduate scholarships

Two scholarships are available to assist post-graduate or honours degree students undertake applied research and evaluation of sexual health and/or blood-borne virus (HIV, hepatitis C or hepatitis B) related projects.

The research project must have a public health or social research focus that will contribute to the prevention of sexually transmitted infections or blood-borne viruses.

For more information read the sexual health post-graduate scholarship form (Word 113KB).

Rural nurse clinical training update bursary

The South Terrace Clinic at Fremantle Hospital, with the support of the SHBBVP, provides training updates on sexually transmitted infection and blood-borne virus clinical management for rural and remote nurses in WA.

Each year, this training is provided for up to 4 registered nurses working in rural and remote settings in WA at a suitable time for South Terrace Clinic staff and the rural nurse.

The training is delivered over 3 to 5 days depending on the experience of the nurse.

Download a rural nurse clinical training update bursary application form (Word 347KB).

Careers in the public sector

The Jobs WA website (external site) provides information about employment opportunities in the Western Australian public sector, including the Department of Health.

Other opportunities

The WA AIDS Council

The WA AIDS Council (external site) delivers several programs that require help from volunteers and professionals.

Volunteer opportunities at the WA AIDS Council include:

• the Needle and Syringe Exchange Program mobile van
• HIV/AIDS education
• K.I.S.S. (Keep It Safe Summer).

Hepatitis WA

HepatitisWA (external site) is committed to engaging with the community and providing volunteer opportunities for people with its telephone information line, health promotion events and community education.

Sexual Health Quarters (SHQ)

Read about current employment opportunities with Sexual Health Quarters (external site).

Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine

The Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine (external site) is a chapter within the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP).

For more information email: shmed@racp.edu.au

Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM)

The Australian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) (external site) is a key partner in the Australian response to HIV, hepatitis and related diseases. The society works closely with government, advisory bodies, community agencies and other professional organisations.

WA Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Applied Research and Evaluation Network (SiREN)

The Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Applied Research and Evaluation Network (SiREN) (external site) is an applied research network that aims to strengthen existing, and create new, partnerships by promoting and facilitating WA-based applied research and evaluation relating to the prevention and control of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood-borne viruses (BBVs).

SiREN can support you and your organisation, view their factsheet (PDF 539KB) to see if you meet the eligibility criteria.

For more information email: siren@curtin.edu.au

Under the Medicines and Poisons Regulations 2016 (external site) NSP Coordinators are required to ensure that all persons providing NSP are appropriately instructed and trained, and understand the requirements of the program. The Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program (SHBBVP) will ensure that access to NSP training is available to NSP coordinators and staff.

NSP information pack

At a minimum, it is suggested NSP workers are familiar with the material in the NSP information pack, including the NSP guidelines, pamphlets, and factsheets.

Online training packages

The SHBBVP, in collaboration with the Workforce Development Branch of the Mental Health Commission (MHC), have developed two online training packages for the NSP sector.

• The online NSP orientation and training package (external site) aims to enhance the knowledge, confidence and skills of health workers who deliver NSP services in Western Australia (WA). This training is accredited by the Australian College of Nursing (ACN).
• The online NSP orientation and training package for pharmacists (external site) aims to enhance the capacity of pharmacy staff to assist customers purchasing injecting equipment. This training is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council.

Annual NSP training

Each year the SHBBVP runs a 2-day NSP training program, presented collaboratively with the Workforce Development Branch, MHC. The program covers topics including:

• harm reduction principles
• blood-borne viruses
• safer injecting
• models of drug use
• communication with clients
• presentations by speakers from HepatitisWA, the Western Australian Substance Users’ Association and the WA AIDS Council.

Details of the next NSP training course will be circulated to NSP coordinators.

NSP training as required

NSP coordinators and staff are invited to request NSP-related education and training through the SHBBVP (email: NSP@health.wa.gov.au). This training can be presented in collaboration with organisations such as HepatitisWA, Peer Based Harm Reduction WA and the WA AIDS Council.

STI and BBV Quarterly Forums

Once every 3 months the Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program (SHBBVP) facilitates an STI and BBV forum.

Forum participants come from a wide range of government, non-government, and private organisations, and work in a variety of roles including clinical, health promotion, disease control, education and research.

Other opportunities

Many non-government organisations in WA deliver education and training to those working in the field of sexual health and blood-borne viruses. These include:

• HepatitisWA (external site)
• Sexual Health Quarters (SHQ) (external site)
• WA AIDS Council (external site)
• Peer Based Harm Reduction WA (formerly WASUA) (external site)
• Youth Affairs Council Western Australia (YACWA) (external site)

Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) education and training

ASHM delivers a range of online education and training opportunities (external site) including courses about HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses.

The WA Department of Health funds ASHM to provide a range of training opportunities for GPs and other primary healthcare providers in WA. More information can be accessed via the ASHM external site above.

Curtin University – Relationships and Sexuality Education professional development for teachers and school nurses.

The Relationships and Sexuality Education Project at Curtin University offers professional development for teachers and education student teachers to enable them to deliver quality, evidence-informed Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE). They offer a 2-day workshop with paid teacher relief. Travel grants are also available for participants travelling from regional areas. The RSE Project also after school workshops (approximately 1 per term) on emerging sexual health education issues. A symposium with keynote speakers on current issues and ‘stories from the field’ is held biennially. Community health nurses may participate in training where appropriate.

Visit The Curtin RSE Project (external site) for more information.

Your cultural lens

Your cultural lens (external site) is an interactive training resource which was developed to help people talk about sexual health and blood-borne viruses with people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds.