Hepatitis C Resource Centre(s)
357 Gloucester St, Linwood
Ph: (03) 3663 608
0800 224 372
Email: christchurch@hepcnz.org
www.hepcnz.org
Christchurch - 3 Staff (North of Oamaru and West Coast and Upper South Island)
Dunedin - 2 Staff (South of Oamaru)
Auckland - 1 Volunteer (Mobile service – predominantly Education and Raising
Awareness)
Role of the Agency:
Support for anyone affected by Hep C
 Newly diagnosed
 Treatment
 Education
 Advocacy
 Family support
 Counselling
 Support Groups
Educate the general population to raise awareness
 Workshops
 Advertise –Editorials
 Educational Talks – eg Schools, WINZ, Prisons,
 World Hep Awareness day July 28th (Celebrated as Hep C Awareness week)
 Target groups of affected/potentially infected
To produce and distribute relevant and appropriate information about Hep C
 Bi-monthly newsletter
 Educational/Information Resources
To assist in the establishment of Hep C Support Groups through out South Island
 Regular road trips
 Databases
 Develop a workforce that is adequately trained.
To prevent the incidence of transmission within the community
Referrals to:
 Hepatitis C Community Clinic (Free Clinic)
 Specialized service/Phlebotomist clinic
 Nurse Led
 GP accreditation to prescribe (out of Hospital)
 IDU & Peer base focus
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To improve access to primary care
Primary funding through CDHB and under the umbrella of RWC/NEP – The Clinic is for all
to refer to including GP’s.
How Clients Access the Agency
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Community Agency walk in
0800 Hep C Helpline
Hep C Clinic at Rodger Wright NEP
Network Sectors – A&D Clinics, RWC, Methadone, Cads, NENZ
Advertising
Support Networks throughout the South Island with Needle Exchanges in Christchurch, 2 in
Dunedin, a new one opened in Southland and Bush exchange on the coast. These are
important to us to keep us informed of new infections.
Impact the Agency has on Clients’ Health and Wellbeing
Able to access latest information
 Diet
 Treatment
 Supplements
 Trials
 In form of resources
 Kept up to date with newsletter
 Getting rid of the myths and misinformation
Education
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Keeping themselves and others safe
Reducing stigma
Advocacy
Train the trainers
Exchanges of information with other agencies eg RWC, NZAF, CADS
Harm minimization
WINZ
Support
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Peer Support
Agency Support
Referral to Counselling
Support Group
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Medical – Dealing with doctors
Medical – Dealing with specialists
Blood bank
Dealing with work situations
Back up
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How the Agency Functions
Matters of organisation
We are a non-profit NGO organisation governed by a Board of Trustees that is made up of
the affected community, health professionals, and interested parties
Christchurch
The Trust employs a manager – Bill Jang to manage the operational activity of the Trust.
Bill started the hep C support group under RWC then broke away as a separate agency so all
affected felt comfortable accessing support not just the IDU population. Bill is a qualified
Social Worker, Recreationist and trained in not-for-profit Management.
Office Administration &Education Coordinator – Fleur Walden
Everything goes through Office administration and on Calendar.
Maori Health Promoter – Natana Horua is responsible for the development of the kaupapa
Maori arm of the organisation.
Dunedin
Health Promoter/Educator – Allison Beck
Service Coordinator-Glenys Needs
Auckland
Volunteer Service Coordinator/Educator – Ellen Larsen (Mobile Service)
Funding
We are mainly funded by MOH though this is not enough to keep us going so we access
places like COGS, Community Trust, Pub Charities, Christchurch City Council and
Pharmaceutical Companies.
Our funding from MOH initially was under three year contracts which were made more
permanent in 2002 by the Ministry Of Health’s “Action on Hepatitis C Prevention” action
plan. In recent times the Ministry of Health has only committed to short-term contracts.
Lines of Accountability
Hepatitis C-affected population and their families
Hepatitis C Trust Te Waipounamu
Funders – Internal Affairs (we have been audited)
Ministry of Health – 6 monthly performance monitoring reports
Stakeholders
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