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UTS Law and New Health have begun working together on an HIV/HBV research project in order to better assist patients.
The Australian government’s Blood Borne Viruses (BBV) and Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI) Research Program has awarded $2.2 million to the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) faculty of law to establish a new research partnership to identify and eliminate legal barriers to testing and treatment for people living with HIV and/or Hepatitis B.
The dean of the faculty of law at UTS, Professor Anita Stuhmcke, said that the faculty is known for its research that helps the community.
“The bringing together of our partners in the health, community, and legal sectors will see the faculty of law continue to achieve great impact, improving access to justice, the rule of law, and the health of our community,” Professor Stuhmcke said.
The Health+Law initiative will consist of four main components, all of which will be implemented over the course of four years (2022–2026).
Reflecting on, Mr Cogle commented: “We need to create a legal environment that destigmatises HIV and allows people to talk openly about HIV without fear of prosecution or affecting their migration status. By asking community members directly about their experiences, we will be building a picture of what matters most to them.”
According to Rhys Evans, project, policy and law reform solicitor at the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre, national plans for blood-borne viruses and STIs have continuously recognised the need to eliminate the detrimental effects of legal difficulties on people’s health.
“We are excited to see a project that will directly address these goals and create an enabling legal environment, improving access to justice and health outcomes for our clients,” Mr Evans said.
Alexis Apostolellis, the chief executive officer of ASHM, stated that clinicians who support patients living with blood-borne viruses are aware that a variety of factors, including legal needs, might affect health outcomes.
“Healthcare workers and legal services both play a vital role in supporting the health and wellbeing of people living with blood-borne viruses, and this project will help build stronger connections between the two,” he said.
Co-chief investigator, Dr Anthea Vogl, at UTS Law, stated that the project intends to break new ground in gaining knowledge of the effects of migrant status and Medicare ineligibility on health, testing, and treatment.
“These are urgent questions, and critical to our understanding of the relationship between legal needs and health,” Dr Vogl said.
The Health+Law research alliance will be led by chief investigator Dr David Carter, an expert in health law from UTS Law.
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Keonia Swift
