September 2017: No changes

June 2017: Three volunteers have decided to move on following successful completion of treatment

March 2017: One new volunteer recruited, one decided to move on following successful completion of treatment

December 2016: Two volunteers decided to move on following successful completion of treatment

September 2016: Existing volunteers continue to be engaged

June 2016: Two new Community Advocates were recruited in May and June

March 2016: Community Advocates are eagerly awaiting new advocacy campaigns to participate in, with the next anticipated to commence in Q2 2016.

December 2015: The announcement of PBS access to Direct Acting Antivirals to cure hepatitis C, commencing in March 2016 is a credit to the hard work and persistence of Community Advocates

September 2015: The current media attention on new treatments and a number of clinical trails has produced a surge of interest in advocacy. These advocates were an integral part of the campaign push

June 2015: C me Advocates are recruited on an ongoing basis to top up waning interest from existing Advocates. The number of C me Advocates fluctuates around the target number of 15 because advocacy campaigns motivate people from the affected communities to make contact, take action and get involved.

December 2014: The call for volunteers is most effective when a defined campaign of personal relevance to the individual is being undertaken. The prospect of access to interferon free treatment, and the recent media coverage of this has proved particularly effective in prompting enquiries which have resulted in recruitment of C me Community Advocates.

Liver clinics have been the prime source of recruitment for C me Advocates.

Referrals from the Hepatitis Infoline staff prompted by media coverage around new treatments has been a useful partnership.

Campaign action stimulates the interest of the affected community in advocacy. The PBAC rejection of sofosbuviur in July 2014 prompted a number of community members to enquire about our advocacy activities, which has led to recruitment of them as Advocates for the C me project. Invitations to the C me training crystalises the future intention of several C me Community Advocates who had been less active and it is now clear that the average duration of active involvement in with the C me project is 18 months.

Recruitment of new volunteers through existing volunteer and campaign outreach

Continual recruitment to ensure the availability of a wide pool of trained Advocates