NT Becomes national leader in hepatitis B care as diagnoses rise, mortality falls
In the Northern Territory, a striking story is unfolding. Rather than signaling a crisis, a surge in hepatitis B diagnoses is being read by health workers as a sign of stronger, more accessible care. The territory has become a benchmark in Australia for hepatitis B prevention, testing, and ongoing treatment, driven by a unique blend of community partnerships, culturally informed care, and innovative service delivery.
The data, covering only the first half of each year, show diagnoses nearly tripling between 2022 and 2024. On the surface, this could appear alarming. But health professionals on the ground see it as evidence that more people are being tested, identified, and linked to care—reducing the long-term burden of the disease.
George Gurruwiwi, a Yolŋu elder and Aboriginal health worker from Galiwinu, remembers a time not so long ago when hepatitis B caused multiple funerals in his community. He notes a tangible shift: “The difference is people understand.” His work with NT’s hepatitis B prevention program, HEP B PAST, since 2019 has helped bridge gaps in testing and treatment across Arnhem Land. He emphasizes that culturally informed care—guided by kinship and local knowledge—matters as much as medical interventions.
Hepatitis B remains a serious health issue, especially for Indigenous people in the NT, where 70% of cases are among Indigenous communities. The virus can lead to chronic liver disease and liver cancer if left untreated. Yet the NT’s approach is changing outcomes. Anngie Everitt, a nurse who runs a Darwin hepatitis clinic, points to mother-to-child transmission as a key pathway and underscores the need for lifelong monitoring for those with chronic infection.
Crucially, the NT’s progress sits against the backdrop of a particularly aggressive hepatitis B strain, known as C4, found predominantly in Aboriginal people in the Territory. Even so, mortality rates are dropping at a pace unmatched elsewhere in Australia, according to WHO data. Since 2011, the NT has recorded the largest decline in hepatitis B mortality in the country, a trend linked to better diagnosis, care engagement, and treatment access.
At the heart of this improvement is the HEP B PAST program, led by Menzies School of Health Research Professor Jane Davies. Since its launch in 2018, the program has delivered a “one stop liver shop” approach in remote communities, consolidating diagnosis, surveillance, blood tests, and ultrasounds into a single day. It also translates health information into 11 Indigenous languages through a dedicated app, reducing language barriers that historically hindered timely care.
That translation work matters deeply. Davies explains that being diagnosed with a chronic condition and the risk of liver cancer can be terrifying—especially when information is not in one’s first language. By removing that barrier, the program helps patients understand their condition, the need for regular monitoring, and the long-term benefits of treatment—even when a cure is not possible for hepatitis B itself.
The results speak for themselves. Recent assessments show that the NT now meets or exceeds national targets across key measures: 99% of people diagnosed, 86% engaged in care, and 24% on treatment, compared with national targets of 80%, 50%, and 20% respectively. While there is more work to do, the trajectory is clear: the territory has closed gaps in hepatitis B care and is sustaining a model that could be adopted elsewhere in Australia.
For communities like Galiwinu and other remote towns, the gains are real and tangible. Fewer deaths mean fewer funerals and a healthier future for generations to come, a sentiment echoed by elder advocates who remain committed to improving health literacy, access, and culturally appropriate care.
Looking ahead
Health workers emphasize that the fight is ongoing. Continued funding, community engagement, and scalable models of care—especially those that honor language and cultural needs—are essential to maintaining momentum. If the NT’s approach becomes a national blueprint, it may help other jurisdictions reach the targets set by national strategies and, crucially, ensure that hepatitis B is diagnosed early, managed effectively, and prevented wherever possible.
