Mar 1 2005
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is hosting the first online database in the country that houses the latest information relating to HIV, hepatitis C and certain other diseases.
The website has been launched by the Consortium for Social and Policy Research on HIV, Hepatitis C and Related Diseases, of which UNSW's National Centre in HIV Social Research and Social Policy Research Centre are a part.
"This is a first in Australia," said Dr Carla Treloar, the Chair of the Consortium Board. "It will act as a one-stop shop. The aim is to bring together the three areas of research, practice and policy."
The Consortium Clearinghouse sorts the information into different categories, which can be accessed by anyone using the web.
"One of the key aims is to better inform policy makers," said Dr Treloar. "If there is a new policy emerging in hepatitis C and decision makers want to find the latest information on prevention, or what has been used in community education already, they can use this tool."
The Consortium also hopes the site will encourage collaborative research.
The Consortium is a three-year research and community health services collaboration funded by NSW Health.
The Clearinghouse can be accessed at http://theconsortium.nchsr.arts.unsw.edu.au/clearinghouse/search.htm
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