A new campaign - Every Yarn Counts - was launched Tuesday to normalise discussions about hepatitis C in the community; eliminating barriers, stigma and misconceptions associated with the disease to encourage people to get tested and treated.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are disproportionately represented in hepatitis C cases, largely driven by social factors including poverty, lack of access to culturally safe health services, incarceration, and intergenerational trauma.

While hepatitis C rates are steadily declining across Australia, the trend is not reflected in Aboriginal populations, where the need for accelerated treatment remains critical.

Bundjalung man and program manager of Burnet Institute's Aboriginal Health Plan, Troy Combo, said Aboriginal people are being left behind because they aren't receiving the necessary treatment.

"Hepatitis C is curable. There is no shame in being treated, and treatment is now easier and more accessible," he said.

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that causes liver damage. It can often take many years for people with hepatitis C to notice symptoms, and, if left untreated, hepatitis C can cause substantial liver damage, liver failure or death. Harm minimisation, health education programs and access to sterile injecting equipment are key to achieving hepatitis C elimination by 2030.

Bundjalung woman Peta Walker said she needed help coming to terms with her diagnosis after testing positive for hepatitis C.

"I had the virus, but I wasn't ready to get treated," she said, noting that people fear won't they don't understand.

"I needed someone to sit down with me and honestly say, 'I understand where you're at and this is part of the process'. It's important to have open conversations, but also to have support and education."

The campaign is being implemented by a network of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services across the country, to reach people in their communities. It was co-designed for the community, by the community.

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) deputy CEO, Dr Dawn Casey, said the campaign will empower Aboriginal people to take charge of their health.

"Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations are best placed to deliver hepatitis C education, harm minimisation and health promotion to ensure culturally safe and responsive care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples nationally," she said.

"The co-design of Every Yarn Counts ensures the campaign is tackling the issue head on without the shame or stigma often associated with hepatitis C."

A national reference group was involved in the co-design process and comprised of members from Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations State Aboriginal health and medical research councils and the Eliminate Hepatitis C Partnership Australia team at Burnet Institute.

More information is available online.