Caption: Adriana beside the GeneXpert point-of-care testing equipment.
Adriana is a Clinical Nurse Consultant based at Clinic 60 in Hobart, and her passion for blood-borne viruses began long before she became a nurse, starting during her time as a sex educator in Montreal many years ago. Adriana's journey to her current role has been wonderfully eclectic. It has taken her through sexual health nursing, methadone dosing, Alice Springs Emergency, and roles at Kirketon Road Centre, Public Health, and the injecting centre in Kings Cross. Though she's only been in her current role for a year, this rich background has perfectly prepared her for the work she's doing now.
Caption: Tina receiving her Rising Star Award at the 2023 Tasmanian Public Sector Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards – a testament to her passion and dedication in hepatitis C care.
This will be Tina's 14th year working for the Tasmania Health Service, bringing a wealth of diverse experience to her current role. Before becoming a registered nurse, she worked in client services with Housing Tasmania and as an admissions officer for elective surgery, where she helped admit patients and manage wait lists. Once qualified as an RN, she spent most of her time working at a rural district hospital, which really opened her eyes to how challenging it can be for some people to access the healthcare they need.
Though Adriana works in Hobart and Tina is based in Launceston, the two have formed a strong partnership, supporting each other across the state and sharing their expertise to strengthen hepatitis C care throughout Tasmania.
What drives them both is their genuine care for people who often feel forgotten. As Adriana puts it, "I am passionate about working alongside people who inject drugs and other people experiencing marginalisation and disadvantage." She loves proving people wrong when someone achieves a Hep C cure that others thought was impossible! Tina's motivation is equally powerful: "Providing a service to the underserved, the difference you can make in the lives of people I see in this role is unparalleled."
Point-of-Care Testing: Game-Changing Technology
Point-of-care Hep C testing has absolutely revolutionized their work. Adriana has watched testing numbers soar because suddenly people have real choice and control over their healthcare journey. Tina can now test people who would have walked away rather than face a needle, or those whose veins are just too tricky for traditional blood draws.
Explain clearly what a Hep C antibody test is and what it means, so that when it comes back positive, you have prepared the person for the next steps.
Their practical wisdom is gold. Adriana's top tip? If blood flow is poor, warm the hands and try again. Her golden rule for newcomers: "Explain clearly what a Hep C antibody test is and what it means, so that when it comes back positive, you have prepared the person for the next steps." Tina's recommendation? "Organise some practical sessions with experienced POCT operators, perhaps in a High Intensity Testing Campaign, to get off the ground running and with confidence."
Building Community, One Connection at a Time
Caption: Tina and Adriana with Jo Murphy (IYR coordinator and TUHSL president) – community partnerships in action.
Tina describes Adriana as "very empathetic, approachable, and calm" and admires how "she stands up for what's right and is doing amazing things in Hobart, uncovering new testing locations, building connections, and contact tracing like a boss." Adriana sees in Tina "an incredible amount of passion and drive. She never gives up, and is always super motivated and hard working."
When asked what they'd magically fix in the world, their answers say everything: Adriana would eliminate genocide, and Tina would end judgment and discrimination. These two are people with enormous hearts who've found their purpose.
Every day, they’re proving that meaningful healthcare happens through genuine human connection, building trust with people often let down by the system, and celebrating victories others might not notice. It's incredible knowing people like Adriana and Tina show up with such genuine care, and are not just eliminating Hep C but showing people what person-centred healthcare can achieve.