The artworks, unveiled at the Orange Regional Gallery in an exhibition titled Hep C and Me, share some heartfelt thoughts from people either living with the disease or those close to people who have it.

Program coordinator and registered nurse Roisin Dyer said the Orange Hepatitis C team was fortunate to receive a grant from the Hepatitis Week Council to run the art show.

The grant also helped fund an art workshop on June 21 and healthy liver breakfasts for clients during World Hepatitis Week.

“We’re delighted to take a proactive step forward in boosting awareness about the disease and the challenges faced by people living with hep C,” Ms Dyer said.

“A common mode of infection is blood-to-blood contact between people sharing injecting equipment, which is why people living with hep C often encounter stigma in the community.

“Hep C can also be contracted through unsterile tattooing or piercings, needle stick injuries, from mother to baby, unsterile medical procedures in developing countries and blood transfusions in Australia prior to 1990.”

Ms Dyer said the art exhibition gave people the chance to share their experiences and proactively help reduce the number of cases across the community.

“It is hugely important for the wider community to recognise that hep C is not a faceless disease and to build a greater level of acceptance,” she said.

“The artworks in this exhibition are extremely powerful and tell real stories of people living with hep C.

“They portray a raw sense of honesty from each and every artist who participated in the workshop.”