There has never been a better time for treating hepatitis C and more effort needs to go into raising community awareness about treatment options, the new President of Hepatitis Australia, Professor Cindy Shannon said.

Speaking in an interview with Radio Adelaide, Prof. Shannon said more energy needs to be invested in advocating for testing and treatment in the community, including the Aboriginal community where prevalence of hepatitis C is high.

She said the impact of hepatitis C as a chronic disease on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities hasn't gained the prominence that it should have nationally. "I certainly hope to engage with the Aboriginal  community health sector in promoting testing and advocacy for it and awareness of it," she added.

Prof. Shannon said there needs to be a communication strategy for raising awareness in the whole community about the new hepatitis C treatments.

In a statement marking her appointment as President of the national peak body for hepatitis, Prof Shannon welcomed the imminent availability of the new breakthrough cures and urged people living with the virus to speak to their doctors.

"It is vital that everyone living with hepatitis C knows that there has never been a better time to seek treatment," she said.

"More people living with hepatitis C can be treated and cured than ever before, without enduring the side-effects of older treatment regimes."

She pointed out that the rate of hepatitis C is five times higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and rate of hepatitis B is disproportionately high.

This, she said, pointed to a need for early detection and treatment in these communities to prevent serious liver disease.

"My focus will be on ensuring Australians from all walks of life have access to information, support services and treatment for both hepatitis C and hepatitis B," Prof. Shannon said.

A descendant of the Ngugi people from Moreton Island, Prof. Shannon was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Education) at The University of Queensland in 2011. Previously Director of the Centre for Indigenous Health at The University of Queensland, Prof. Shannon has played a key role in Indigenous health policy development and implementation.