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Welcome to our new President
In May we welcomed Bridget Haire as our new President following Willie Rowe’s resignation to take up a position with the WA Government.
Bridget is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Kirby Institute. She has worked in HIV and sexual and reproductive health for 21 years as a journalist, editor, policy analyst and advocate.
Until our AGM in November, the role of Vice President will be held by Simon Ruth, CEO, VAC. Karen Price, Director, HIV/Sexual health, ACON, has been has been co-opted to the Board to fill the Ordinary Member position
Read more …
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Vale Alan Brotherton
AFAO Board and staff are deeply saddened by the death of Alan Brotherton, one of Australia’s leading HIV, LGBTI health and social justice advocates.
Alan made an immeasurable contribution to the HIV response, both in Australia and internationally. His involvement with HIV-positive people's advocacy organisations in the 1980s and 1990s helped ensure that people living with HIV and AIDS had a place at the table in advocacy for equitable and non-discriminatory care and support, and that access to new treatments was fast-tracked.
Alan was dedicated to furthering the human rights and improving the lives of HIV-positive and LGBTI people. He did so with great compassion and piercing intelligence - balanced by a truly wicked sense of humour. He will be greatly missed by AFAO.
More info and links to obituaries
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Congrats to Phil Carswell
AFAO congratulates Phil Carswell on being awarded an Order of Australia for service to community health, particularly for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Phil is pictured at left with Don Baxter and Kene Esom.
Phil has made a significant contribution to the development of the Australian response to HIV. In the mid-1980s he was a founding member of AFAO, Foundation President of the Victorian AIDS Council, and a founding trustee of the AIDS Trust of Australia, but his leadership and involvement has continued well beyond that period.
Read more …
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On our blog
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Hex
'HEX' is a one hour contemporary dance show that looks at the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and early 1990s from a Gen Y perspective.
Both the dance and queer communities have enthusiastically supported the production.
Dance maker James Welsby explains how the show came about in his post on the AFAO blog.
Read more ...
The Debbys
In early June, a collective of sex worker artists who call themselves Debby Doesn't Do It For Free hosted an exhibition of new and old artworks in Darlinghurst, Sydney.
AFAO Project Officer Jill Sergeant went along. In this photo-essay she shares her experience at a special viewing session for allies to sex workers.
Read more …
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Call for submissions: Mapping CALD HIV health promotion
AFAO is updating and expanding its mapping of HIV health promotion with culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
The mapping is intended to support health promotion work by sharing ideas, information, links and expertise.
The existing document, which focusses on programs with African communities, provides evidence of the excellent work already being done in CALD HIV health promotion around Australia. This evidence base will be enhanced by the inclusion of a wider range of programs, such as those with gay Asian men, or with Asian sex workers.
Services are invited to contribute information about their programs.
Read more ...
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From the policy team
Submissions
Development of the National Ice Action Strategy
AFAO’s submission regarding the National Ice Taskforce's development of the National Ice Action Strategy recommends that for the Strategy to be effective, it must be grounded in public health best practice and must not unduly focus on policing and application of the criminal law.
Download submission
Joint Committee on Law Enforcement Inquiry into crystal methamphetamine (ice)
Our submission cautions against stigmatising ice users and identifies the need for enhancing access to services and resourcing effective, peer-led and culturally sensitive programs for people with problematic methamphetamine use.
Download submission
Electronic Health Records and Healthcare Identifiers: Legislation Discussion Paper
AFAO's comments on the discussion paper address issues regarding privacy and confidentiality, and expresses concerns about the opt-in model for healthcare providers. AFAO also suggests inclusion of NAPWHA as a community representatives on the Board of the new Australian Commission for Electronic Health (ACeH).
Download submission
Briefing papers
We’ve also updated a couple of our briefing papers:
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HIV Australia - next edition out soon
The next edition of HIV Australia explores the changing landscape of HIV treatment and prevention in the light of new understandings about early treatment, TasP and PrEP.
As this edition illustrates, the impact of TasP, PrEP and early treatment is highly individualised and affects communities and individuals in various ways. A key question is how to ensure that these new approaches are implemented without impinging upon human rights or eclipsing existing HIV prevention strategies.
It's an edition not to be missed! Expect to see it in your mailboxes and online next week.
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