....a chat show to keep the HIV conversation going...all about Love, Life, Sex, HIV treatments and the whole damm thing....
6.30pm Thursday 30 May Circular Quay Room,
Mercure Hotel 818-820 George St Sydney
(just across from Central Station)
All Welcome with a FREE Buffet and drinks included.
RSVP (by Friday 24 May) pozhet@pozhet.org.au Ph: 1800 812 404
Have you ever had a moment when you heard someone's story about living with HIV and it brought tears to your eyes? Did you learn something? Did you feel you could relate to what they said, or did it make you realise something marvellous about yourself? Did you feel connected, that someone understands, or that you are a great and strong person?
That's the power of a personal story. It touches people's lives and makes you feel you're not alone. Stories heal, they teach and they touch hearts. And we all have a story to tell. No matter how boring you think your story is, it will be interesting to someone.
We'd like to hear how you live your life with HIV. Be anonymous, make up a new name and change the town or the people. But don't forget that you matter and you can make a difference.
We would love to share your story through this website. You can write as much or little as you like; it may be a paragraph but you may find you have a book in you!
If you don't like writing, Pozhet staff can meet with you to help. We can even organise a professional audio recording ('podcast'). Send us your story or point of view. All stories will be kept in absolute confidence. We will only ever use your story with your permission and we will conceal identities.
Here’s your chance to tell your story! Pozhet is collaborating on a new study led by UNSW which aims to “improve understanding of the experiences and HIV prevention needs” of both gay and heterosexual couples with mixed HIV status (pos/neg, serodiscordance).
The aim of the study is to understand the needs of couples and to develop key recommendations for policy, prevention and health promotion. The study will explore the social and sexual aspects of your relationship, and your use of health-related services. We also want to hear what you think about current plans to greatly reduce the HIV epidemic in Australia and globally.
Be part of the first major study on the experiences of serodiscordant couples. We are looking for both gay men and heterosexual men and women who are in a relationship with someone who has a different HIV status, who have been sexually active in the relationship, and who live in Greater Sydney or the Central Coast, the Hunter / Newcastle area, or the Northern Rivers region. Both partners can participate in the study but will be interviewed separately.
A confidential interview will be arranged and we will talk to you about a range of issues related to your social, emotional and sexual experiences of living in a serodiscordant relationship.
We will also talk to you about your opinions, knowledge and practice in relation to the prevention and management of HIV in your relationship. We use an in-depth interview format, allowing participants to thoroughly explore these issues and tell their story in their own way.
The interview will take about 1-2 hours to complete and will be held at a time and place that is convenient to you.
For more information or to organise an interview, go to youme&hiv or contact Asha Persson on (02) 9385 6414 or email a.persson@unsw.edu.au
You are invited to participate in a research project concerning oral health promotion in people living with HIV (PLHIV).
This project is being conducted by the Oral Health Promotion Working Group which is a partnership of HIV/AIDS related clinical and health promotion services in NSW, Sydney and South Western Local Health District Oral Health Services, ACON, Bobby-Goldsmith Foundation and Positive Life. The results of the survey are anonymous.
Follow this link to complete the survey online - oral health survey
For all the information on the survey click here.
Redfern HIV Nutrition Clinic
Wednesday afternoon 12pm to 4pm
Redfern Health Centre 103-105 Redfern St, Redfern
Good Nutrition - A crucial part in...
The Dietitians at Positive Central use the latest measurement tools to monitor your progress and are specialists in nutrition for people with HIV.
To make an apointment call 9395 0444 or ask your HIV health care worker to make a referral.
You can view more information by clicking this link and also this link.
Ring Susan on Freecall 1800 812 404 or email pozhet@pozhet.org.au for more information
These groups are held on the first Friday of each month.
Do you have HIV but are currently not on treatment?Researchers from the National Centre in HIV Social Research and NAPWHA are interested in your story and hearing your views on HIV treatment.
Interviews can be done over the phone or in person in urban Sydney and should take between one and two hours. With your consent, the interview will be audio-recorded; however, all information obtained in connection with this study will remain confidential.
You must be over 18, proficient in English and currently not taking antiretroviral therapy.
If you’d like to participate in the research project, please contact Brent Beadle on Freecall 1800 259 666 or email Brent
Picking up your HIV medications could become easier for you by accessing the Enhanced Medication Access (EMA). This is a new scheme in New South Wales which supports eligible people to pick up meds from home, work or community pharmacies. It is available in metro and regional NSW.
The Scheme allows people with HIV living in NSW who are eligible to have up to 4 months supply of HIV medication dispensed and delivered without the need to go to a hospital pharmacy.
You will need to be able to pay for the supply of medication in advance using a debit or credit card before the medications are sent.
HIV medication will be mailed to your preferred address after payment has been received at the Albion Centre Pharmacy. In some circumstances, there may be a charge for handling and delivery.
You can enrol in the scheme if you are:
At your next appointment, discuss your eligibility with your HIV prescriber. If you are eligible, they will complete the Prescribers Enrolment Form.
You will need to complete the Patient Enrolment Form.
http://www.ashm.org.au/images/Combined.pdf
Any men or women living in Australia who are over 18 years of age and who have recently been diagnosed with HIV are eligible to participate in this study. "Recently" means a diagnosis anytime in the last 5 years, but preferably within the last two years.
Click here to view the site for all the information
AFAO (Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations) has released a breifing paper on a trial of PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis). For the article, click on this link to view the paper "Results of the iPrEx Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis trial"
A report from the HIV Futures Six survey detailing the experiences of women living with HIV/AIDS specifically is now available.
The key findings of this brief report include:
The report can be downloaded from the HIV Futures website
R Koelmeyer, K McDonald, M Pitts and J Grierson (2010). HIV Futures 6: Making Positive Women’s Lives Count, Monograph Series Number 77, The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
A Workshop in Better Health & Wellbeing for people living with HIV
Developed by Stanford University, California
Presented by Bobby Goldsmith Foundation
2½ hours each week for 6 weeks
Workshop topics:
For people living with HIV, their partners and carers
Thursdays May 9, 16, 23, 30, June 6 & 13 — 1 pm
(A one-on-one orientation will be provided prior to May 9)
For more information: Call Kit Ayers or Richard Kennedy,
Bobby Goldsmith Foundation Phone: (02) 9283 8666 or
Freecall 1800 651 011
Email: kit.ayers@bgf.org.au
Positive Life is facilitating a community consultation on ‘HIV Treatment Now’. Findings will feed into our new campaign on HIV treatment. If you are interested in coming along to a discussion group or confidential interview, please email kathyt@positivelife.org.au or call 9206 2175. You will remunerated for your time.
The Tree of Hope Social Gathering is on every 2nd Friday each month
View the Autumn Edition of Tree of Hope's Newsletter
The Tree of Hope is a CatholicCare programme which provides pastoral counselling support services for people living with HIV/AIDS, their families and primary carers. Tree of Hope provides an opportunity for emotional and practical support in a confidential safe environment by visitation, connecting in groups or by telephone support.
The Western Suburbs Haven Inc is a registered charity caring for people living with HIV/AIDS in the Greater West of Sydney. It exists to support, empower and care for people living with HIV/AIDS, their partners, families and carers.
October-November edition of The Haven Wrap
Introducing the HIV Stigma Audit
A research project to help end HIV stigma in Australia
The stigma of HIV is something we can live without and with your help we can make a start
The HIV Stigma Audit is a new research project from NAPWA and the National Centre in HIV Social Research at the University of New South Wales. The audit is being conducted by a web-based survey.
We would like to hear from all sorts of people with HIV about their experiences. If you are HIV positive and living in Australia you are welcome to complete the survey.
The survey only takes about 20 mins to complete, and is open to all HIV-positive people over the age of 18 living in Australia. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us understand HIV stigma and start to do something about ending it.
If you are HIV-positive, over 18 and living in Australia, please consider participating in this valuable research. For more information about the Stigma Audit, please visit www.hivstigma.net.au
Quit smoking... for people with HIV
The social club is a social peer support group set up and run by our own members, who meet regularly on the first Friday of every month with some weekend events planned as well . We aim to provide a safe and supportive environment where we can meet together socially around an organised event or activity. If you would like to join our mailing list, please email us at phsocialclub@gmail.comand we will ensure you are kept up to date with all our planned activities.
Social Club News and Updates, January - March 2013
Social Club Feedback Click to view
A journalism student from the University of Technology Sydney is in search of a heterosexual serodiscordant couple who would be willing to participate in an interview. Both members of the relationship would have to be willing to be interviewed. This information will be used as part of his major work for his final year. The purpose of the story is to provide some light on the functionality of these couples, and to provide willing participants with the opportunity to provide a voice for other people in similar situations. The idea is a result of a new study being conducted by UNSW into serodiscordant couples. For further information please contact Bradley Birnie through his email: brad.birnie@hotmail.com. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
To support people living with HIV, the National Heart Foundation of Australia has developed a resource, Cardiovascular wellness for people living with HIV, that outlines information on heart health.
The resource is available as both a printed brochure and an interactive online resource that links to further information. Sections on lifestyle information include: smoking, nutrition, physical activity and healthy weight. There is also information on medicines for HIV, recreational drug use, and social and emotional wellbeing.
For more information or to access the online version, click this link heartfoundation.org.au/hiv or download the resource by clicking here.
Produced by Family Planning NSW in partnership with MHAHS, ACON and the Heterosexual HIV/AIDS Service (HHAS)
View a list of the factsheets on the resources page
Heterosexual HIV/AIDS Service (HHAS) is an organisation providing information, support and advocacy to people affected by HIV/Aids in New South Wales,Australia, and is solely funded by NSW Department of Health through the Sydney South West Area Health Service. (SSWAHS) more
Our 2008-2012 Strategic Plan is available for viewing. Click to view
The Straight Forward Wellness Network
Heterosexual HIV/AIDS Service (HHAS) works to promote the health and wellbeing of positive heterosexual men and women, their partners and family members across NSW through health promotion, client care and support, work force development and training, advocacy and research. A priority area for the Heterosexual HIV/AIDS Service is partnership and collaboration, and as part of the 'Straight Forward Wellness Project ', Heterosexual HIV/AIDS Service (HHAS) has established a network to work together to ensure that people living heterosexually with HIV have improved access to the services in NSW.
The developments of The Straight Forward Wellness Network has occurred in phases, with initial network meetings with metropolitan service providers, and then through consultation with regional and rural partners grow to encompass a geographically broader range of services.
Membership of the Straight Forward Wellness Interagency are drawn from areas of expertise in HIV/AIDS, adult and peer education, relevant areas of health and program development areas.
The network meets quarterly and aims to:
If you would like further information on the Straight Forward Wellness Network, please contact Pozhet (pozhet@pozhet.org.au)
make a connection
with others
attend an event, phone us, read the forum, have a coffee, stay and chat
around NSW
statewide
discuss, join in, have your say, get informed, meet other positive people
our services
client care and support
education, womens events, information, events, telephone support
