AFAO’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program supports the AFAO membership through national leadership and coordination that facilitates engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in order to develop culturally appropriate and sensitive responses to HIV and sexual health issues.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities continue to face significant public health issues and challenges around BBVs and STIs. The Third National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Blood Borne Virus and Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy 2010 - 2013 seeks to address those challenges, and AFAO’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program policy and education work focuses on the priorities set out in the Strategy, by:

• initiating and facilitating consultations with members and other stakeholders regarding issues affecting ATSI communities, including with leaders from affected communities

• monitoring issues faced by ATSI gay men and sister-girls in the light of the particular vulnerabilities in gay and Indigenous populations

• ensuring that analysis of how best to address those issues is included in AFAO’s policy submissions and discussion papers

• providing advice to the federal government and its advisory bodies, and to Commonwealth departments, on emerging HIV and BBV prevention, treatment, care and support issues faced by people from ATSI communities

• monitoring and analysing HIV prevention issues faced by ATSI women

• analysing emerging HIV-related prevention, care and support issues faced by Torres Strait Islander people and PNG nationals moving between Australia and PNG

• producing discussion papers to support the ANA in its community development work around significant issues

• participating in the Anwernekenhe National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HIV/AIDS Alliance as a founding member

Resources

AFAO’s education campaigns and resources targeting people among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are developed in close collaboration with key Indigenous community leaders and representatives, peer-based organisations and health professionals. Our resources seek to improve health literacy regarding HIV transmission and testing, and awareness of care and support services available for people living with HIV. We also work toward enhancing understanding of the impact of HIV on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people among friends, family and other community members.