AFAO's Policy and Communications team provides policy advice to the Commonwealth on HIV and related issues, and undertakes policy analysis and law reform advocacy regarding Australia's response to HIV.

Key aspects of our federal engagement include:

• providing advice to government advisory bodies on human rights issues affecting people living with HIV and affected communities;
• contributing to government legislative and policy development;
• contributing to relevant national policy and research forums; and
• initiating policy development and law reform advocacy in the context of the priority actions set out in Australia's suite of the Sixth National HIV Strategy and the other four national blood borne virus (BBV) and STI strategies. View Strategies on DoHA website.

The current suite of national strategies on blood borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections are a product of the partnership between government, community organisations and the health sectors in responding to HIV. The strategies reflect community organisations' efforts to ensure that HIV prevention, care and support initiatives developed under the strategies are complementary, well integrated and involve community sector input.

AFAO promotes evidence-based policy responses to HIV and related issues. The Policy and Communications Team makes written and oral submissions to inquiries initiated by the government and its agencies, and provides discussion papers for members and other stakeholders. AFAO Policy Officers represent AFAO by sitting on relevant Commonwealth advisory bodies relating to domestic and regional HIV policies and programs. View listing of representatives.

Each edition of AFAO's flagship magazine, HIV Australia, focuses on a particular HIV-related topic of relevance to our policy work, with articles from academics, community organisations and health providers.

AFAO also provides briefings on federal government budget announcements and engages with the major parties regarding election platform commitments and policies in areas that would impact on communities most affected by HIV.