HIV Australia 2012

In 2009, UNAIDS estimated that more than 90% of the 1.7 million women living with HIV in Asia had been infected by their husbands or partners while in long-term relationships.

James May explores an HIV prevention initiative of the Sexually Adventurous Men’s (SAM) project in Victoria.

Ben Wilcock profiles a new interactive website that encourages gay men to communicate more openly within relationships.

Mark Hubbard outlines how first-person narratives can deliver health promotion messages to gay men in an culturally appropriate way.

Sonja Vivienne discusses challenges associated self-representation and digital media, outlining how privacy and other issues were navigated by a group of HIV-positive people participating in a digital storytelling project in South Australia.

Simon Donohoe and Ben Tart discuss an interactive campaign that aims to address HIV-related stigma that exists in both online and offline environments.

Simon Donohoe and Ben Tart discuss an interactive campaign that aims to address HIV-related stigma that exists in both online and offline environments.

Sean Slavin summarises findings of an online survey examining the experience of HIV-related stigma in Australia.

Jason Appleby traces a cultural shift that is occurring as governments adapt to new modes of communication.

Michael Frommer investigates Australia’s imminent electronic health record system, discussing consumer controls for protecting health data.

Michael Frommer investigates Australia’s imminent electronic health record system, discussing consumer controls for protecting health data.

Dean Murphy considers the benefits and challenges associated with data linage of health record information.

Bianca Wirth provides a preview of new research that surveyed almost 600 Australian non-profit organisations about their use of social media; 65% of the organisations examined were health and human services based. The survey report aims to generate a reflection of how non-profits are using social media specific to the Australian context.

Yves Calmette looks at the emergent power of Facebook to reach and (re)engage with gay men.

This article by Lyndal Cairns details the way social media is used at Healthy Communities in Queensland and the importance of strategy in reaching our goals of HIV prevention.

Links to other news and resources

Writing in response to QAHC defunding, DANIEL REEDERS discusses the role of community in effective HIV health promotion.

Rob Lake argues that the Queensland Government’s decision to scrap funding to Healthy Communities is wrong.

At the National Gay Men’s HIV Health Promotion Conference, held in Sydney 28-30 May, a resolution was unanimously passed by conference delegates regarding the Queensland government’s intention to strip LGBT health organisation Healthy Communities of its funding.

SEAN SLAVIN says that population health benefit should not eclipse the needs of individuals when considering treatment as prevention

Australia’s public health response to HIV is often cited as one of the world’s most successful. This history of this response is also well-documented, with Neal Blewett, Minister for Health in the Hawke government, usually credited with introducing the innovative approach of involving communities affected by HIV. Harm minimisation and the ‘partnership’ approach to public health prevented what could have been many more deaths.

SALINA ABIGAIL traces the development of community involvement in Indonesia’s HIV response.

Chris Howard and Karen Porter discuss Positive Direction’s approach to service provision and the importance of engaging mainstream services

Iain Stewart Brady canvasses issues surrounding a legal case in regional NSW involving HIV.

David lives and works in a remote town of the Northern Territory, where he has been based for many years. He has been living with HIV since 1985, and commenced antiretroviral treatment earlier this year with the support of two interstate doctors: one based in Sydney (who he has been seeing for over 20 years) and one in Melbourne. David got in touch with HIV Australia to share his story about his experiences of living with HIV in a remote community.

BEN YI and ROB WILLOUGHBY evaluate the benefits of delivering counselling services online as a way to overcome barriers to access in rural areas.

JOANNE HEREWARD looks at the benefits of telehealth and reports on the rollout of a new national initiative.

DERMOT RYAN compares HIV prevention needs and risk indicators among gay men in urban and rural areas,finding more similarities than differences.

LANCE FEENEY and MELISSA WOODROFFE summarise concerns raised by local community members at a series of HIV treatment forums.

SUZI QUIXLEY profiles a weekend retreat for HIV-positive people in South Australia, highlighting key insights learnt along the way.

PANOS COUROS1 examines current and emerging challenges in providing HIV services to some of Australia’s most diverse communities.

ABIGAIL GROVES discusses life in a regional town for people who are gay or HIV-positive

PENNY HANLEY and HELEN HOPKINS outline key health and wellbeing issues for people in regional and rural areas.

JENNIFER POWER critiques the return of the Grim Reaper in a new Queensland Government campaign, ‘Let’s End HIV’

ELENA JEFFREYS, JANELLE FAWKES and ZAHRA STARDUST call for an end to mandatory testing among sex workers, comparing outcomes in Australian jurisdictions with and without this practice in place.

FINN O’KEEFE1 reports on the overdue announcement of a needle and syringe trial at the AMC prison in Canberra, but finds there is more work to be done.