tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36565982018389311602024-03-13T21:17:09.519+11:00AFAO talksThe Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) is the national federation for the HIV community response. This blog is where we share information about AFAO's involvement with HIV events in Australia and internationally.AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-59676763524633320212017-05-23T15:08:00.000+10:002017-06-01T12:21:06.690+10:00Candlelight Vigil, Canberra, 21 May 2017<!--[if gte mso 9]>
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AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-31179634378097173532016-07-18T14:20:00.007+10:002016-07-25T12:12:29.716+10:00YOUTHLEAD report back on the UNAIDS High Level Meeting to End AIDS
At the UN High Level Meeting to End AIDS (HLM) in New York, civil society played a vital role in advocating for the needs of key populations, in particular stressing the urgent need for the greater inclusion specific communities affected by HIV within the document.
AFAO spoke to one of the civil society delegates at the meeting, Jeffry Acaba, about his thoughts on the outcome of the FinnOKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511260891272639749noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-79309661655497227382016-06-10T16:32:00.000+10:002016-06-30T16:49:01.177+10:00Report back: UN High Level Meeting on AIDS
L-R: Darryl O'Donnell, Sharon Lewin,
Cipri Martinez.
It’s been an intense few days in New York, as
government heads of state, ministers
of health and civil society congregated in New York for the High Level Meeting on Ending AIDS (HLM).
The Australian Delegation to the meeting included AFAO CEO Darryl O’Donnell; President of the National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHAAFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-18520803497171563562016-05-13T15:35:00.002+10:002016-05-16T15:24:28.752+10:00PrEP can help us end HIV
It’s
not often that a drug’s product information sheet would be cause for
excitement, let alone celebration, writes AFAO Executive Director Darryl O'Donell.
Yet just as experts met in Sydney on 6 May
to discuss HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, Australia’s drug regulator quietly changed the product sheet for the drug Truvada to approve its use to prevent HIV.
This
change by Australia’sAFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-57156231503428154542015-11-20T15:31:00.000+11:002015-12-07T09:40:17.868+11:00Charlie Sheen: Commentary from Australian HIV advocates
On 17 November the news broke that actor Charlie Sheen was
about to do an interview in which he would disclose that he had HIV.
On 18
November this rumour was confirmed, with Sheen announcing that he had been
living with HIV since 2011, had an undetectable viral load, and had been
blackmailed to the tune of millions of dollars by people to whom he’d
disclosed.
Social and online AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-19457523142143452022015-10-30T11:27:00.000+11:002015-10-30T11:27:08.140+11:00HIV video festMini film festivals were a key part of the Community and Advocacy Hubs hosted by AFAO at ASHM’s last two national HIV conferences, and also at AIDS 2014.
This year, once again, we had an awesome selection of videos from our members and other HIV sector partners, with the videos running on a continuous loop between Hub presentations.
Here’s a selection from the program. There were so many AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-9253931684572140302015-10-16T14:31:00.000+11:002015-10-16T15:03:21.024+11:00Raise your voice against stigma and homophobia
Speaking out against prejudice is a vital step towards changing
community attitudes that stigmatise people with HIV and people who are at
greater risk of contracting HIV.
When people raise their voices against stigma, it makes it easier
for people who have HIV, who are gay, who use drugs, or are sex workers, to
access the information, prevention tools, and treatments and care that they
need AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-76901724244572252722015-10-15T13:16:00.000+11:002015-10-20T14:05:13.811+11:00AFAO Hub buzzes at ASHM 2015The AFAO Community and Advocacy Hub was an exciting and stimulating focal point of the national HIV (ASHM) Conference in Brisbane over 17 and 18 September.
Hundreds of conference delegates enjoyed a wide range of presentations, Q & A sessions and film screenings.
AFAO's Michael Frommer reports back.
L-R: Harry McNulty (VAC), Dean Price (ACON), Max Mack (QUAC) and Rob AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-18987095342425943882015-09-07T15:51:00.002+10:002015-09-08T11:10:43.890+10:00JumpStart: building the capacity of MSM and transgender networks across Asia and the Pacific
The APCOM team, led by Joe and A, present JumpStart
findings to Khun Somchai Promsombat, Executive Director
at the Poz Home Center.
JumpStart is an AFAO/APCOM project, which aims to build the capacity of MSM and transgender national networks to effectively engage with HIV responses in the Greater Mekong and ISEAN sub-regions.
In 2015, JumpStart published a Regional Analysis Report assessingAFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-57414870547551386622015-07-27T11:49:00.003+10:002015-07-28T13:43:47.714+10:00Don't leave Indigenous communities behind: Marama Pala closes IAS 2015
Marama Pala, IIWGHA CO-Chair, at the closing of IAS 2015
AFAO's Ben Wilcock reports back from the closing of IAS 2015.
After summaries of the four main tracks of the conference were
presented in the closing session of the #IAS2015 conference, the
conference attendees had the honour of being present for an inspiring
talk by Marama Pala, Co-Chair of the International Indigenous AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-44432120297133541502015-07-27T11:12:00.000+10:002015-10-12T11:58:57.746+11:00A Cure For All: 2nd International HIV/Viral Hepatitis Co-infection Meeting
AFAO Health Promotion Officer, Ben Wilcock, reports back on the 2nd International HIV/Viral Hepatitis Co-infection Meeting, held in Vancouver.
On Friday and Saturday (17-18 July), I was fortunate to be able to
attend the 2nd International HIV/Viral Hepatitis Co-infection Meeting in
Vancouver. It was an official event before the IAS Conference on HIV
Pathogenesis, Treatment and AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com126tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-50694422811546880832015-07-23T17:06:00.002+10:002015-07-27T18:57:45.750+10:00IAS 2015: Reaching 90-90-90
AFAO Policy Analyst, Michael Frommer discusses day one of IAS 2015.
Questions about the best way to facilitate access to testing in order to reach the UNAIDS target of 90% of people with HIV diagnosed was a recurring theme in sessions on the first day of IAS 2015, Vancouver.
Dr Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Health (US) provided an overview in his address, 'Progress and AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-36977285054860778912015-07-23T14:54:00.003+10:002015-07-27T18:58:36.276+10:00Future directions of the IAS: share your views
IAS2015 at the Vancouver Convention Centre
The International AIDS Society (IAS) is engaging with stakeholders to help develop a new strategic plan.
During the IAS 2015 conference, the International AIDS Society has been holding a series of strategic planning consultations with members, as well as calling for input via an online Membership and Strategy Survey.
A key issue in the AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-53639030796327537332015-07-21T15:55:00.000+10:002015-07-21T15:55:10.384+10:00IAS 2015: Disclosure and HIV criminalisation advocacy
Alison Symington, CanadianHIV/AIDS Legal Network.
The 8th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2015) is on in Vancouver, Canada, this week. AFAO Policy Analyst Michael Frommer reports back on the pre-conference community forum.
Key human rights challenges, such as criminalisation of HIV transmission, were centre stage at the IAS community forum on Saturday AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-57004933943305627732015-07-03T11:49:00.001+10:002015-07-06T11:49:11.364+10:00Support Don’t Punish Day of ActionThere was resounding agreement that the 'War on Drugs' has failed at the AIVL/NUAA day of action celebrating the global movement Support Don’t Punish.
L to R: Leah McLeod - NUAA, Peter Baume AC, Nicholas Stewart - Dowson Turco, Jude Byrne - AIVL, Will Tregoning - Unharm
Held at NSW Parliament on 26 June, the impressive range of speakers included ex federal Senator Peter BaumeMichael Frommerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11433958299200319434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-52580350906837768002015-06-29T15:06:00.000+10:002015-06-29T15:06:38.593+10:00HIV: a conversation in dance
James Welsby, Chafia Brooks and Benjamin Hancock.
Photo: Gregory Lorenzutti
'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.
Guest blogger and dance maker James Welsby explains how the show came about.
I've known about ACT UP (the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) for a while, but the recent release AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-29714464402572097032015-06-22T10:04:00.000+10:002015-06-22T10:04:39.208+10:00Doing Debby in Darlinghurst
A print in Difficult Debby's
Whore Love series.
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.
Difficult Debby explained what it was all about in her post on this blog in the lead-up to the exhibition.
Once the exhibition opened, AFAO Project Officer Jill Sergeant AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-58959327336044625742015-06-02T13:05:00.002+10:002015-06-04T16:27:39.518+10:00Advocacy and updates: AFAO Members Forum day two
Craig Cooper from Positive Life NSW opened day two of forum with an update about community dispensing of ARVs in NSW.
On
Day two of the Forum, participants posed for a photo in solidarity with
the
International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia
Craig presented data providing overwhelming evidence that people with HIV want increased options for accessing medications, with AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-49534556513884271242015-06-02T13:05:00.000+10:002015-06-04T16:29:20.977+10:00HIV testing: AFAO Members Forum
The second session of the AFAO Members Forum explored
various testing options and innovative approaches which have increased
HIV testing rates among communities.
Phillip Cunningham and Rebecca Guy
Rebecca Guy from the Kirby Institute and Philip Cunningham from the NSW State Reference Laboratory for HIV opened the session by presenting comparisons between rapid and dried blood spot AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com372tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-66642605913231314302015-06-02T13:03:00.000+10:002015-06-04T16:29:40.920+10:00 'Beyond the targets': AFAO Members Forum 2015 session oneDay one of the AFAO Members Forum opened with ‘Beyond the targets’, a session focusing on research as a tool to leverage policy goals for the sector.
Stigma and discrimination
John de Wit from CSRH discussed international and Australian research into HIV-related stigma and discrimination and interventions to address its effects.
He said there is strong evidence that stigma and AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-49616769103926264152015-06-02T13:02:00.000+10:002015-06-04T16:29:57.862+10:00TasP and PrEP: AFAO Members ForumThe afternoon session on day one of the AFAO Members Forum involved robust discussions about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and treatment as prevention (TasP).
Presentations looked at key areas including research, clinical guidelines, regulation and advocacy, both in Australia and the international context.
TasP panel discussion. L-R: Colin Batrouney (VAC), Cam Cox (AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-37396326913337953932015-06-02T12:50:00.000+10:002015-06-04T16:27:55.523+10:00AFAO Members Forum 2015: A brief summary
On 15-16 May, AFAO held our 2015 Members Forum in Sydney. The forum is a chance for AFAO members to come together to network
and discuss issues and strategies for the coming year.
.
The 2015 forum was attended by over 40 delegates, representing AFAO national and state/territory Members and Affiliate Members. Presentations were delivered by Members as well as representatives from otherAFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-13845379455886629242015-05-22T14:57:00.000+10:002015-05-22T14:57:13.511+10:00Debby Doesn’t Do It For Free
The Debby Doesn't Do It For Free interactive exhibition is coming to Sydney from 2 - 6 June.
Opening on International Whore's Day at the Tap Gallery, the exhibition's described as a 'celebration and homage to sex work'. It will include videos, prints, soundscapes, installations, the popular 'Ask a Hooker a Question' booth and more.
The exhibition is put together by the Debbys - an independentAFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-25935544997295813642015-05-14T16:39:00.000+10:002015-05-14T17:46:35.102+10:00Candlelight memorial 2015
The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is celebrated around the world every year to commemorate those we've lost to AIDS, and draw attention to the challenges HIV still presents.
This year, the theme, 'Supporting the future', highlights the need for sustained investment in HIV prevention and treatments access at a time when the technologies exist to turn the epidemic around and AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656598201838931160.post-80129506216878270712015-05-06T15:13:00.000+10:002015-05-06T15:13:58.293+10:00Our blog turns 3
Since April 2012 we've published 80 articles on this blog. We've covered many important topics, including human rights, HIV prevention, stigma, e-health and the experience of different HIV-affected populations.
We've used the blog to promote, report back and reflect on events large and
small, from AIDS 2014 to roundtable discussions, to the
Candlelight Memorial (stay tuned).
To celebrate AFAOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06594311819727888423noreply@blogger.com0