Real Time

The REAL TIME booklet draws upon motivational interviewing techniques and is designed to assist gay men to resolve conflicts between the perceived benefits and costs of unsafe sex. The workbook style of the booklet will enable readers to reflect on past and present actions, and help identify and reduce patterns of behaviour that cause anxiety or stress.

“Reducing risks can reduce stress and worry and increase the enjoyment of sex. For HIV-negative men this means not having to worrying about contracting HIV during sex. For HIV-positive men this means not having to worry about exposing their sex partners to the virus,” said Graham Brown, President of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations. “It is about sharing the responsibility to increase the enjoyment from sex without increasing the worry."

The booklet is part of a new campaign by the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) focusing on risk taking by gay men who have adopted ‘serosorting’ as a strategy to prevent HIV transmission. The campaign addresses issues such as the desire not to use condoms; HIV testing; assumptions about HIV serostatus; disclosure; negotiation of condom use; trust; seroconversion illness symptoms and primary infection.

HIV tests & treatments - 2009 edition

‘HIV Tests & Treatments” is a newly updated resource that describes the currently available antiviral drugs for the treatment and management of HIV infection. It also describes some common tests used to monitor the health of people with HIV, and how these tests can be used to help you look after your health, or make decisions about starting, stopping or changing antiviral treatments.

This booklet is designed for all people with HIV, whether you have been recently diagnosed, or have known about your HIV positive status for some time. The information enclosed is designed to help you:

• understand how HIV antiviral treatments work, and what HIV drugs are currently available;
• understand the different tests which might be suggested by your doctor to help monitor your health; and
• work with your doctor to agree on the most appropriate HIV treatment and management strategy for you – whether this is with or without antiviral drugs.

It also contains some information about:

• phenotyping and genotyping (commonly referred to as resistance testing);
• drug side effects and how they might be managed; and
• tips and tricks for getting the most out of your medications

Also available to download in pdf format.

Next Steps

A new resource from AFAO for people recently diagnosed with HIV.

The booklet covers a range of topics including treatments and monitoring, transmitting and preventing HIV, safe sex, relationships, sexually transmitted infections, legal rights, health maintenance, women's issues and the stages of adapting after diagnosis.

Also available to download in pdf format.

This booklet from AFAO has been produced with the aim of updating gay men on the risks of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the new millennium. The booklet not only covers the basics of HIV transmission, but also addresses more contemporary issues such as the impact of the resurgent STIs epidemics among men who have sex with men in Australia, and information on potential biomedical prevention technologies such as vaccines, microbicides and pre-exposure prophylaxis. The style of the booklet is authoritative, yet playful and sex-positive, using GI Joe models in various positions to help set the mood and tease the eye. You can view the online 'flipflash'version by clicking on the link to the left.

The Dirty Truth is a resource for HIV positive men on avoiding Sexually Transmitted Infections. Its use of explicit images and fun style is designed to engage the reader and make it easy for them to become more informed about STIs.

The booklet covers topics such as what STIs are, the interaction between HIV and other STIs, and getting a sexual health check.
                   
Due to its use of sexually explicit material, the booklet has a R18+ rating and comes in a sealed wrapper. Men over the age of 18 can collect their copy from staff at Gay Men's Health or at local venues.

Treat Yourself Right

A new and updated version of the Treat Yourself Right: Information for Women with HIV/AIDS booklet, produced by the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) and National Association of People Living With HIV/AIDS (NAPWA) education team is now available. It includes information about best practices for making decisions about treatments, disclosure, sex, contraception, pregnancy and menopause.

Managing Side Effects

A guide for HIV positive people & health professionals, this resource contains useful information about managing side-effects through complementary therapy, medical and drug treatments. It is organised by type of side-effect rather than by specific HIV drug (or drug class), and covers effects such as diarrhoea, headache, peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, anaemia, night sweats, skin problems, blood sugar changes, cholesterol, and liver and kidney problems. Also included is an extensive glossary of terms and information about how to find a qualified practitioner in various complementary medicine modalities.

Also available to download in pdf format.

Out Late : a guide for older men coming out

Thousands of men in Australia have had to come to terms with the discovery that they are attracted to other men. For some it may be a new discovery or something they have known for years but felt uncomfortable about openly acknowledging. It can happen at any age and at any life stage, but the older you are and the longer you have been living a straight life, the more challenging it is to come out as a gay man.

Out Late provides information about sexual identity and coming out as an older gay man as well as important information about health and safe sex.

Also available to download in pdf format.

To order printed copies of these resources email information@acsa.org.au or call 8334 1611. If you would prefer to complete a Resource Order Form you can return it by return by email, fax or post.

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