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The AIDS Council of SA Inc. Our vision is: Phone: (08) 8334 1611 64 Fullarton Road, PO Box 907, |
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Hello and welcome to the May edition of ACSA Update: our monthly e-news.
Update is designed to keep our community members, stakeholders and other interested parties informed of the advocacy and policy development work of ACSA. Each month we will provide our readers with up to date information on publications, resources, emerging issues and events.
AFAO Workshop Report
I attended the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) workshop earlier this month. AFAO, of which ACSA is a member, is the peak non-government organisation representing Australia's community-based response to HIV/AIDS and its work includes education, policy, advocacy and international projects.
There was much discussion on the review of the National HIV and STI Strategies and the proposal for developing the next set of strategies. AFAO is pleased with the make up of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Blood Borne Viruses and STI’s (MACBBVS), which will guide the development of the national strategies, although there has been some concern that there is a complete lack of sex worker expertise or representation on the committee. The Chair of the MACBBVS is Professor Michael Kidd, the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Flinders University and the only South Australian based member.
The NZ AIDS Foundation (NZAF) gave a very insightful presentation on HIV/AIDS in New Zealand, the state of the epidemic there and the use of rapid HIV testing. Scoping the epidemic and tracking infection rates is problematic in NZ as HIV is not a notifiable disease. The NZAF has been using rapid HIV testing for more than a year and testing rates are increasing. Tests are done in a community rather than a clinical setting so trained “testers” are able to support a client who tests positive to HIV immediately and provide referrals in the intervening period whilst a confirmatory test is undertaken. They have had no false positive tests to date.The NZAF uses the Uni-Gold system by Trinity, which is at the top of the list of a World Health Organisation review of rapid test systems for reliability. The test involves taking two drops of blood via a finger prick, which is then put into the testing device. Results are available in around 10-15 minutes. The South Australian HIV Action Plan identifies a rapid testing pilot to commence in 2011, and ACSA will actively pursue this issue with Government. A discussion paper will be prepared by ACSA later this year.
South Australian HIV/AIDS and STI Statistics for 2008
Preliminary data indicates a downward trend in overall HIV infection rates which is great news, but is tempered by the fact that infections among gay men have remained steady and nearly one third of gay men who tested positive for HIV in 2008 had never been tested. These statistics will be released at the beginning of June and ACSA will provide a briefing to members and stakeholders on the trends in infection rates.
Executive Director
shane.dinnison@acsa.org.au
0423 159 699
Same sex law reform information campaign
A coalition of community health and welfare agencies has convinced the Federal Government to support a range of measures to ease the impact of new legislation affecting Centrelink payments to same-sex couples.
The measures are part of a package offered by the Commonwealth following lobbying from a broad coalition of more than 30 social welfare agencies and community health organisations led by the National LGBT Health Alliance.
Highlights of the package include:
- a review of the policy on how Centrelink assesses couples, including consultation with LGBT community representatives on the draft changes
- a more compassionate approach to dealing with debts that may result from the Centrelink law reform
- $350K towards a national education campaign by the National LGBT Health Alliance; informing the community about changes to 85 areas of law, including the Centrelink reforms
- $100K provided to the Welfare Rights Network for specific advocacy on behalf of same-sex couples affected by Centrelink changes
A national advisory group will be formed over the next few weeks to oversee the implementation of the education project.
Organisations who would like to express their interest in contributing to the project advisory group should contact Nic Parkhill at ACON on (02) 9206 2000 or nparkhill@acon.org.au.
Full details of the Government package are available on the ACON website: www.acon.org.au
Members of the community who need help or information about Centrelink payments or practice should call the Welfare Rights Centre on 1800 226 028 or (02) 9211 5300.
PASH Study: Pleasure and sexual health: participants wanted
This is a study of gay and bisexual men about their experiences of and attitudes toward sex and pleasure. It will provide valuable information for health promotion efforts and policy development, and may be used in the development of health promotion materials for gay and bisexual men.
More information available at http://www.pash-study.net/. The PASH study team will be in Adelaide between 30 May and 2 June to conduct interviews. Men who are interested in being interviewed can contact Dr Pól McCann on 1800 445 569 or email Pmccann@nchecr.unsw.edu.au
Premier's memorandum on Youth Participation
ACSA recently became a signatory to the Premiers Memorandum on Youth Participation. ACSA is committed to the following principles that underpin young people’s meaningful and effective participation in decision making processes:
- Participation as a fundamental right
- Youth empowerment
- Valuing diversity and
- Inclusiveness
Several ACSA staff are attending the Introduction to Youth Participation workshop run by the Office for Youth and YACSA in early June.
IDAHO - International Day Against Homophobia
About 100 people attended Stars Against Homophobia to celebrate IDAHO on Sunday the 17th of May including MP’s Isobel Redmond, Stephen Wade, David Pisoni and Ian Hunter. Ian made a speech in Parliament on 13 May regarding IDAHO. Read Ian’s speech here...
ACSA will be hosting the launch of the Pleasure and Sexual Health (PASH) and Seroconverters Projects on Tuesday June 2. The launch will be held at Darling House, 64 Fullarton Rd, Norwood.
This national study is a joint initiative of the University of New South Wales, La Trobe University and Curtin University. PASH aims to ascertain what role pleasure has for men mediating the amount of risk they are prepared to take in a variety of sexual encounters; in Seroconverters we are asking men to explore notions of risk and pleasure in and around the event which they believe led to their seroconversion. The South Australian arm of these studies is being funded by SA Health through the HIV/HCV Policy & Programs Unit.
There will be two presentations of the projects: one at 3.00pm for staff whose work hours are in the 9-5 range, and one at 6.00pm for clinicians. Presenters will include Dr Garrett Prestage, Dr Pól McCann, Mr Jack Bradley and Mr Ian Down of the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, UNSW.
The presentations will describe the rationale behind the research, the design of the qualitative and quantitative arms of the projects to date, and the role that staff and clinicians in South Australia can play in this vital research. As much of the research into HIV/AIDS in Australia originates in the Eastern states, your participation is vital in ensuring that this national project fully engages with men outside of Sydney and Melbourne. The SA results will inform the development of targeted health promotion activities aimed at reducing the transmission of HIV in SA. As well as face-to-face interviews, we are aiming for 1000 men in South Australia to do the online component of PASH, and can only achieve this with active participation of key people in Adelaide..
Catering will be provided at each event. Please RSVP to Pól McCann at Pmccann@nchecr.unsw.edu.au by 29/05/2009, noting which presentation you wish to attend, to ensure that we can accommodate and feed everyone comfortably.
Mr Leather SA Friday 5th June
ACSA/Gay Men’s Health in association with Leather Pride is breathing new life into what will be the downright sexiest competition for adventurous South Australian men, MR LEATHER SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The heat at Garage Bar on Friday June 5 will decide the SA State Champion who will be flown to Melbourne in September to compete in the national contest, Mr Leather Australia & New Zealand. Adelaide’s own premium leather brand WhipU2 and Cougar Leather Club are also coming together to support this premier lifestyle and sexuality event. This is all set amongst an evening devoted to fundraising for a good cause and some great local and interstate dance music into the night.
More information at : http://www.acsa.org.au/linked/calendar/MLSA.pdf
International Whores Day Friday 5th June 2009
Celebrate the birth of the sex worker rights movement that began in 1976 in Lyons, France. In 2009, more than 30 years on, South Australian sex workers are still fighting against discrimination, criminalisation and victimisation. This year, please join sex workers, other sex industry employees, health and welfare workers, supporters, friends and families to show your support for sex workers in South Australia as we continue to fight for our human rights.
PUBLIC MARCH:
3.30 till 5pm @ La Sing - 261 Gouger Street, Adelaide
Drinks, nibbles, wigs and giggles as we prepare ourselves to dress to impress (and disguise) for a RED UMBRELLA March to demonstrate the negative impact SA laws have on SA sex workers.
PRIVATE PARTY
6pm till 10pm @ La Sing - 261 Gouger Street, Adelaide
For those too shy to march with us, join us at the after party!
Karaoke and games for sex workers and supporters.
For more information or to RSVP,
please contact SA Sex Industry Network (SIN) on
(08) 8334 1666.
Bingay -11th and 18th of June
Get out those daubers/dobbers! Bingay is set to rock the Banquet Room on the 11th and 18th of June during the Cabaret Festival. Bingay will be hosted by Mitzi Mackintosh and Naomi the Butch Barrel Girl. The Cabaret Festival has kindly agreed to donate all proceeds from Bingay to the Red Ribbon Bobby Goldsmith Fund. Great prizes including tickets from Wallis Cinemas and the State Theatre Company, vouchers from City Gym, artwork from the Jam Factory, massages from Body Kneaded and heaps more. Bookings essential: bingay@adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au
Prosecution of HIV transmission: the policy agenda
AFAO has just released a discussion paper ‘Prosecution of HIV transmission: the policy agenda’. View the discussion paper here.
Gay Men's Health publications
The latest edition of Connect, the newsletter for Gay Men’s Health community partners is out, as is the pilot edition of the M2M Mag.
SAVIVE publications
The latest edition of the SAVIVE Newsletter is out now!
AFAO Budget Briefing - Click here to view
SACOSS Budget Briefing - Click here to view
Gay Men’s Counsellor
We are looking for an experienced and motivated counsellor to provide short-term, solution focused counselling and support services to gay and same sex attracted men. You will have tertiary qualifications in counselling, psychology or social work and the ability to work with diverse gay and same sex attracted men, allied organisations and service providers.
Policy and Planning Officer
We are looking for an experienced policy and planning officer to co-ordinate ACSA’s evaluation and monitoring framework, and to support ACSA’s programs and communities with policy development and research. You will have tertiary qualifications in health promotion, social and/or behavioural sciences, public health or public policy.
Applications for both positions close 4pm Friday 5 June, 2009.
For all the details download the information for applicants and position descriptions at www.acsa.org.au/jobs.html
ACSA is an equal opportunity employer. People living with or affected by HIV/AIDS are encouraged to apply.
Submit events, resources and job vacancies to the ACSA Update by contacting the Publications Coordinator