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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 our June 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.
ACSA successful in its funding bid for HIV prevention services
The preferred tenderers for the delivery of non Government HIV/STI Prevention Services in SA have been announced by SA Health. The tender for the provision of services was released in January and ACSA only recently received written confirmation that we were successful in our bid for funds to deliver HIV and STI prevention services to gay / same sex attracted men and sex workers and to provide general HIV information and awareness to the broader South Australian community. The announcement of the successful tenderers will mean some changes to the way services to HIV positive people are delivered. These changes will be discussed at the PLWHA (SA) Inc Community Forum on 27 June (see below).
SA HIV Action Plan
The SA HIV Action Plan 2009-2012 was launched by the Hon John Hill MP, Minister for Health on 23 June. The Action Plan sets out to address the “emerging challenges for the HIV response in South Australia”. It describes strategies and activities for the next 3 years to:
- reshape the prevention response to stem rises in new infections of HIV
- improve the coordination of care for people with HIV
- connect people isolated from HIV education, prevention and care services to appropriate supports
International Whores Day
About 30 sex workers and their supporters marched through the centre of Adelaide on Friday 5th of June to celebrate International Whores Day. The day celebrates the birth of the modern sex worker movement and the theme of the march was “no bad whores, just bad laws” in keeping with the repressive legal framework within which sex workers in South Australia conduct their business. The laws pertaining to sex work in South Australia are contained in the Summary Offences Amendment Act (1953) and the Criminal Law Consolidation Act (1935). South Australian laws have not moved with the times and are more than 55 years old.
Criminalisation makes sex workers more vulnerable as victims of crime because they are seen as easy targets and less likely to complain to the police. While brothels remain illegal, sex industry employers have no legal responsibility to comply with IR legislation, or to provide a safe working environment for their employees. Criminalisation and criminal records creates a barrier for those sex workers who may wish to exit the sex industry. Attempts to reduce demand by criminalising the clients of sex workers doesn’t decrease supply but it does drive sex work activities underground increasing the vulnerability of sex workers. Finally, criminalisation undermines health promotion work of agencies such as SIN, a health promotion project aimed at supporting the current high standards of sexual health amongst sex workers.
Media took an interest in the event with coverage in the Advertiser on Saturday 6th of June, considerable online comment and a host of letters to the editor in the intervening period, many in favour of at least reviewing the out of date legislation.
Staff Changes
ACSA has undergone a number of staff changes recently. Gary Spence has recently resigned from his position as the Manager of Gay Men’s Health. Gary has been working at ACSA for seven years firstly in the role of Outreach Officer and then as Manager of Gay Men's Health. In 2008 he took over the role of Acting Executive Director. Gary is well known within the HIV and LGBT sector and he made an enormous contribution to the work of ACSA and Gay Men’s Health. We wish him all the best for the future.
Rob Willoughby was recently appointed as the Gay Men’s Health Counsellor. Rob has been involved in the HIV sector since the early days of the epidemic and worked for a number of years in the Department of Health. Mark Tiller was recently appointed to a SAVIVE Peer Educator position at Noarlunga Health Village after several months of working as a casual Peer Educator. Welcome to Rob and Mark.
Executive Director
shane.dinnison@acsa.org.au
0423 159 699
Would you like to PASH?
On June 2nd, ACSA hosted the launch of the PASH Study. This is a national 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. SA Health is funding the study which is being conducted by the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, with ACSA and PLWHA (SA) Inc as community partners. Recruitment in SA has commenced via online, postcards and venues and we are keen to get a good response rate in both the survey and the interviews. This is an exciting study for SA as these types of in-depth studies are often limited to the eastern states.
This is Oz
This Is Oz is an online photo gallery where people can help fight discrimination against Australia’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community. Part art project, part human rights campaign, This Is Oz is all about making Australia a place where everyone belongs. Your contribution to This Is Oz will help improve services and opportunities for GLBT Australians by demonstrating public support for GLBT rights as well as illustrating the impact that homophobia has on the GLBT community. Simply upload a photo of you with your own hand written or printed message. Your message can celebrate diversity, challenge homophobia, or support GLBT rights – whatever YOU want to say.
Feast Event Registrations NOW OPEN
Feast is excited to open the Event Registrations for 2009. Feast invites you to be part of all the fun. If you are organising an event now is the time to register. We encourage all types of events from a dance party to a dinner, a music gig to an art exhibition, a dance piece to a play or even a sporting event.
Click to go to all the info you need to register for FEAST 2009.
Registrations Close Monday July 20 – Get your ideas growing!
A community forum will be held at 12.30pm on Saturday the 27th of June at Uniting Care Wesley, 10 Pitt St, Adelaide. The Forum aims to update community members on the changes to HIV services following recent funding reforms.
RSVP to PLWHA (SA) Inc on 8293 3700 or reception@hivsa.org.au
Making Links Conference 2009
Sustaining Communities in Tough Times, 17 - 18 November, University of Melbourne
Two major challenges face the world today: the global economic crisis and environmental sustainability. Both are already having an impact on peoples’ lives and livelihoods. Community organisations have already expressed concern that the most vulnerable in our societies will be hardest hit. Community organisations also face the challenge of keeping their operations going in tough financial times, and at the same time trying to be part of the environmental solution, rather than part of the problem.
Making Links Conference 2009 asks: how are non-profit organisations meeting these twin challenges?
HIV tests & treatments
The updated AFAO "HIV Tests and Treatments”, a baseline treatments resource providing comprehensive information regarding monitoring, treatments, management of issues associated with long term HIV therapy, changing therapies, and managing side effects is about to be printed and will be available from ACSA shortly.
Copies can be ordered by e-mailing Rose Magdalene
Reporting HIV in Australia: Information for Journalists
HIV is a story of critical importance. All audiences deserve full, accurate and intelligent coverage of HIV and the media has a significant role to play. This guide for journalists is the third revised edition of a booklet originally published as the HIV/AIDS Media Guide. It was launched on 18 June 2009 at Parliament House by Senator Louise Pratt.
It includes a language guide, facts about HIV and AIDS, backgrounders to the epidemic in Australia and globally, information about transmission, testing, treatment, prevention and legal regulation, as well as a guide to principles for reporting on HIV and AIDS.
http://www.afao.org.au/library_docs/policy/AFAOMediaGuide2009.pdf
Mr Leather a Huge Success - Click here to view
Public Toilets Off Limits - but safety messages to continue - Click here to view
The recent Mr Leather SA competition raised a total of $3471 for the Red Ribbon Bobby Goldsmith Fund (see media release below). On its first outing, Bingay raised more than $3500. Thanks to both Melbourne Leather Pride and The Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
Submit events, resources and job vacancies to the ACSA Update by contacting the Publications Coordinator