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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 October 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.
The last couple of months have been very busy for ACSA. We have had a raft of new activities at the local and national levels to respond to. The national sexual health and blood borne virus strategies are currently being developed by the Commonwealth, following a review of the previous national strategies. The findings from these reviews included moderate successes, but some very serious concerns were raised during the review about the governance of the strategies, leadership by Government – particularly the Department of Health and Ageing, and its commitment to the partnership approach which has been the cornerstone of Australia’s HIV response. You can read more about this here. ACSA made a submission to the HIV Strategy and held a local consultation with service providers on 7 September.
Our drawn out negotiations for funding for SAVIVE clean needle programs have finally been concluded with the signing of the service agreements with Drug and Alcohol Services SA (DASSA) in late September. ACSA had been subject to some very restrictive conditions in the previous agreement and we were successful in negotiating a much more acceptable agreement this time around.
Internationally, the results of a large clinical trial of an investigational HIV vaccine regimen, known as “RV144”, were released in late September and were widely reported in the media and largely treated with cautious optimism. The results of the “test of concept” study, which involved 16,402 participants, indicate that the trialled vaccine is safe and modestly effective in reducing the risk of acquiring HIV. This is the first human study to show a significant reduction in the risk of acquiring HIV in a vaccine candidate trial. Results released so far are basic: the full report on the research will be released in October at the AIDS Vaccine Conference in Paris. Previous vaccine trials failed miserably, and during one trial the vaccine seemed to boost the chance of being infected, which ended testing early.
ACSA’s 23rd Annual General Meeting is being held on Tuesday the 20th of October and I hope to see many members and supporters on the night.
Executive Director
shane.dinnison@acsa.org.au
0423 159 699
SA Public Health Bill
The new SA Public Health Bill was released for public comment early in September. ACSA supports the South Australian Government’s decision to review our outdated Public Health legislation to promote and protect public health. We generally support the draft Public Health Bill; however, we have some serious concerns about the Bill's proposed impact on individual human rights, particularly for those South Australians living with HIV. This Bill invokes far more powers and invests most of those powers directly to the Chief Public Health Officer and new directions that can be given appear more and more unnecessarily intrusive and disproportionate to the risk to public health.
To protect human dignity, ACSA holds the view that the public health response to the spread of an infectious disease such as HIV should be prevented or minimised with the minimum restriction on the rights of any person. Protecting human rights and promoting public health are mutually reinforcing.
Volunteering Opportunities - AIDS Awareness Week
ACSA is seeking volunteers to help with activities during AIDS Awareness Week 2009.
Please contact Marty Fitzpatrick on 8334 1611 or marty.fitzpatrick@gmhealth.org.au
Feast Festival
The Annual Feast Festival program was launched on 2 October with the 2009 theme of HomeGrown. For full information on this year's festival, see www.feast.org.au
Adelaide Gay Community Periodic Survey
The Adelaide Gay Community Periodic Survey is designed to improve understanding of gay health issues by gathering data on sexual behaviour, sexual health, drug use and community engagement.
The Periodic Survey occurs every two years and is conducted by the National Centre in HIV Social Research and the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research in collaboration with ASCA. The study forms a vital part of SA’s HIV response, enabling ACSA and other organisations to measure the level of risk behaviour in the community.
The survey starts 20 November and will continue through to Picnic on 29 November. Recruiters will be visiting GLBT-friendly venues throughout Adelaide during the week. For more information, contact Wills Logue on 8334 1609 or william.logue@acsa.org.au
ACSA Annual General Meeting, 5.30pm Tuesday 20 October 2009
Members and friends are welcome to attend the 23rd Annual General. There are three vacancies for Board positions and members would have received nomination forms in the mail recently.
RSVP to the AGM by phoning Jane at ACSA on 8334 1611.
Reclaim the Night, Friday 30 October
In 2009, SIN (Sex Industry Network) is co-ordinating Reclaim the Night - the International acknowledgement of women’s right to live safely in our community.
All women deserve to be safe!
| Date: | Friday 30 October, 2009 |
| Time: | 7pm |
| Location: | Rally at Victoria Square, assemble opposite the Hilton Hotel |
| 8pm after party - Yugondi Courtyard, Lion Arts Centre |
Male supporters are encouraged to show their support from the sidelines and are welcome at the after party.
HIV Sector Networking Lunch
Our next networking lunch for members, workers and clients will be held on Tuesday 10 November from 12-2pm at Darling House. Invitation will be sent shortly. This is a great opportunity for informal networking in a friendly and comfortable atmosphere.
Pride March, Saturday 14 November
ACSA will have a large presence during the annual Pride March on Saturday 14 November.
For more information see www.prideadelaide.org
AIDS Awareness Week 2009
The week will kick off with the inaugural Walk for AIDS on Sunday 22 November at Botanic Park. Further activities include the Annual Candlelight Memorial and Red Ribbon Day.
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?
Real time: New resource for gay men - stay safe and avoid risks
This workbook style resource is designed to help gay men - both positive and negative - work out how to stay safe and avoid taking risks. It also aims to help gay men reduce anxiety by reducing the risks they take.
The resource contains information and exercises that address motivations, behaviours, perceptions, misconceptions, expectations and risks. It aims to assist gay men to reflect on their choices and enable healthier choices.
Download Real Time (PDF 680 KB) or get a print copy from ACSA by phoning 8334 1617.
HIV Australia
The next edition of HIV Australia has just been published. This month HIV Australia looks at the continuing challenge of stigma and discrimination faced by people with HIV. You can view the publication online.
ACSA was fortunate enough to receive more than $55,000 from M·A·C Cosmetics from the sale of Viva Glam lipsticks at Myer and David Jones during 2008-2009. Our thanks go to M·A·C, Myer and David Jones for their generous support.
Submit events, resources and job vacancies to the ACSA Update by contacting the Publications Coordinator