Visit any of our Secondary Outlets

Bulli Community Health Centre—Princes Hwy, Bulli Accessing Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre—Rothery Rd ,Bellambi First Step Program First Step Access Community Group—Railway St, Corrimal

Primary Offices: Darcy’s House—Old Port Rd, Port Kembla Port Kembla Hospital Program Port Kembla Community—Crn Wentworth St & Church St, Port Fairfax Road, Warrawong Kembla Mo—Fri 8.30am - 5pm Warilla Community Health Centre—Belfast Ave, Warilla Dapto Community Health Centre—Marshall St, Dapto Blood Borne Virus Prevention Service Nowra Community Health Centre—Lawrence Ave, Nowra Port Kembla Hospital Warrawong NSW 2502 DACAT Nowra—Berry St, Nowra Ulladulla Community Health Centre—Princes Hwy, Ulladulla

2 Rawson Street Visit any of our NSP Vending Machines Mo—Fri 9am—1pm Wollongong Hospital—A&E Department FSP Wollongong —A&E Department (outside)

Shoalhaven Hospital, Nowra—A&E Department

Milton Ulladulla Hospital—Princes Hwy, Milton

Outreach—Field workers can visit clients at home, on the street, FIRST STEP PROGRAM “where ever”. ‘working for all, towards a Tel: 02 4275 1529 community free of HIV and Mob: 0411 408 726 To make an appointment simply Hep C’. call the Primary Office on (02) 4275 02 4275 1529 1529. HIV/AIDS & Hep C Information First Step – How it works HIV – The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the immune system – the body’s defence against disease. Clean Needles & Syringes

People who have the virus are said to be HIV positive. Provided on the understanding, that once used they First Step Program Because HIV can live in the body for years without obvious will be returned for safe disposal. effects, many people with HIV remain feeling healthy. Some Condoms people will later go on to develop AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Provided on request. The First Step Program is a combined initiative of Hep C – Is a particularly virulent form of Hepatitis. Many Information the Commonwealth and State governments. people will have no symptoms, while others may feel tired, The primary goals of the program are: The First Step Program has available to everyone a nauseous and experience abdominal pains. For every 100 wide range of pamphlets, journals and booklets on 1. Reduce the incidence people infected by the virus 80 will become carriers. HIV, Hep C, general health, welfare and legal issues. of HIV/AIDS & Hep C Of these 20 will go on to develop long term inflammation of Infection amongst the liver. A number of these people will eventually go on to Education

injecting drug users. suffer cirrhosis of the liver and/or liver cancer. Provided to clients regarding safe sex and drug use Through this reducing the How the viruses are transmitted. behaviour practices. First Step also provides formal overall risk of infection seminars on request to the general public, HIV (the AIDS virus) is spread by semen (cum), vaginal throughout the wider professional and community groups. community. fluids or blood passing from a person with HIV into the bloodstream of another person. The major ways HIV is Support 2. Encourage people passed on are through the sharing of needles and syringes, Available to all clients. This solution focused FIRST STEP PROGRAM currently injecting drugs approach allows the individual to explore issues to seek treatment to Helping people find new Hep C is primarily spread by infected regarding drug use and prompts action for drug overcome their addiction directions blood passing from person to person cessation. issues. through blood borne activities such as, Referral 3. Through consultation with the wider community sharing of needles and syringes, razors develop strategies that further promote greater and toothbrushes, or unsafe tattooing Extensive liaison list provides staff with the latest HIV/AIDS & Hep C awareness and lower the practices. There is little evidence of information for referral to relevant groups and incidence of (injecting) drug use. Ensure your health – never sexual transmission of the virus services in and outside the & Shoalhaven share any injecting equip- (eg. Methadone Programs, Drug Rehabilitation ment. Always practice safe Services, Narcotics Anonymous). sex.