I Where we speak for ourselves

fME ?-i 8r■fJMl1•i!,m HIV & AIDS VIH/SIDA ~e.\\o'- (.al\ \ speal< with • ..I., :ii Who J - so~eone IDS ~e,\"stands ~~ "1 c.ulture '>' aod what it is like to live with H\'I I~\o\.

HIV i dijruslumiilUlfiq1: APOYO y COMPwENSION HIV AIDS Assistenza e Comprensione Xl/1B/Cl/1,D.A YARDIM VE ANLAYI$ PODRSKA i RAZUMIJEVANJE !:~MnA!Al:TA!:!f KA 1 KATANOH!:H HIV-AIDS jJ./il ~1fJLl1'HlLL~:::L~1L,l Trc;, Giup Thong Cam VIH/SIDA oJ.jWI _, ... ~I HIV & AIDS -1 n=fftJJllifr(. Lflfl.lrJ.1/Lil~a nO,LJ,PWKA v1 PA3YMEBAt-bE POMOC I ZROZUMIENIE HIV/AIDS ~;'flt~f VJ r!f/~iittHJ APOIO E COMPREENSAO L-1-c ~£.t~ c+.n fil-3l~I O ~~"I a. dsmihrniobuffliJ: A I osc oi1 ~~ 'T ~ ~qq_ ~ .110 :< • • UlfiLfflHdGbdiiwnfil j-½:i1 ~et1Lm~0r1~u For HIV/AIDS information in ten languages go to www.multiculturalhivhepc.net YOU ARE· NOT ALONE Phone 02 9515 3098 Freecall 1800 108 098 ~,1!-1- AIDS- ~~i>rc PODR~M I RAZUMIJEvANJE 1:;j~OI 2~~ HI VOii ygi~ =r ~c+. Support and Understanding H...... IV & AID - i AIDS YARDIM VE ANLAYI$ ..-- ~y my suppo,-t o..LiL..l I_, ... ~I .,_~0 \\. '3-.,,~s0meone I can trust !:' \Jn,\PA!:"I u:H ~ \ ~ ...,,._e,,. ,..0t ta''< to other K \ I KA I ·\NOH!:H ~'\; JO e,C, " t my • . ~ ?:>o 1;,'oo\l situation. d,ruabfiUUb~§qJ: o ~e ~itttif.j t~; 41~ iiNJ ~~ 0~ L6~~8-0 I U)C1~ ~ Tro Giup Thong Cam POMOC I ZROZUMIENIE HIV i AIDS Ji J;'jf!J~fir( VIH/SIDA Dukungan dan pengertian BitWYmT HIV L-1 G1.IlA-TA Assistenza e Comprensione j ~"11 00.ll,Il.PWKA v1 PA36L-1.PAfbE 4c ~ £.!:~ c+.TI filoP:1 □~~;..I R. I OS¾= Oil~%! =r ~~L-Jc+. Funded by NSW Health Auspiced by CSAHS no.121 june - july 2002

Cover: AIDS 14 No more pictures without" context _- . .. \. ~~ Patient Boned Hill (see back P-~-~,;~ cover) 17 Tugging heartstrings ~,. t1 z ;. =-· Photo: Ray Hansen 18 Employment: Options that work

19 Employment: The next step

20 Employment: PES

, .. 22 The pensioner guide to chic homes regulars

24 'Appropriate' public housing for some ... 2 From the pwg

26 Take a break at the beach 3 Pos action 4 Agony aunt 28 Hiv/aids leader appointed to major global role. 4 Talkshop 5 Speak positive 31 A positive voice 5 Treatment briefs

6 News roundup

12 Diary

31 Olga's personals

32 Treatment update

advertisers

FC MHA&HCS 11 Taylor Square Clinic 11 Holdsworth House 11 HALC 13 The Sanctuary 13 Inner West Sexual Health 29 Options 29 PLWH/A (NSW) 30 Sharpes 30 Serollrn's PLW H /A(N S w) People LMng W1th HIV/AIDS

CURRENT BOARD Pre1ident John Robinson Vice President David Wallace Treasurer Michael WiHis Secretary Ken Irvine Last month's cover image, and some The previous editorial policy divided Staff Representative of the artworks in Talkabout's colour content for the magazine into 'themes' to Will Kloosen section, offended some readers. pu61ished in discrete issues. This policy no Directors longer exists. Each issue of Talkabout aims to Scott Berry Talkabout respects the views of all provide up-to-date information about ne Lance Feeney readers · and feedback is always and events for aU positive people, regardless of Mork Tietjen appreciated. I believe that Positive Executive Officer /Ex Officio/ gender, race or sexuality. In keeping with rhi Footprints, the exhibition featured in Anlony Nicholas new editorial policy to provide timely informa­ CURRENT STAFF the April/May issue, was an impor­ tion, the April/May issue included news that I Executive Officff tant retrospective and I was very hope was useful and relevant for posiri Anlony Nicholas pleased to achieve a permanent omen. The inclusion of rh Community Development Will Kloosen (acting) record of this collection of images Research Kathy Triffit and campaigns. Administratio n Anisur Rohman Some readers were concerned that the Positive Speakers Bureau explicitness of some of the artworks made th Footprints to guarantee women readers a Paul Moudlin Publications issue unsuitable for children. Talkabout is not 'shock-free' zone, and the space dedicated to Editor Susan Hawkeswood intended to be suitable for children. It is news for positive women wasn't - and won't Design Slade Smilh, FuelTonk unlikely that it will 6e in the future. This is a - measured 6y the 'numbers'. • A,:J,,emsing Donny Crowe dilemma I face that affects not only the children The Rural Forum at Nelson Bay was a great Key Volunteers opportunity for me to meet face-to-face with PhiUip .v.:Grat¼, , Website of positive people, but young people aged 14-17 Publications Wormg Group living in refuges or accessing other crisis youth ome of the people I email and phone. I hope Twn Alderman, David Bor1on, rvices. The content of Talkabout is often ople who attended the forum, particularly Anlony Nichob, Ame/',a ~lin, unsuitable for young people in this age group the workshop about writing for Talkabout Jo Wotson, Susan Howlceswood, nd, as much as I would like to make th will deluge me with conrriburions from Ben-ad Gibb, Kim GoHieb regional and rural NSW. I can't get out there in CONTA CTS magazine available for positive young people in Office Suite 5, Level l, this age bracket, I do not want to change the any meaningful way. l don't have the time or 94 Oxford Street content or curtail the freedom of expression rhe budget and it's the people on the ground PO Box 831, Doninghurst 1300 extended to Talkabout contributors b who know whether promised services are 6eing Phone (02) 9361 6011 delivered and policies are being implemented. Talkobout (02) 9361 6750 demanding char the content 6c accessible and Fax (02) 9360 3504 suitable for minors. 'usan Hawkesioood, Editor Freecall 1800 245 677 Talkabout is published by People Living With in this issue ~/ADS (NSWJ Inc. All views expressed ore the opinioru of the authors and no/ nece»arily those Fundraising is on the agenda, with Return to work could be a post­ of PI.WH/A, its management or members. Copyright for all mo!enol in a new AIDS Trust campaign and Budget imperative for some Tolkobovt resides with the cootribvtor. Tolkabovt is mode ponible by the launch of BGF's winter appeal. plwha. 'Options that work' on subscriptions, oclverti sing revenue, In 'No more pictures without page 18 and 'PES - employment donations and a grant under the Sta!e/Commooweolth AIDS Program. context', PLWH/A (NSW) support for positive people' on Tolkabout thonk.s the many volunteers Research & Policy Officer Kathy pages 20-21 describe two of without whom its publicotioo would nol be possible. Triffit reviews the 'images of aids' the services available for plwha email editorial material lo edilorOp/who .org.ou over the past 20 years on pages who want to return to work. Printed at Agency Print!ng 14-16. Susan Hawkeswood spoke Talkabout contributor Jimbo writes ISSN 1034 0866 about his own return to work Dlsc: LAIMER to BGF's Georgina Harman and lmoges of people included in To/kabout Mark Tietjen about 'Tugging heart­ experience on pages 19-20. do no/ indicate filV status eilher positive strings' on page 17. Of negative.

2 pos action with Antony Nicholas, Executive Officer PLWH/A (NSW)

If you are not So where did all the advocates go? Or defiance, the 'talk with us, not about us' willing to have did the grassroots get weeded out? mono; rhe 'thriving and surviving' cours of During the last two decades, plwha the late 80s and early 90s, and the challeng your voice have been key members of the that infected communities placed on organ­ partnership built between govern­ isations· and government. Was Gary • heard, how Dowsett's phrasing of 'post AIDS' at rh ment and affected communities. 1995 NSW HIV/AIDS Health Promotion can anything Plwha were instrumental in the Conference really a death knell for formation of many organisations, change. activism. lr certainly was premature in th worked within these and contributed context of the disease but very accurately to the development of a strong and indicated a decline of political activism and innovative hiv sector. positive visibility. Developing community participation How can we change this? In an era of are limited. We need to hear your voice, models of engagement, collaboration and mainsrrearning, complacency and increased especially in rural areas. input into planning were innovative positive invisibility we have no choice bur to What I am crying co get across here is processes that early aids activists brought take action. But by action I am not talking chat complacency and invisibility are very ro health planning and broader social about frocking up in a nun's habit and dangerous. le is not ok co sit on your hands justice considerations. You would have co rorming the streets. That time may ha and think someone else is going co do it for be very confident to give that away. passed. It was needed in the 80s and 90s bur you. Empowerment through and engage­ However we are seeing less and less oppor­ would achieve little now. In fact ir probably ment with aids and plwha organisations i tunity for infected communities to partici­ would be mistaken for some bizarre street far coo important a foundation scone to b pate in consultation and participation, or theatre, nor as political action. eroded. The partnership with government have positive communities allowed the level I am talking about individual action, is based with infected and affected commu­ of consultation and participation ro lapse? individual responsibility char propel nities but you have to commit to char Over the lace 90s and the first few year organisations into action. Many organisa­ partnership roo. If you are nor willing to of the new millennium, we have seen hiv tions claim ro represent plwha. Their objec­ have your voice heard, how can anything advocates become complacent to the point tives have lovely motherhood statement change. This is about personal action they are eventually teetering towards invis­ about empowerment and action. Ours i honesty and it's about empowerment. And ibility - so where did all the positive voic one of chose organisations but like many most importantly it is about plwha being go? Whatever happened co the passion, the plwha and aids organisations our options heard and being visible.

Taihabout's housing feature contin­ Supported accommodation A new regular column from the ues. Talkabout regular Tim service Des Kilkeary Lodge re­ Positive Speakers Bureau - 'speak Alderman gives some advice for opened in May. In 'Take a break positive' - is included in this issue the financially challenged - that's at the beach', DKL Coordinator of Talk.about. Talhabout's regular poor in the real world - in 'The Rhonda Bancroft and NorthAIDS features include 'Treatment update', pensioner guide to chic homes' on Manager Adrian Eisler speak about New-Fill - a treatment for pages 22-23. The transition about respite care and other lipodystrophy - on page 32. This from SASS to public housing and services provided by NorthAIDS, issue's Agony Aunt - BGF's Mark back again is described by one and the impact housing issues Tietjen - gives readers a few tips plwha in 'Appropriate public have on some residents. See on surviving the DSP to work transi­ housing for some - a nightmare pages 26-27. tion on page 4. 'Treatment Briefs' for others' on pages 24-25. is on page 5. agony talkshop aunt PLWH/A (NSW) Community Development Project Officer Mark Tietjen WIii Klaasen profiles what's happening in NSW

Q: I have been receiving the Disability HIV Rural Forum: 1-3 May existing numbers. I look forward to Support Pension (DSP) for a few years elson Bay was the place to be, with hearing positive things about rhe new but was offered a part-time job that will hiv/aids service providers and rural arrangement, and that both organisa­ pay $400 per week. I live alone in a one­ and regional plwha gathering tions riow will have an opportunity to bedroom unit and the rent is $250 per together to listen, participate, meet meet people's needs and benefit plwha week. The Department of Housing ach other, and discuss the state of in the lllawarra/Shoalhaven area. (DOH) gives me a subsidy and I pay affairs for regional and rural plwha Planet Positive - Plum $87.50 per week. I have spoken to DOH and the services they receive. This puddings & white xmas and they told me that I will not get the year's forum allowed a mor In June rental subsidy. If I take the job, I can't comprehensive level of partnership development between all who were The joint partners - PLWH/A (NSW), afford to live on $150 per week and I involved. I want to say thanks to Positive Living Centre and ACO can't afford to move. those who attended the workshop invite you, your family and friends to on HIV-Related Mental Health & join in the Yuletide in June at the A: The Special Assistance Subsidy Special AIDS Dementia service delivery in Positive Living Centre from 6-l0pm 28 (SASS) from DOH means that a lot of people regional and rural NSW. Everyone June, 703 Bourke Street, Surry Hills. are living in situations that would nor be who parcicipared contributed their Food, drinks and lots of entertainment affordable if there were no subsidies and they iews with great honesty and will be on hand ro ensure a great night, had to pay all the rent. If you really want to go contributed greatly to the overall o come and meet lots of new people. back to work and rake this job, you will need research the organisation i Contact the Positive Living Centre 02 to move to affordable housing. To make it conducting about this subject. If you 9699 8756 for more information. more difficult, many people have no resources live in regional or rural NSW and to pay for a bond or moving costs. The bond Flnal thoughts were unable to attend but would lik I learnt at Nelson Bay that regional and for the place they are living in may have been to express views abour any service rural plwha are having communication paid by DOH, with assistance from DOH or gaps or overlaps in your area, w problems with their service providers. BGF for moving costs. Our advice to people ould like to hear from you. Go to o matter what rhe area is, part of considering re-entering the workforce is to our website and, under Community your overall health and wellbeing is to think first about housing and the cost of livin Development, print out a copy of know you are receiving the best of before you stare work. Before you lose all your the questionnaire, fill it in and quality care. If this is not happening benefits, such as assistance from DOH, BGF return it to our office. All rhe derail then remind that provider their job is and similar, try to move somewhere that will you need are included. be affordable when you are working. For to do so. It is always important to have many, this will mean a significant change in Blue Mountains PLWH/A a strong open dialogue with your their living situation - they will maybe have to Centre Inc provider. Yes, we hear that all the tim consider a share house, a smaller place or Blue Mountains PLWH/A Centre i and some of us may not be able to moving to the cheaper outer suburbs. Th holding a major 'Cowboys and rand up for ourself at certain times. DOH income limit is $395 per week gross. Indians' fundraising night on Friday 7 Take someone along with you who you Anyone earning more than that is nor eligible June. It's a long weekend, so why nor trust to be a mediator, or to help you for DOH assistance. There are huge benefits get away and have a great rime ask the questions you are nor sun to returning to work if you are able to do so meeting the gang in rhe Blue about. PLWH/A (NSW) lnc does nor including improved self esteem, having a Mountains. Call the centre for more advocate on an individual basis but we routine, mixing with people at work and information on 02 4782 2119. need to know what is going on out during rhe day, and the ability to not rely on there. It's important that you let us benefits. Getting out of rhe low income crap lllawarra Region know if service providers are nor and poverty is another huge benefit, however Our Pathways Inc and a number of meeting best practice. Also, plwha to achieve that requires planning and some life ACON services moved into a new need to clearly identify what is best style changes. jointly leased office space in May. Both practice and quality care, so the organ­ If you have any questions for Agony Aunt, organisations will be able to deliver isation would like to hear from you email Maree Crosbie, Financial Counsellor at client services of the highest quality. about this. You can forward your views BGF: [email protected] You can call each organisation on their by email to: [email protected]. speak positive treatment briefs Positive Speakers Bureau Coordinator Paul Maudlln describes the project, its history and current aims

This is the first of a regular The project has a large input and Tenofovlr and mitochondrial column about the Positive representation in education, health toxicity Speakers Bureau (PSB), and medical courses for hiv health­ A recent study has shown that tenofovir, a featuring news and info from care professionals around NSW. The member of a new class of drugs called nucleoside me, speakers and project project is currently recruirin reverse transcriptase inhibitors, is less toxic to clients. This issue's column positive people under 30 of all sexual mitochondria than most NRTis. Antiviral drugs focuses on the project's role rsuasions who would like to share longing to the nudeoside (NRTI) class such a in the community. their stories and experiences. For AZT, d4T and ddi are known to cause damage to more details, don't hesitate to the DNA within mitochondria, which are small PSB is a project of PLWH/A (NSW) contact me on 02 9361 6011 or email bodies within cells responsible for transforming that recognised community demand [email protected]. glucose into energy. This damage, called for public talks by people who an mitochondrial toxicity, can lead to peripheral living with hiv/aids. The project wa neuropathy, lactic acidosis and muscle wasting. officially launched on World AIDS The study measured the effects of renofovir and everal NRTis on the mitochondrial DNA within Day, 1 December 1994 at Paddington 'I was satisfied and even Town Hall. I can't tell you anything different types of cells of human origin. about the launch proceeding emotionally high due to Tenofovir and the NRTI drugs 3TC and abacavir because I was doing my very first re found to have the least effect on mitochon­ peaking engagement at Tullamor their response. It's funny, drial DNA followed, in increasing order, by AZT, in central western NSW. PSB enable to me my story is only d4T, ddi and ddC. Furthermore, in contrast to positive people to speak to groups of AZT and ddC, tenofovir did nor cause a signifi­ people in the community, tell their average, but to them it cant increase in che production of lactic acid, even at higher dosages. Tenofovir has been licensed in and give their own perspec­ was amazing. ' tives on what it is like to be living che USA for use in combination with other antivi­ Luke Chipperfield with hiv/aids. The project's role is to ral drugs by all people with hiv. In the UK and reduce discrimination, ignorance Europe, ic was recently licensed for use by people and fear that surround hiv/aid wirh hiv who are experiencing virologic failure as increase the awareness of the issu 'I walk away from talks pan of a second line, or salvage, therapy. faced daily by plwha and empower Currently, tenofovir is available in Australia a each speaker with the knowledge knowing that I have made part of a Special Access Scheme for people with limited rrearment options and has been submitted that they are playing an important a difference in addressing role in this process. for approval co the Therapeutic Good peakers come from all walks of community attitudes to hiv, Administration for use by all hiv positive people. life. What they all have in common i www.med.scape.com and feeling valued as a that they are all living with hiv/aid Once-dally 3TC and are willing to talk honestly and positive man. ' The nucleoside drug JTC is now licensed by th frankly about themselves. In rh Kim Gotlieb Therapeutic Goocls Administration (TGA) for once-daily dosing. Until recently, 3TC wa licensed in Australia as a twice-daily medication. 'A real eye opener for Dara presented at che 1st IAS Conference of HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment in Buenos Aires some of our students. An howed that JTC could be safely and effectively excellent talk given. Some used once-daily as a component of combination therapy. Once-daily dosing has been shown to be were surprised at the associated with improved adherence compared to more frequent dosing. GlaxoSmithKline telephone speaker being a person government depart­ Treatment Briefs are written by ACON's Treatment ments, and professional and privat having hiv. ' Information Officers. Phone 02 9206 2036/2013, organisations and companies. Teacher, Fort Street High School tollfru 1800 816 518, email [email protected] Compiled by Talkabout Editor, Susan Hawkeswood

their prescription drugs and many peopl 'There's been a number of people that w, living with hiv/aids are also taking medica­ represent who have been in vocational educa­ tions to overcome hiv treatment relared sid and training for years bur they still ffects and the costs of those medications n able co find meaningful employ­ will rise as well. ment,' he said. The Federal Opposition may join th 'Almost a third of people with hiv/aids Speaking about the proposed block in th Democrats and Greens in opposing Budget were living below the poverty line according Senate, Opposition Leader Simon Crean told changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefit to HN Futures U - the 2000 report of th ABC radio, 'We still have to consider thi Scheme (PBS) and Disability Support Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & internally, but my very strong view is that Pension (DSP). With the Australian Sociery. People in poverty make choices in rh have to oppose them.' Democrats and the Greens strongly opposed face of available resources and if peopl 'I want to consider the full details, I want to the changes, Labor opposition in th living with hiv/aids make a choice to discon­ to look at the extent of the other savings Senate would be a blow to Budget savings. tinue treatment because of cost then this will measures, bur my very strong view is that The PBS savings alone are estimated at about impact on their health.' this is a cruel Budget. 1.1 billion over four years. PLWH/A NSW President Mr Robinson 'It's hurting families, it's hurting the The expected rises to PBS prescriptJon said, 'There is no doubt in my mind that this disabled, and my very strong view is that drugs were announced in the Federal Budget increase will ultimately result in mor hould oppose those measu on 14 May. For people who have a health care hospital admissions and health problem Treasurer Peter Costello told ABC radio, card, prescription costs will rise by $1 to down the track'. If the Labor party and the Democrats decid $4.60 per script. For those who do not get a From 1 July 2003, n to join up against the Budget it would be a concession, the cost of a prescription will will have to dernonsrrar great difficulry.' rise by $6.20 to $28.60. Changes to eligibility 'They would be doing damage to the requirements for the Disability Support current criteria allows people to work up ro longterm prospects of Australia and, at th Pension (DSP) were also announced. 30 hours a week. nd of the day, people will suffer because of Vice President of the .National 'In recent years we have witnessed an opportunist politics.' Meanwhile the Association of People living With ncouraging number of positive people Australian Democrats called on Labor to HIV/AIDS (NAPWA) David Menadue said returning to the workforce and this has had 'have some guts' and use the Senate to block the Government thinks this move will impact on their general wellbe­ the Government's Budget curs to the sick and encourage people with disabilities to m. Cutting the number of disabled. The Budget was mean and nasry consider the possibility of part-time work, hours people are able to work, from 30 to 15 and Mr Costello was isolating himself from when, for chronic illnesses such hiv/aids, th a week, before they lose their disability most Australians, the party argued. reverse is more likely ro be the case. pension will have a devastating effect on the 'In the cold, harsh light of day this Budget 'Moreover, people may be unlikely to take many people living with hiv/aids who have is mean and nasty still,' Democrat leader up opportunities for part-time work becau part-rime work.' atasha Stott Despoja said this morning. they will fear being assessed a5 ineligible for Disabiliry groups slammed last night' 'It is a national test of how we treat rh DSP support,' he said. announcement to move people with disabili­ most vulnerable in our community and if w, ACON warned PBS price rises were likely ties who were able to work 15 hours or more pass the legislation that cuts PBS or DSP we to discourage people from continuing hiv a week from DSP to Newstart Allowance. On will fail that test.' treatments leading ro higher rates of illn ewstart Allowance, people with disabilities Australians should be embarrassed if and hospitalisation. 'The 27% rise in the will be competing with able-bodied job the legislation got through the Parliament, cost of prescription drugs will be compound­ kers. The Government said 73,000 n she said. 'Bur we need the Labor Party to ed for people living with hiv/aids who cake training and work program places would be get some guts and support us. I've heard combination therapies and fill at least three created for those currently on DSP nothing but wishy washy statements from prescriptions at a time, and the increase in Physical Disability Council of Australia the Opposition.' the safety net does little to offset this,' said President Maurice Corcoran said training Senator Bob Brown said the Greens ACON President Adrian Lovney. programs did lirrle to tempt employers co would oppose the Government's Budget cuts 'Those with or without a health care card take a disabled person ahead of an able­ to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) will be hit with a substantial price hike in bodied applicant. and welfare outright in the Senate. Th Government's Budget w. year, will now end in October, 2003. grounds and had found a syringe pack and its cuts to the PBS and welfare were outra­ Special Minister of State John Della had put it in his pocket. The incident was geous, Senacor Brown sai d. 'We'll be opposing Bosca said an agreement had been struck reported on the front page of the local those in the Senate outright,' he said. with the centre's licence operators, th newspaper, the Northern District Times. 15/04102, neu/s.com.au Board of Uniting Care Australia, to extend The following day, 7 March, at 7.48am, Alan the trial in view of its success. He said rher Jones rold 2GB listeners that the needl had been 200 overdoses in the Kings Cros exchange facility was nexrdoor to the school clinic, but no deaths. He denied the move and that 'apparently there's a hole in rh was being made to avoid any decision on fence where, presumably, addicts had Myrtle Place the trial's future being made near rh managed to somehow access the school to March 2003 state election. use drugs.' According to senior sources, there lookJng for new 'The Board of Uniting Care Australia ha are doubts about the origin and the age of ' indicated they arc prepared to be the liccn the syringe pack, which appeared to be an premises for an additional U months.' old container that was not from the Ryd Mr Della Bosca said the NSW govern­ facility but a local pharmacy. Funding limitations have forced NorthAIDS ment would have to legislate for the exten- It is believed Mr Knowles initially to look for cheaper premises for Myrtle ion. The move is expected to trigger a fresh ordered that the.needle exchange scrvic Place. The service needs premises close to debate on the issue in parliament. But Mr moved from the health facility to a mobile public transport, with disability access, and Della Bosca said it was 'cornrnonsense' the van parked in Ryde Hospital. But a press adequate kitchen and bathroom facilities. trial continue at least until the release of an release from Mr Watkins's electorate offic ny readers, particularly those with independent evaluation of the clinic was rated, 'J am pleased to report to the local connections to church or charitable organi­ completed in April next ~r. community that the van will close ... this- is ations that have space co rent, are asked to 19104/02, netus.com.au a good result that recognises the wishes and help with the search. Any information concerns of the local community.' Mr about rental properties that might b Watkins holds the seat of Ryde for the ALP uitable can be passed on to Myrtle Place on by just 6.6%, making it one of the most 02 9929 4288. marginal NSW sears. Late yesterday, a spokesman for Mr Watkins and a spokesman for Mr Knowles conceded that there was no documentation ACONWest relating to the decision and the closure wa ordered at ministerial level after complaints Afrer more than :1 year of operating an to 'Mr Watkins's electorate office'. Mr The Minister for Health, Craig Knowles, outreach service from Surry Hills, ACON Knowles's spokesman said, 'That is a valid closed an 11-year-old needle exchange and has leased a property at 6 Darcy Rd, process, not everything is documented ... th drug facility in the marginal ALP seat of Wcntworthville. Located on a main bu government has responded to community Ryde after the government was attacked on route within 10 minutes walk of Westrnead concerns which seemed reasonable.' the issue by radio talkback host Alan Jones. Hospital, and Wenrworthville and The Sydney Morning Herald confirmed that Paola Totaro, 24/04102, www.smh.com.au Westrnead train stations, the Darcy Road the order was made from Mr Knowles's premises also have off-street parking. office directly to the Education Minister and With an official opening in May, A.CO Ryde MP, John Wackins, and implemented West's Manager Sonny Williams will be on without any formal paperwork or investiga­ site, together with some CSN staff, Housing: tion. There was no consultation with th I Education and Community Development Chief Executive Officer of the Northern staff and volunteers. a senous concern Area Health Service, Dr Stephen Christley, or After a fire destroyed ACON West's other drug health specialists. No formal BGF, ACON and PLWH/A (NSW) are Parramatta office, ACON relocated complaint about the facility was made in calling on the NSW Department of Housing programs and services co other locations. writing. The needle exchange and drug to address concerns about proposed changes Feedback to ACON indicated that the local counselling service had operated discreetly to the Special Assistance Subsidy Special community wanted service provision to stay for more than a decade without incident. (SASS) and how these will impact on plwha. largely as it is, with the addition of a The founder and CEO of Family Drug This alliance of community organisations is community centre. Support, Tony Trimingham, said intra­ working together to seek assurances from the Aeon Update, April 2002 venous drug users between Hornsby and department before the proposed changes arc Parramatta were now without a primary due to be implemented in July. The depart­ needle exchange faciliry. 'It is disappointing ment has been asked to give a clear definition injecting room that a service that has been operating in this of 'appropriate' housing when securing community in a very understated way for properties for plwha close to relevant servic trial extended r 10 years without incident becomes a and for a commitment to meet rental costs political football,' Mr Trimingham said. during the new four-week waiting period for AUSTRALIA'S first heroin injecting room The issue emerged publicly on 6 March SASS clients. trial will be extended by one year, the NSW after a local parent of an eight-year-old boy 'We are disappointed that we have not government has said. The 18-month Sydney alleged that the child had been searching for been given concrete assurances that our trial, which officially began on May 1 last spiders underneath a building on the school major concerns will be addressed and that these concerns, initially raised at the HIV had pap smears processed at GDL in rh Interagency Accommodation Crisis past two years and who have not since had cancer deaths Group last year, appear to have been a pap smear conducted elsewhere ar glossed over,' said ACON President being advised to undertake a fresh pap higher in bush Adrian Lovney. 'We have been given no smear,' he said. indication that the department will tak In March, more than 14,000 women Cancer survival rates are 30% lower in into consideration real or perceived were advised to be retested due to suspect remote areas than in more populated threats to safety in assessing appropriate­ results from 1998 and 1999. Mr Thwaites areas, a new report has revealed. Poor ness of housing or proximity to existing said letters were being sent out as a access to cancer treatment and support ocial networks. Properties 'close ro precaution because the results of th ervices are partly to blame for th services' can apparently mean a 40 women's pap smears were not necessarily figures, according to a report released minute bus ride and, on this basis accurate. He said while GDL was free to today by the NSW Cancer Council and Maroubra is considered close co Sr respond to the accreditation agency's Southern Cross Institute for Health Vincenrs Hospital,' he said. concerns in the proper forum, it was vital Research. BGF Executive Director Georgina that women were advised about such an Cancer Council Chief Executive Dr Harman said the proposed changes will important health issue. Penman said a lack of access to cancer impact on the financial and social circum­ GDL stopped carrying our pap smear screening diagnosis and treatment services stances of plwha and their quality of life. tests at the end of March. 1t now refers pap meant diagnosis was delayed or peopl 'Clients who have rental housing may be smear results to accredited laboratories. found it more difficult to present with forced co go into debt or seek financial Victoria's Acting Chief Health Officer symptoms. It also meant people took assistance to cover the four-week wairing Dr John Carnie, said pap smears were an longer to seek advice about symptoms, the period and this will place an additional effective way of preventing cervical cancer. diagnosis might be less certain, or the burden on agencies such as ours and on rh referral for definitive treatment might be 10104/02, neu/s.com.au small stock of emergency or crisis accom­ more delayed. modation in Sydney,' Ms Harman said. Survival for bowel, cervical, prostate and PLWH/A (NSW) Executive Officer lung cancer is particularly bad in remote Antony Nicholas said many hiv servic areas, where there is also a higher incidenc providers had already received anecdotal Rural GPs of cancers related to smoking and alcohol reports of new priority housing client consumption, he said. being coerced into accepting accommoda­ address shortage The report also found women in rernot tion which they viewed as inappropriate. NSW were 2.4 times less likely to surviv 'If appropriate housing is not found Rural doctors held emergency talks in cervical cancer than women in cities and within the four-week period, SASS clients Tamworth in April ro discuss solutions to regional centres. will have to re-enter the private rental growing shortages of GPs and specialists 'It reflects - in the case of cervical cancer market with the additional disadvantag in country areas. Rural Doctors where we know that there's a lower survival - of being identifiable as a department Association president Ken Mackey said probably lower participation in organised client. Due to the large existing waiting the meeting was sparked by a lack of cancer screening programs,' Dr Penman said. list we are interested in knowing where all specialists in the NSW city but the associ­ 'Bur it also reflects different patterns of this available housing stock is,' Mr ation also recognised the shortage of GPs cancer, so that in these remote areas the icholas said. in smaller towns. tobacco and alcohol-related cancers - He said the future lay in attracting which are inherently more aggressive and greater numbers of new medical students have lower survival - have a _higher rate of but the industry also had to recognise incidence.' pap smear two-thirds of new doctors were women, The report looked at all cases of who tended to have shorter working liv cancer across NSW from 1992 to 1996, aJert because of family commitments. classifying them by an index of remote­ Australia had to compete with other ness. 'Remote' meant places char were a Doubts were raised in April about the pap countries including Singapore, the United ignificanr distance and time away from smear test results of 20,000 women after Kingdom, Canada and Ireland nor only to major centres. 'A major problem is that new concerns about a Melbourne labora­ keep its own graduates, but attract health services in remote areas ar tory. The concerns relate to tests under­ overseas doctors, Dr Mackey said. rrerched to the limit,' he said. taken by General Diagnostic Laboratori Research by Access Economics showed While only 1 % of the NSW population (GDL) over the past two years. The same one in five Australians lived in an area lived in areas rated as remote, this included lab was at the centre of a major scandal in where there was a severe shortage of March over the accuracy of its tests in 48% of the state's Aboriginal population. general practice services, rising to one in 1998 and 1999. The report showed there was an urgent two people in some rural and remote areas. Victorian Health Minister John need for changes to services in rural and Thwaites said a new report by th Access estimated the national doctor remote NSW to help improve survival arional Association of Testing shortage at 1,200 to 2,000 GPs, with rates, he said. 'We're talking here about Authorities had raised new concerns chronic shortages in inland Australia and quite a small proportion of the popula­ about the company's more recent test pares of coastal NSW and Queensland. It tion bur obviously a group that has some results. He said letters would be sent to an warned the shortfall could rise to 10,500 fairly distinctive health outcomes,' Dr estimated 20,000 women who would b GPs by 2020 if current trends continued. Penman said. advised to be retested. 'Women who have 18/04102, neu/s.com.au 09/04/02, neurs.com.au

·.;;:,_,: 8 categorise the children according to pos man's clinical manifestations - N (asympto­ pos kids: - matic), A (mildly symptomatic), B sperm used in faJ (moderately severe symptoms) and C Saquinavir study (severe symptoms). Three children A Japanese woman who conceived by artifi­ remained in class N, six were in class A, aquinavir alone does nor maintain consis­ cial insemination has given birth. The 17 in class B, and eight in class C. At tently efficacious plasma levels in children donor sperm came from her hiv positiv 73% of scheduled clinic visits, no ith hiv Combination therapy with other husband. Mother and child were confirmed ymptoms of hiv were present. protease inhibitors (Pls) that inhibit infection-free, doctors said. It was the first At last followup, of the 32 children aquinavir metabolism is necessary, uccessful birth using hiv-infecred sperm in irh CD4+ cell count data, 18 wer researchers report. Japan, according to Tasuku Harada, a classified as CDC immune category 1, 11 Dr Sibylle Grub from F Hoffmann-La ynecologist and lecturer at the medical as category 2, and three as category 3. Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland, and colleagu department of Tottori University in Tortori. Most children were treated with three or examined the pharmacokinetics of saquinavir Harada, who led a team of doctors in the more antiretroviral agents, although 50 mg/kg given alone three times a day in 14 case, said he was aware of 250 babies born three children had never received any children and saquinavir 33 mg/kg plus nelfi­ in Italy and several more in Spain through antiretroviral agents, the authors note. navir given three times a day in 13 children. the same method. 'With the increased use of potent The research ers assessed the results after Doctors placed the hiv positive sperm antiretroviral therapies, survival into ingle dose administration and after short and into a centrifuge to separate the sperm from adolescence and young adulthood is likely longrerrn use. They also examined the the virus. The sperm was then subjected to to become increasingly common,' rh pharmacokinetics of saquinavir given as a 'swim-up' method in which doctor researchers note. After birth, 30 children fixed single dose of 1200 mg compared with remove only active sperm to further filter lived with at least one parent. At latest unrestricted weight-adjusted dosing of 50 out the hiv virus. 'According ro one study, all followup, this number had decreased to mg/kg, according to the report in the March but one of 4,000 copies of the virus may be 19, the investigators state. The mothers of issue of Clinical Pharmacology and removed through this method,' Harada 13 children had died. Therapeutics. aid. The sperm-rinsing procedure is widely Twenty-six children had been told When saquinavir was used alone it available in Japan but there are few places to about their hiv-positive status. '. resulted in a lower exposure in children and check if the rinsed sperm is virus-free. As of enter adolescence, additional services are in adolescents compared with adults who 24 June 2001, the Japanese health ministry needed including support with disclosur, re treated with saquinavir 1200 mg thn had reports of 7,680 cases of aids or hi to others, therapy, and sexual health,' Dr rimes daily This appeared to result from positive patients. This figure includes 1,432 II and colleagues point out. increased systemic clearance and lower oral people infected through contaminated J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2002;29:396- bioavailabiliry, the researchers note. blood products. At least 1,225 people have 401. Last Updated: 2002-04-15 15:57:19 Saquinavir combined with nelfinavir died of aids. EDT (Reuters Health) reduced the clearance of saquinavir and 02110101, Agence France Presse. CDC increased the drugs' exposure in the children HIV/STD/TB Prevention eu/s Update to levels that were similar to the levels found 03/10/01 in adults, Dr Grub's ream reports. The investigators found that among the side fx children there was a significant correlation project rween the average trough concentration pos kids often of saquinavir and sustained suppression of viral load. 'The apparent threshold for The National Centre in HIV Social maintaining viral load suppression was a free of severe Research, at the University of New mean trough saquinavir concentration of South Wales, is conducting a research above 200 rng/rnl.,' they add. symptoms 10 project 'living with hiv treatment sid Clin Pharmacol Tber 2002;71:122-130. ffects and body shape change . Last Updated: 2002-04-19 17:15:56 EDT years Confidential and anonymous 2 hour (Reuters Health) indeprh research interviews will be held Most children who are vertically infected with hiv positive men and women with hiv seem ro be in relatively good xperiencing side effects and/or body health, according to a European study. A hape. The National Centre would lik reported in the 1 April issue of the Journal to find out what life is like for people ACON of Acquired Immune Deficiency living with hiv treatment side effect yndromes, Dr Marie-Louise Newell, from and body shape changes, such as lipody- lllawarra services the Institute of Child Health in London, trophy. The information collected will and colleagues characterised the status of 34 help develop effective health promotion, continue in two positive children who were enrolled in th health care and support strategies for European Collaborative Study and survived people living with hiv. Interested? new centres 10 years or more. The median age of the Contact Asha on 02 9385 6414, email: study group was 11.4 years. [email protected]. Two temporary homes in the Illawarra The researchers used the US Centers for region will provide services for plwha and Disease Control and Prevention system to the gay and lesbian community whil ACON lllawarra looks for new premises. 'We are committed to maintaining a new look International presence in the lllawarra region and over the will continue to provid NAPvVA research ethics ACON services before new premises ao opened in September,' said ACON CEO The National Association of People with framework Stevie Clayton. 'This will be an opportunity (NAPWA) held its Special for us to look at how we can improve our General Meeting in April and voted to proposed rvices and better meet the needs of our endorse changes to the Rules of the communities. We have been working closely Association and a new model of governance. The Nuffield Council for Bioethics, a UK­ with clients, communities and service The Executive Committee stepped down to based chink rank, has launched a 205-page providers in an extensive consultation allow an election by the plwha organisation report on The ethics of research related to process to ensure a smooth transition.' member delegates of nominations for a six­ healthcare in developing countries. This 'ACON's plwha services will work along­ member Board of Directors, and convenor identifies key ethical issues raised by interna­ side Our Pathways Incorporated at a n for six national portfolios, covering key tional sponsorship of research by organisa­ shared space open five days a week during issues for people with hiv It is envisaged that tions based 'in wealthier countries among business hours. All our services for peopl the new strucrure will allow an enhancement omrnuniries in poorer countries, and living with hiv/aids will continue and to the NAPWA representation of the diversi­ proposes a range of action to address them. services provided from this office will ty of hiv positive lives and issues that exist The report was produced over a 21- include: within the Australian hiv epidemic. It is also month period by a working group of distin­ • ACON Counselling hoped that the SGM resolutions will support guished researchers and public health • ACON Massag, the ejective of realising an increased involve­ experts from a number of countries, • Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (BGF) ment of individual plwha in the work and chaired by Professor Sir Kenneth Calman, • Community Support Network (CSN) representation of the national body. former Chief Medical Officer for the UK • PLWHA Drop-in Newly elected President Phillip Medcalf Department of Health. The report is avail­ • Computer/internet access said, 'With the current reviews of the HIV able on the Nuffield Council for Bioethics' PLWHA Services: 1/6 Kenny Street ational Research Centres, and the Revie~ website. It will be issued on CD-ROM and Wollongong. Ph 02 4226 1163 Fx 02 4226 9838 of the4th National Strategy, NAPWA is keen translations of key sections into French and 'All our gay and lesbian services will to utilise the momentum of a very productive panish are promised. continue in a new Resource Centre and will SGM and offer the best representation of Julian Meldrum, 25104/02, http://www.aids upported by the appointment of a n plwha issues at the national level.' map.comlneuslnewsdisplay2.asp?n.ewsld=l447 Gay and Lesbian Community Development 'I thank the previous President - Peter Officer. Services provided will includ Canavan - and other outgoing Executi • ACON Counselling members, who have led the organisation • ACON Education Workshop through significant strategic planning and HIV rate in • Legal Servi organisational changes, and I feel very confi­ • Gay Men's Drop In Support Group dent in the energy and support of all the China • Resources for Lesbian Group members to adopting these changes and • Gay and Lesbian Line Illawarra' supporting the future of NAPWA. New stansncs published in China in • TYPE The new board and portfolio convenor April estimated that 850,000 people had rwork Group will be quickly settling down to steer th been infected with hiv by the end of 2001. ntre: 26 Belmore Street, ongoing response to issues such as welfare This is 30%higher than previous govern­ Wollongong. Ph 02 4226 1238 Fx 02 4226 9838 reform, treatments access and subsidies, and ment estimates. The estimates, published These ACON services will continue in the continuing threat to hiv-specific funding by the New China News Agency and atellire offices: and research that wiU affect the lives of attributed to health officials, said rhar ACON's Lesbian Health Project will positive people across Australia.' 200,000 people might already have continue as a joint project with Illawarra APWA now consists of: Board of progressed ro aids. The numbers were the Women's Health Centre Directors (6), National Portfolio Convenors highest yet put out by the Chinese govern­ • Young and Proud will continue operating (6), Member organisations (8), Associate ment. The epidemic in china centres on at CHAIN member organisations (3), NAPWA/AIDS intravenous drug users and people • Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP) Treatment Project Australia Secretariat staff infected through unsanitary practices will be located at Port Kembla Hospital members (5). while either selling or receiving blood. GP Sexual Health Clinic will be located at President: Phillip Medcalf, Vice President: But they still fall far short of estimate FPA Health David Menadue, Secretary/Treasurer: John made by foreign experts working in • For info on needle and syringe exchange Robinson, Director: Gabe McCarthy, China and some Chinese researchers. call First Step on 02 4275 1529 Director: Jon Willis, Director: Brent Allan. According to United Nations figures 'Port Kembla Hospital will continue to The new National Portfolio Convenors are: srimared 1.5 million provide condom and lube sales and Treatments: Peter Canavan, Care & Support: working with lilawarra Area Health Servic Vacant, Education: Brent Allen, lndigenou to ensure continuity in the provision of a Co-convenors: Tony Creighton and Bev Needle and Syringe Program in the Greer, Women: Amelia Mcloughlin, Legal: and aggressive action. has never Wollongong area,' Ms Clayton said. Vacant. undertaken a comprehensiv national

·i,.· 10 survey so the total number of cases i uncertain. Get physical The reliability of statistics varies by province. ln Yun□an, the statistics are Exercise for plwha is the focus of a relatively reliable. In others, like Henan, research project by ACON Illawarra and there is almost no public information the University of Wollongong. because local officials have often blocked 'This is the first time an exercis scientific work on what is regarded as a project has been run for hiv positiv ensirive and embarrassing problem. people in regional NSW and the results of In China's report, the Health Ministry the project will interest a wide range of said that 68% of China's hiv cases wer ervice providers and researchers aero caused by sharing needles among intra­ the state,' said ACON Illawara's Acting venous drug users and 7 .2 % by unpro­ Manager Scott Berry. tected sex. Blood collecting and transfu­ 'The Illawarra Positive Exercise Project sion through unclean methods accounted has beer funded by a grant from the NSW for 9.7% of cases. China has been far Department of Sport and Recreation and more open about confronting rh we are working in partnership with the pidemic among drug users than the on University of Wollongong and rh among poor farmers. Also, there has been Illawarra Area Health Service on the little government effort to define the program,' be said. scope of hiv in China's growing gay 'This is an innovative project encour­ community, although researcher aging people living with hiv to becom acknowledge that the disease has taken more active and improve their general hold there. health and wellbeing, It is also an irnpor­ FREE LEGAL ADVICE 'China Raises H.I.V. Count in New rant research project that will show just Report', By Elisabeth Rosenthal, how important physical exercise can b· · 12104102, New York Times HALC provides free legal advice for hiv positive people. and referral to people living in NSW , .. 'Exercise Science and Rehabilitation with an HIV related legal problem. tudenrs from the University of Wollongong are working with 12 client To make an appointment plNse call us on First Female on the project and four weeks into rh program we are already seeing remarkable 0292062060 A/1 /nformnlon Is kept strictly eonfldentutl. Condom improvement in the wellbeing and confi­ dence of people involved. tw..C HW/>JDS legaCEl1tre ncorp:,rated Machine 'The students have designed exercise 9 Conmonweallt1Street,SUTy I-as ~2010 Fl'INCail 1800 083 080 programs that are tailored to each Fax~92()82053 At the launch of France's first femal individual client and working with them 8nell ~ 10am ID 8pm Mon 1D Frt condom machine, women protesters in much the same way as a personal complained that the female condom's cost trainer. Each client has undergone a - two euros ($1.76US) - was three rimes the fitness assessment at the start of the price of a male condom. The aids aware· project and their flexibility, muscular TAYLOR SQUARE CLINIC ness group ACT UP denounced the event in trengrh and endurance will be re­ a statement as a publicity stunt and said the assessed at the end of the 12 week exercise \lEDICAL PRACTICE conservative Chirac was 'using the vagina program. The research component of the as an electoral ploy'. French President Drs ❖ Robert Finlayson ❖ Ross Price program will look at how this exercise ha Jacques Chirac's campaign spokesperson Neil Bodsworth ◊ Cathy Pell ◊ John Byrne affected CD4 counts, viral load and Roselyne Bachelor marked international John Ewan ❖ Lindo Doyon lipodyscrophy. Day by inaugurating th John White ◊ Rochel Burdon The Illawarra Positive Exercise Project Bachelor unveiled the new is one of a number of projects that ACON Comprehensive HIV & STD health core condom machines - blue for men, pink for lllawarra has developed to help improve th for men and women by general practi­ women - in one of five central Paris metro tioners and sexual health physicians. rations now equipped with them. Th health and wellbeing of people living with hiv/aids,' Mr Berry said. Busy research program providing female condom has been available in some access to latest antiviral drugs and sero­ countries for several years. But amid criti­ conversion studies and treatments. cisms that its plastic crackles and that it reduces sensation for both partners, it ha 302 Bourke Street not won wide acceptance. Darlinghurst 'First Female Condom Machine Is Launched', Reuters 12103/02. [CDC News] 9331 6151 CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News 8am - 8pm Mon to Fri ❖ 10am - 12 noon Sat Update 14/03102 Call far appointments ❖ Medicare bulk billing

11 Sydney

StralghtTalk Daytime support program by ~mmunlty Garden Learn how to gro massage services for plwha on M and Th ar Pozhet. Straight Talk's objective is about your own vegies, Grear opportunities at 1.30pm and 2.30pm, W and F at 10.30am getting people out where they can make new ewrown and Waterloo. Call Street Jungle and 11.30am. Meditation and rai-chi on M, llam-12noon. For appointments and info contacts, socialise and share information or on 02 9206 2000. insights. Barmuda Coffee Bar, opposit about other services, call Dennis or Mark on ewtown Railway station. More info, Newtown Nelghbourflood Centre runs a 02 9929 4288. rollfree 1800 812 404. hopping service six rimes a week to Marrickville Metro and Market Town, NorthAIDS service users can get free entry Positive Living Centre, 703 Bourk Leichhardt. They'll pick you up from home, to the latest rnovies at Greater Union Street, Surry Hills. The centre is a one-stop give you two hours to shop, then drop you off Cinema at Mosman. Join in for lunch at access point for a range of hiv and commu­ gain. Price is S4 and available to residents in Myrtle Place on M/W/F and take in a movi nity based services. Programs for pos people Dulwich Hill, St Peters, Tempe, Newtown, in the afternoon. Bookings, call Dennis or to help develop new skills, interests and Enmore, Marrickville, Carnperdown, Mark on 02 9929 4288. work opportunities. Lunch Monday Stanmore, Pecersham, Erskineville and Thursdays & Fridays. Darlington. Call Diana on 02 9516 4755. Des KJlkeary Lodge on the north side i back in business and volunteer gardeners are Luncheon Club Mondays, noon, at Newtown Neighbourhood Centre has a needed. If you can help, call Rhonda on 02 Positive Living Centre, 703 Bourke St, Surry number of groups. Call Charlotte on 02 9516 9982 2310. Hills for plwha. 4755 for details, including cost.

The Larder, Pride Centre, 26 Hutchinson St, · 'Outings' from South Sydney Community Southern Sydney Surry Hills provides free food and essential Transport is always offering day trips and items to plwha on DSP. Clothing, linen ere xcursions. More information or bookings Friends of Waratah is a support group in Wednesday & Friday, noon - 4pm. Free BBQ call Jane or Robbie on 02 9319 4439. Southern Sydney for plwha which meets on ry 2nd Wednesday (off pension week). the first Monday each month in Kogarah. It Southern Cross Outdoor Group' offers emotional support, information and Flt X Gym Ar the Community Pride Centre, website is full of details of their many up social activities. For more derails, call Hutchinson St, Surry Hills. Positive Ace and coming social get togerhers, including Amanda on 02 9350 2955. Program (PAP) offers qualified instructors, walks, dances and trips away. See the websit free assessments, free nutritional advice, free www.scog.asn.au or call John on 02 9907 9144. individual programs and a free session to try out the gym. $2.50 a session, or $20 for a 10 Dementia Support for Family, Partners and Western Sydney visit pass. Contact Fir X Gym, 4-7pm Friends. Telephone/group support for signifi­ Mon-Fri or PAP, 9.30 am-12 noon, Mon, cant others of JJCOple with hiv associated Pozhetwest offers peer support and Wed & Fri on 02 93613311. dementia, cognitive impairment and/or mental ducation for men and women living hetero­ illness. Meets last Wednesday of every month sexually with hiv/aids in Western Sydney. Yoga for plwha Special weekly classes at the Tree of Hope, cnr Riley and Devonshire Contact 02 9671 4100. at Acharya's Yoga Centre Mon-Fri Sts, Surry Hills at 6.30pm. Contact Angela 02 12.30pm-1.30pm. Call 02 9264 3765 for 9829 4242, Margaret 02 9698 3161 or more information. ADAHPT 02 9339 2078. Blue Mountains The Sanctuary offers free massage, Poets Anonymous A poetry email group. acupuncture, therapy information, social work Communicate on the net with poetry C Drop in to the Blue Mountains PLWHA and shiatsu services. Call Robert for details and all poetry forms, with a slant toward Centre at 2 Station Sr, Karoomba for bookings 12-6pm, Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri form and expressionist. Subscribe at informal peer support. Open Wed and Fri on 02 9519 6142. Also holds cooking hrrpJ/au .groups.yahoo.corn/group/free_former llam-3.J0pm. Lunch Wed 1pm, programs. To find out more contact Sidney 3condS5waged. Ph/fax 02 4782 2119 email: Leung (dietician) on 02 9395 0444. Myrtle Place at Crows Nest offer [email protected]

12 THE SANCTUARY CENTRE massage, reflexology acupuncture, meditation, shiatsu, social activities, complementary therapies, information/advice

M-Sa by appointment only t 9519 6142 f 9519 6964 6 Mary Street Newtown NSW 2042 Hunter FREE Karumah A meeting place for posmve Treatments Information Service, Volunteer therapists wanted people and their friends in Newcastle and the Northern Rivers. Confidential, quality Hunter. Activities held each week. Pos-only rvice for plwha. Information and pace and open groups. Contact Karumah support face-to-face, by phone or email Inc, 47 Hudson St, Hamilton. Ph: 02 4940 about drug side effects and interactions, 8393. Email: [email protected] treatments and pregnancy, starting Inner West changing or sropping treatments, post Bambi hiv+ women's social group. Meer Sexual xposure prophylaxis and more. Talk to 3rd Friday each month, 10.30am-2pm, Barrie Harrison, Treatments Officer, T, Hamilton, Newcastle. A diverse group of Health women who come together to chat, relax, 9am-2pm and W, 9am-5pm, 02 6622 1555 totally free and confidential do arts & crafts and more in a safe environ­ or 1800 633 637, email no Medicare card needed ment. All women welcome. Confidentiality [email protected] For HIV and STD treatment, testing assured. Contact Karumah 02 4940 8393 and counselling as well as a full Women's Rep 0402 329 986, email Vitamins and nutrttlonal supplements range of other sexual health [email protected] at reduced prices for plwha. More info services. call ACON Northern Rivers on 02 6622 1555 or 1800 633 637. Several conven•ien•t loc•ations including Northern Rivers Morrickville, Canterbury, Ashfield, and Massage Cllnlc for plwha. Lisrnore - our men's clinic in Newtown every second Wednesday, 9am-3pm. S15. Support Group for partners, family, friends, Tweed Heads - Last Monday of eh carers of people living with hiv/aids. Contact For all inquir•ies•and•appointments Sue on 02 6622 1555 or 1800 633 537. month, 10am - 1pm. $5. Bookings essen­ tial, ph 02 6622 1555 or 1800 633 637. Phone 9560 3057 HIV Peer Support Group Llsmore for all plwha. Fortnightly meetings. HIV Paar Support Group Murwlllumbah for hiv positive gay men. Contact Ron on NSW 02 6622 1555. Fill out an online survey about use of comple­ Volunteers Northern Rivers ACON i mentary and alternative medicine by plwha at Acknowledgments currently updating availability info of http:/lturing. une.ed u .au/~smij aj lo/ea m­ volunteers who are interested in providing aids/second.html In the Feb/Mar issue of Talkabout, an direct care and support to plwha. Duties article reporting on Art Project 2001 wa could include assisting with home duties written describing the various stages of hopping, or providing support through a the year-long project, culminating in a chat. Contact Sue on 02 6622 1555. World AIDS Exhibition in November. The Arc Project was a joint ventur Pos women'• retreat at a resort near between the Community HIV/AIDS Murwillumbah. Motel style accommoda­ Service, Central Sydney Area Health tion, all meals provided. Workshops Talkabout Diary promotes projects and activities Service and the Ankali Project, South archery, horseriding, discussion groups for that benefit plwha. =reterence Is given to free and Eastern Sydney Area Health Service. low cost entries. We especially encourage Items women, partners support groups and from rural and regional NSW. Send Items of 30 more. $35 unwaged, $50 waged. Held by Photographs of works exhibited in the words or less to Susan Hawkeswood, Editor, ACON Northern Rivers. Priority given to Talkabout Diary PO Box 831 Dar1inghurst 1300. Positive Footprints' exhibition published women from northern NSW. Contact 02 Fax 02 9360 3504. Email [email protected]. Ph in the April/May issue of Talkabout wer 6622 1555. 02 9361 6750. taken by Jamie Dunbar. PLWH/A (NSWJ Research and Policy Officer Kathy Triffi recollects two decades of hiv/aids images and compares the latest on the way from the AIDS Trust of Australia

1 2 3

In Policing Desire, Pornography, AIDS they create help ro form social conceptions groups' or, conversely, threatening and and the Media 1987, Simon Watney of risk (who is at risk, what is risky) which in contagious 'aids carriers' (image 1). . discussed the way media and turn influence research, policy and preven­ Aids activist groups have responded to medlcal representations of plwha are tive education campaigns. Moreover, they negative and stereotyped images of plwha impact on the wellbeing of plwha and eh framed by moral imperatives, and circulated in mainstream media and way in which they, and their friends and biomedical discourse and countered this how the 'struggle' against aids families, live their lives. representation with 'positive' imagery requires a re-thinking of language, Because of the capacity to impart designed to give aids a face - to humanise media and representation. He meaning and the consequential tangibl an epidemic universally represented as a exposed the misconceptions that fed social impact, representations of plwha have mask of death. Out of this 'counter-repre­ homophobic attitudes circulating in come into sharp focus as a highly contest sentational' work, plwha were recon­ mainstream media at that time and political site over the past two decades. structing the public image of aids. the cultural/political and representa­ large role in aids activism has been afforded Demands for the visibility of plwha 'who tional regulations on hiv and aids ro the critical analysis of the underlying are vibrant, angry, loving, sexy, beautiful, assumptions, meanings and implications of acting up and fighting back' were made by including 'hysterical' media images, negative, derogarory and stereotypical ACT UP, New York (AIDS Coalition ro discrimination, drug policies and imagery of people with aids, for example eh Unleash Power) within a larger manifesto community attitudes. Why? innocent victim, the dying or dead. Such - 'No More Pictures Without Context'. In Images of plwha impact enormously on images, which became intransigent manifes­ its declaration of 1989, and in more recent perceptions of the aids epidemic and on tations of the popular understanding of aids times in its objectives, PLWH/A (NSW) impressions of the identities of plwha. during the 1980s, have been the subject of calls for the promotion of 'a positive Representations of plwha not only reflect intense criticism for their recuperation of image of people living with and affected perceptions of the epidemic, they also igns that denote moribund, hopeless and by hiv/aids, with the aim of eliminating impact on responses ro it - the impressions 'aids victims' contained within 'risk prejudice, isolation, stigmatisation and

~"'-".•-:"',-' 14 ~..:\ r.·:.:~_.•" Images of plwha impact enormously on perceptions of the aids epidemic and on impressions of the identities of plwha.

Stay tuned for our new ai n 4 6

discrimination ansmg from aids [and represented plwha as whole people with Ii Australia's proposed national advertising might add its representations]'. outside of hiv, as people who were not guilty campaign featuring Stan Zemanek. 'Th One of the paradoxes of the epidemic for their own diagnosis, as people who were 90 second commercial encapsulates during this period is that, although it has to be identified with and not shunned, people living with, and affected by, been stigmatising and has disproportionate­ pitied, abused, or judged, and as people hiv/aids within the community, as well a ly affected already stigmatised groups, it ha living with, not dying from, aids. Th highlights the effects of social prejudice generated much personal testimony (a□d/or representations began the necessary work of associated with hiv/aids.' Here we witness isibiliry) with the goal of countering building the idea and the image of hiv/aid a shift in charity advertising from negative stereotypes or what Warney sees a communities rather than an aids epidemic. 'fundraising' to 'attitude change'. The 'the spectacle of AIDS'. The 'spectacle' of And to affirm the values of gay liberation, to campaign scenarios, in particular 'parents the lived experience of plwha has been respond to and managc a positive diagnosis, who had lost their son to hiv ... [and] Ev confined within rhe image of the isolated to reclaim and celebrate experiences of death Van Grafhorsr, a young girl who died of dying gay man in a hospital ward (image 3), and dying, to renew the self and its sexuali­ aids ... ' reconsrruct the stereotyped the signs and symptoms of the disea ties, and to survive within a hostile and images of plwha circulated in mainstream (and/or the medicalised body) (image 2) and punitive social environment. media during the 80s, that is, the emphasi as unidentifiable silhouettes presented as an Why the need to re-visit the spectacle of on fatality, the innocent victim a□d family mbodiment of all that is aids. (image 4). aids? The lived experience of hiv and aid values. What is presented in the pre­ These images are censorship of the kind chat has been launch publicity and the proposed adver­ dispose of and remove plwha from their discourse characterised by individualisa­ tiseme□r are incomplete 'pictures without communities, friends and families. tion and the concept of risk (image 5). This context'. The range of representations of Early counter-representations depicted may be one of the many reasons for rh plwha are more complex and must be plwha differently to rhe mainstream media, diminished visibility of plwha, that is until based on an understanding of multiple, which collapsed chem into their illness. recently with their 'encapsulation' in rh sometimes competing, interpretations and Instead, such alternative counter-images pre launch publicity for the AIDS Trust of the politics of hiv and aids. Instead of the shamed silhouetted 'aids victim' we are introduced to the pixilated faces of actors 'to protect their identities'

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Instead of the shamed silhouetted 'aids construct themselves and their relations with - comments on the representational strate­ ictim' we are introduced to the pixilated the general public, their friends, partner gies of biomedicine and of mainstream faces of actors 'to protect their identities' and families. These representations question media. He argues that: (image 6) and the 'innocent victim' of aids in the involvement of various historical and 'AIDS does not exist apart from the the image of Eve Van Grafhorst, who practices that conceptualize it, represent acquired hiv after a blood transfusion and it, and respond to it..... lf we recognize was forced to leave Australia with her family that AIDS exists only in and through when her antibody status became 'public these constructions, then hopefully w property'. The discrimination she experi­ can also recognize the imperative to know enced was influenced by the irrational fear of them, analyze them, and wrest control of contagion reported by mainstream media at them.' {p7) the time (image 7). While acknowledging the In other words, a full understanding of prejudice that accompanied Australian the representation of hiv/aids requires a public perceptions of aids in the early days of comprehensive analysis of the institutional the epidemic, Eve's story, among others, was practices that generate and distribute chem used to construct a hierarchy of blame with nse. It asks us to take responsibility and as well as the audience that receives them. 'innocent and appropriate victims' of what care, to regard each person represented a Reference nted as a 'gay plague'. would regard ourselves. These representa­ Crimp, D. "Cultural Analysis, Cultural leered scenarios of the AIDS Trust tions of plwha invite the viewer to recognise Activism" in Crimp (Ed.) AIDS Cultural campaign can never account for th themselves as a member of the community Analysis, Cultural Activism, An rsonal, political and everyday details that and, as such, acknowledge their part in the OCTOBER Book, The MIT Press, can be found in the lived experiences of social conditions that constitute the experi- Cambridge Massachusetts, London. hiv/aids made visible in the National Anti­ nee of living with hiv and aids. It ma England, 1988, pp 3-16. Discrimination Campaign of 1992-3(imag, ful ro revisit this significant historical 8). In presenting personal testimonials and a precedent in any proposed amendments to Watney, S. Policing Desire: Pornography, public face of the realities and diversities of the AIDS Trust Campaign. AIDS, and the Media, University of living with hiv, plwha were provided with a Finally, Douglas Crimp (1988), in an Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 1987. cultural space in which to re-construct eh edition of the art journal OCTOBER - Front cover of TIME Australia, November public image of aids and simultaneously r,.- 'AIDS: Cultural Analysis, Cultural Activism' 3, 1986 Headline VIRUSES (image 5). The Bobby Goldsmith Foundation doesn't want to put plwha off with its winter appeal. Susan Hawkeswood spoke to BGF's Georgina Hannan and Mark Tietjen about this year's campaign.

The Bobby Goldsmith Foundation role. A Joe of the scenarios char we present in provide a client with very useful support plans to launch its current fundraising fundraising materials are quite dire and before their circumstances do get extreme. campaign mid-May. The focus of this desparate and extreme bur they're actually The worse their circumstances are, rh year's campaign, according to BGF's true stories. They're based on the experi­ harder it is co help.' Executive Director Georgina Hannan, ences that we see here and it's really impor­ About 5% of BGF's funds are currently tant char people understand that a lot of raised through Friends of BGF, which is an is return to work and improved, or positive people, nor all, but many, are living ongoing fundraising campaign launched in changing, health, and the Implica­ in increasingly difficult situations. It's a 1998 = Ausrralia's first 'friends' campaign for tions for that on individual lives. really important vehicle for us, getting those aids fundraising. The Friends program is 'It's an appeal for money to support the messages across to rhe wider public, to our BGF's most cost-effective program. For each Positive Employment Support Service, which upporrer base and also to people who might dollar BGF receives from a Friends donation, is a service chat's been running our of BGF not necessarily know or understand what 92 cents goes directly to help positive people. now for two and a half years. Funding i people are living through. It's also a 'We had an annual turnover last year of ending ar the end of June this year, so 2.4million and the Friends campaign king alternative sources of funding to brings in about $145,000 a year,' said keep the services and irs clients going.' Georgina Harman. 'We've currently got 'We're continuing ro lobby government to about 308 Friends.' renew that [unding at State and local ar The Friends campaign is, according to health service level but also ... to keep th Mark Tietjen, 'something that you can service going in the meantime, we're making actually budget on. It's a low risk activity ... it the focus of our winter appeal.' if you go our and hold an event, you're never Client Services Manager Marie Tietjen, i It's an appeal for ure how the ticket sales are going to go, how concerned char fundraising campaigns, much money is actually going to come in, which sell 'a worst case' scenario, caus money to support the whereas once you've got so many Friends potential clients to self select because they Positive Employment igned up, you know that you're· getting that think other people are worse off then they income every year. The drop-off rate's re. 'Those people should really be coming Support Service. relatively low and it makes for much rnor and asking for help.... It's often a very fine curiry within the income stream.' balance to get the fundraising messag One of BGF's aims, each year, is to attract across but also to sell the service to make it donors who then become Friends of BGF. accessible to clients.' 'There's a thing called the donor Georgina Harman describes BGF' pyramid, which is a very simple concept. approach as two-pronged, with fundraising ... The first lower level of that pyramid is forming a major part of the Foundation's what we call one-off donors, people who activities. 'Without us being successful at occasionally make a financial contribu­ fundraising, a lot of client services wouldn't way of informing clients, and the general tion to help the work at BGF. ... Wh:H w happen.... What clients need to bear in mind public and our supporter base about the aim to do is to pull people up through rb is that we need to send these messages out in range of services that BGF can provide for pyramid so the peak of the pyramid ar order to get money in the door so that positive people.' people who actually leave substantial can then provide to people in need.... We Mark Tietjen adds that it's easier co help bequests to BGF to help our work over rh rill want them to come to us and seek help somebody before their circumstances are longer term after they've passed away. So from BGF. ... The other important role that really dire. 'The things chat rug at rh the next tier, and possibly the most fundraising plays, and 1 think clients - plwha heartstrings and make people dig into their valuable one, and the one that's often th - might be interested in hearing a bit rnor pockets to donate are the extreme circum­ hardest to make people step up to is eh about, is its advocacy role, its educational stances, usually. Bur it's far easier to Friends of BGF,' said Georgina Harman. -

Susan Hawkewood spoke to David Wallace of Options Employment Service obout getting back to work

With a number of positive people on conducted by Centrelink that identifies sometimes it is about setting realistic a Newstart Allowance rather than a barriers to getting employment. Thi expectations for someone,' said David. disability support pension, Options could include being unemployed for more People are often motivated to return to Employment Service provides inten­ than 4 years, living alone, poor access co work for social reasons. 'It will help them sive one-to-one assistance to get a transport, and education background. with their social interactions and even These barriers give a score that makes job, study or re-train. A part of the getting into relationships, or maintaining jobseekers eligible for intensive assistance. Job Network since 1998, people relationships ... The financial incentive for 'Someone with hiv or hepatitis would who want to use Options have to be people to go back to work is quite clear usually be immediately eligible for inren- . and it's often the one that's put right at the on a disability pension (DSP) or a ive assistance if they wane it .... with top of their agenda ... for some people it i Newstart Allowance. orneone who's on disability support just about getting an extra $50 a week, Over the last two or three years, there pension, we can work with them from a which will keep them below the threshold. been a bit of a righcening, or resistance, minimum of a year up to a maximum of They can retain their entire pension on the part of doctors co support about 18 months,' said David Wallace. payment ... But it's also a step coward omebody's application for disability We get funding to provide ongoing them putting their feet back in the water upport pension. They're hiv positive and support when someone's in a job.... We yet they're well enough to consider work,' ork with them for at least six month and saying, 'I can do this. I could maybe aid Options Coordinator, David Wallace. after they've gotten into that job and even move into more part-time work and then 'The service chat we offer is a natural beyond chat if they request it.... Do they cake the next step.' adjunct to the Positive Employment have ro talk co their employer about Other people want to get off the upport Service that Sarah's part of.... If getting time off for doctors' appoint­ pension altogether but, apart from chi orneone went to them and it was identi­ ments? Is that a real problem for chem? financial incentive, social isolation, 'once fied that maybe work or study was an Are they going ro be in a position of you scratch below the surface' plays a big option that they would like co consider, having to disclose? ... If it did occur and role. 'Part of chat is about ... knowledge of then they could refer themselves or be a client wanted us to go and talk to their their peers, who are on the internet, who referred into our service. And equally, we manager or their employer about stuff are using computers every day. They don't can suggest and work with clients to say, that was going on for them, then that know how to use a computer and they'd ok, you're not quite clear about rhe sort would be part of our role as well. We like to learn.' of work you want to do ... Go back to could advocate or mediate ... but only David Wallace has nor had to support PES and have perhaps some vocational obviously with them having asked us.' any clients who have needed to go back on guidance from them and nut out some of During the jobseeking period, Option DSP after finding chat rheir health could chose other issues ... we're nor trained co identifies any re-training needs, help nor sustain a return co work, but Options do that.' people put together a resume, and then can give assistance during chat transition Options staff guide clients about the upports people who move from if needed. In his experience, people' work they might want to do but 'we don't unemployment to part-time work and health has supported them, either back to have a bag of jobs over here .... Bur, one then perhaps a fulltirne job. part-time work or fullcime work.' someone comes into this service, we can The spectrum of people who ar Options has funding available to it down with chem and find out the sort dipping their toes back in the water of work they do wane to do, and over what includes people who want part-time work subsidise the cost of formal training, buy period of time, and then we can ... encour­ within the DSP income guidelines. 'More s and cover transport costs to age them to approach potential employ- people would be looking to go back to interviews. The service also provides a rs, or actually do chat on their behalf.' work with a view to maintaining the DSP ro jobseekers, who get acces Options staff spend at least a year as a support, like as a safety net.' to computers, photocopiers, fax working with someone eligible for inten­ don't organisation push machines, paper, pens and a administra­ ive assistance after a□ assesrnenr process it's the reverse tive support for typing. Jimbo went to PES in March after a recommendation Jlmbo's return to work started with from 'one of the boys at NorthAids' volunteer work

'You don't know what to say Because nursing involves interacting I remember thinking: I'm sick of this. about being off work for a long irh people, Jimbo wanted work that I need more money. I want a job. time. ... Why would they take involved interacting with other people, Luckily, my health has given me a someone who they might have 'I was lucky enough to get a little bit of second chance. I want to do this doubts about their ability to work as a painter's labourer and ] spent right. It seems a longer road than perform the Job. I've been an all day washing ceilings down ... and it expected. So many challenges. employer and you'd be mad .... was so boring not having people to talk Moving out of comfort zones. Though You would go for someone who ro, you go crazy. every step that brings me closer to looks like they're going to be 'I work as a subcontractor. I can my goal has proven to be life enhanc­ control how much I want to do, or there for six months, or a year, ing, ultimately. There have been a how little I want to do.' or two years.' couple of bumps in the road, where The best thing about going to PES, After Jimbo talked to Sarah at PES my health has let me down. So for Jimbo, was discussing his concerns about the sort of work he wanted, the sometimes it has been according to two tracked job ads for a while.Jimbo about going back ro work, and breaking what had to be done into my ability. All the motivation and achievable steps. 'It was particularly positive thinking won't help, if you're handy to run through things that not feeling well enough. would happen in the interview and all Probably the first step in this journey 'I work as a the issues around disclosure and what happened more by accident than design. For a number of reasons I started going ro subcontractor. I can one could say, or should say, or might say if asked this or that.' Fit X Gym's Positive Access Program at the Community Pride Centre. Going to gym control how much I PES helped Jimbo write a resume: improved my health. It also increased my 'another thing that was really handy.' elf esteem (all those positive endorphins, want to do, or how Jimbo has spoken ro PES twice, the no doubt}. I even felt happier with my first time over a year ago. The work little I want to do. ' body! Eventually building up ro three rim done 'rhe first time around ... encour­ a week gave my week a nice rhythm. I also aged me to give volunteering a go learned that to achieve something substan­ and, having had some sales experi- tial I had to stick with it. nee, doing the volunteer work got m describes his expectations as 'always Then my first stop was the Positive xperience in marketing.Jimbo thinks on the optimistic side of the scale.... I Employment Service (PES}. This led me to he wouldn't have got his new position knew that l couldn't go back to what chink differently about work. Unfortunately, I'd done before.' Apart from peripher­ without the experience gained from my health let me down then. Though, when al neuroparhy, which makes it difficult doing volunteer work. 'When I starred a call went out for volunteers, I thought why for him to stay on his feet too long, doing volunteer work ... it was terribly nor, if it didn't involve much extra walking. 'burnout' has kept Jimbo away from hard. I was at committee meetings and Doing volunteer work has been a real his previous occupation as a nurse. it'd suddenly occur to me ... I should growth. As I became more involved I 'Sometimes it's such an all involv­ be concentrating on what thi realised that I couldn't just snap my finger ing disease to have ... I haven't chappy's saying and nod my head and reinvent myself. I really needed ro anything left to give. When people tell quickly to look like I haven't fallen improve my computing skills. Luckily, PLC you how sick they are, I know that I asleep or something.' As his health came to rhe rescue. been sicker. 'What are you complain­ improved, so did his ability to concen­ I was pretty stressed about it. I have tried ing about?' This is nor a great attitude trate. 'It's just not advisable to jump in but now I was motivat­ for a nurse to have.' the deep end.... You build up to things.' how much it would help me with the volunteer work. And hallelujah the class was tiny! It's as good as having a personal trainer. Simon has the ability to see when l'm not getting something, and can re-explain it differently (or repeatedly) co me. Thar wouldn't happen in a large class. So I feel pretty lucky there, though it isn't without its challenges. Some days I feel lik Rurnplesriltsken in the 21st century: everythin g i o complicated. Trying to do the volunteer work with the sam tandards that I would apply co paid work paid off. I was encouraged co apply for a paid position with one of the community groups I had regular contact irh. This led to a part-rime job. Although I wa aware that my health wasn't 100% this would be a great opportunity to test how much l could handle. Sarah Yallop is the Coordinator of PES - Northern It turned out to be do-able with a little creati chinking or plannin g. And I really loved doing Sydney, a service for plwha who want to change omething different. It was good to have to use my direction - and that doesn't necessarily mean getting brain. I also enjoy travelling around, looking at the a job. Sarah spoke to Susan Hawkeswood. hops, and the guys in suits and ties. I find that hen J work l forget about my problems, at 1 temporarily. I decided to re-evaluate my goals, which I think anybody with hiv is probably very pracriced at. I would have to aim for something more realistic, say part-rime work. PES came back on board. I now PES has three services - assistance, like resumes and inter­ needed to update my resume. It had holes one Northern Sydney, South East view skills, are also available. could drive a truck through. I did think of saying Sydney and Western Sydney. Career counselling, involv that I had been overseas but it's been years since I The Bobby Goldsmith looking at 'people's values and have been. I just know with my luck I'll get caught interests and personality and how Foundation provides the out. Also, confessing everything should be kept for chat relates ro what type of work service covering southeast church. If I told too much in an interview, I suits them,' Sarah said. 'We basical­ wouldn't even hire me. So many worries. Sydney. Western Sydney's ly assist people to make decision Working with Sarah from PES has been really service is provided by ACON and a lot of that's about listening useful. We have solved most of my worries and West. Sarah Yallop, PES and ... assisting them in that explored some solutions char I never dreamt of. So Coordinator in Northern process of making decisions about I feel more confident to face interviews now. Sydney since the service's where they want to go.' PES aren't like an employment agency, you inception in 1997, describes Major issues PES deals with ar don't feel under pressure to quickly get any job the service's clients as 'people confidence and self esteem. Peopl (regardless of how inappropriate). 1 have had a with hiv who are looking for who have been out of the workfare miserable experience with that situation. Heard th usually want to find a job for a some sort of change in their one about the door-to-door salesman who had financial reason, or because thcy'r work direction.' bored. Although interested in social The change isn't necessaril interaction, many people ar paid work but it could be that. is an improvement. isolated and this motivates a return 'When we talk about work, we'r If l needed any reassurances that this was aU to work. talking about a broader perspectiv worth it, BGF and the Rarten Fund provided it. Apart from difficulties around of work, including volunteer work They enabled me to get some new clothes, which as confidence and self esteem, PES developing skills and interests,' said any queen knows is the best boost to the self- helps people who have been our of arah. 'We provide a one-to-on teem. Dress yourself to success! It's important to the routine of working and inter­ individualised service for people reward yourself when you have obtained a goal, acting with people they don't and we meet with that person over otherwise it aU becomes a bit of a grind. necessarily choose to interact with a number of weeks or a number of Well, I don't know which part of this muddled negotiate with the boss. Plwha months, whatever suits them.' formula was that essential element. But I must have returning to work after an absenc done something right, I got a job! Luckily I didn't PES staff assess clients during also face dealing with confidence get too many knockbacks. If anything it happened that period ro find out what sort about their health. Disclosure of ry quickly. Sometimes ya get lucky. So while other of change they're looking for, and hiv status in the workplace i people my age have a sea change and go down the to set short-term and longterrn another major issue for PES clients. coast, I as per usual walk to the beat of a different goals to work for. Sourcing 'They're taking medications. They drummer, and return to work, in a new industry, uitable training courses and need to do that during work rime. with a w0hole new set of challenges to conquer. providing practical jobseeking What does that mean? Do they hav

i"Ii.i:,. .. 20 to disclose to their employer? If they that has been a role that I've taken .... It Is agalnatthe law In NSW to discri mi­ need time off for appointments, if they it's very difficult for an employee to nate againstyou becaUN you have hlv or are ill, how do they negotiate that with negotiate with their employer so that's aids, In most types of empk)yment. their employer?' certainly something we can do but ... a This includes: The impact on finances is something lot of people don't disclose so that's why • when you apply for a job PES discusses before people return to we stayed away from that area.' • at any time during your employment the workforce. 'That's another thing we PES works out the sort of work • when you leave a job look at with people,' said Sarah. 'lf people are qualified for and makes refer­ If you can do the job safely and effectively, then you they're on a disability pension, weighing rals to training. must not be discriminated against. Employers ha up the financial benefits of returning 'We would look with people at what a legal duty to provide any special facilities or bur the things you're going to lose. ... they value in a work environment and rvices you need to help you do the job, as long as We work quite closely with the financial it won't them hardship'. hat things are really necessary for cause 'unjustifiable counsellors at BGF.' them to be happy as a person in a work I think a lot of people think it's It Is also against the law In NSW to environment.' going to be easier than it is .... when you discriminate against you If you get Into, 'Sometimes that's kind of lik actually break it down and look at or are stuctrtng In, any state educational dreaming but it's a good place to start what's required to get to some paid Institution, such as a university, college, TAFE, and then we look at the realities. Ha work, it's quite a long process.' or government school. you got the skills for that? Have you got arah tells people wanting to return the training? Have you got work experi- to paid work, 'It's not an easy process One uarnple nce? What's the job marker like in that and you have to be really committed A manager of a country club was dismissed after and motivated just to make that area? How realistic is it?' his employer discovered that he was gay and hiv change but that's what PES is about, 'We certainly assess what sort of positive. The manager was healthy and symptom­ exploring that.' training is required for that particular free, The manager complained to the NSW Anti­ 'If someone comes in saying, 'I really type of work. I usually recommend that Discrimination Board about the way he wa want to go back to paid work' and they people try and find someone who's created. After conciliation, which is confidential, h leave saying, 'look, I think it's not right working in that industry and talk to received a compensation payment equivalent to hi for me to do that at the moment' then them about how they got into it .... One annual salary for being dismissed. that's really a great outcome as well. of the issues there is the funding for We're not about pushing people back training.... People on DSP can do a If JOU think JOU .,. being discriminated into the workforce. We're about trying TAFE course for free once a year and aplMt, contact the Anti-Discrimination to assist people to find a greater quality there's also ... the Rattan Fund through Board of NSW of life by being more engaged in BGF, which can also assist people with community.' training costs.' 9rdrler ome clients go through the proces PES doesn't have any funds availabl (02) 9268 5555 ITY (02) 9268 5522 of making a decision to return to work to pay for training, or the costs associat­ tollfree 1800 670 8U (only within NSW) and finding a job, then realise char rh ed with finding work, for exampl 117, 201 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2!XXl extra commitment has n too much transport and cloth for them. That's where we link quite close! WolkN1go1ig Some longterrn clients of the servic with BGF in negotiating those sorts of (02) 4224 9960 ITY (02) 4229 4143 1800 670 SU (NSW) have returned to work when they are costs and we've always found them rolllree well and cut back their hours and do 4 Crown Street, Wollongong 2500 fantastic in providing that sort of orne training when their health fluctu­ assistance.' ates. 'They find they can cope with rnor Newcastle 'The three of us working at PES are or less, and that's quite a challenge too (02) 4926 4300 ITY (02) 4929 1489 tollfree 1800 all occupational therapists, so we're because the workplace is nor always 670 8U (only within ry focused on occupation rather than flexible enough to cope with that. ... It's Level 1,414 Hunter Street, Newcastle West 2302 just paid employment .... I think that's ry hard for people to predict how their what makes the service different.' health is going to be in six months time.' 'When I first set up the service that In Sarah's experience, people need to was a real issue for people who wer rake opportunities as they arise but also be realistic about what could change. approaching Centrelink. It wasn't s,dner PES usually doesn't negotiate with Centrelink then bur it was all about (02) 9268 5544 or people's workplaces. 'Most of the returning to paid work and for a lot of rollfree 1800 670 SU people who are returning to paid work ople that's not really realistic.' are deciding not to disclose to their It's not really want they want and Nev.castle employer, and so for us to go in a there's a process that needs to happen (02) 4926 4300 Positive Employment Support would before they're ready anyway to ger inro not be appropriate. ... but there hav paid work. That's what we're about: Wollongong been occasions where a couple of client increasing people's readiness and having (02) 4226 8190 I've had who have been open with their that focus on occupation rather than employer and in that case, yes I ha paid work.' ebsite: www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/adb ioner guide

Tim Alderman gives the economically challenged - that's broke - a list of must visit locations on the bargain circuit

Regular readers of Talkabout might use it, or chat roaster that doesn't have a some really colourful little balcony chairs remember my article 'Cheap Chic', decent toasting regulator on it and burns for $5 each. The same chairs from Th published in 2000. I got some very ry slice of toast unless you stand over it co jeer Srore in Easrgare at Bondi Juncrion good feedback on that article and pop the bread up at the right time. Kettles were $17, which made them great value. many people followed my advice on chat burn out after a small amount of u Despite dearer chairs than Maroubra, this acers that don't bear and knives that don't rore in the Junction has jusr been how to dress well without breaking cut are items we have all encounrered along revamped, and is a regular treasure rrove the bank. the way. So, for that special occasion, drop for the budget buyer, even for furniture. As a follow-up, this article tells you how HEAVY hints for electrical appliance ro make your home a showcase wirhouc saucepans, kitchen utensils, and kitchen Reject Store Bargains spending a small fortune. Every idea and knives. Qualiry items in these areas will • frypan/saucepan set (2 pieces) for $8 suggestion in this article isn'r necessarily nsure years of untroubled use, which male • dinner sets $15 something you can rush our and buy, or do, the outlay on them worth it. • 32-piece plastic container set $10 with your next pension cheque. Hopefully, However, our general surroundings can • ornamental vases and lamps $6-$8 you'll either ger some ideas, or inform you of be changed quire cheaply out of our own • tealighr holders $1 something you can save up for over several pockers. Perhaps the worse rhing we ha • collapsible ironing boards $34 cheques. I wrote the article on clothing done as far as some scores go is make rhe • quality kitchen accessories $2 because I believe that if you look like nobody word 'reject' fashionable. All of a sudden, • glasses $2 loves you, that is probably just how you feel: reject stores in places like Paddington put a jars (grear for floor That siruarion can be remedied, to some price tag on a $2 item, just to maintain the extent, with somerhing as cheap as a $5 T­ 'image' of the area. I'm sorry to say it, but 6 sb.i.rt. Looking good=feeling good, at least Paddington's ideas of reject are not mine. some of the rime. The same applies ro th However, cheap purchases are still to • crockery $1 piece environment we live in. had, and you don't have to look very far to meditation water fountains $26 Most people on pensions don't have get a good buy. I recently did a foray our co framed beachside collages (much rncer nough income to go our doing things seven the Grace Bros Clearance Centre ar than rhey sound) $10, and a matching days a week, so we spend quire a bit of rime Maroubra called, appropriately, Good Buys. beach shed CD holder $17 in our homes. If this is a dingy, depressing This is an entire mall of seconds clearance from 88 cent nvironrnent, then that is going to affect how rores, and weren'r there some great items co you feel and relate to others. A loc of us hav had! • queen-size sheer set little say about where we live, or the condi­ In Good Buys, towels were going for Furniture tion of the places we live in, but that doesn't under $12, there were tables of plasric • contemporary open-cube 150cm x 150cm mean we have co live in dirry, depressing wares for $5-$8, goblets and rumblers $2-$5 units $99 surroundings. This problem can be rectified ea, dinner sets for $15 (even little-old-lady • bedside tab! with minimum ouclay. florals, if that is your taste), coloured • a bookcase and cupboard unit 59 x 29 x I am not saying that cheap is good or contemporary vases $7-$12. Never under- 176cm $70 conomical in all circumstances. Som srirnate the impact of a strategically wooden bathmats S10 things in one's home require a reasonable placed vase on a table, sideboard or mantle. • 5 drawer chest $89 ouclay ro get efficiency and value. I am not Out in rhe mall, a store called Table Top • very smart cast-iron outdoor balcony backward at being forward when it comes to was full of little home designer pieces at lamp dropping hints to partners, friends and really cheap prices. What I noted from • various sized wooden shelves $7-$13 family for items chat I cannot afford co there were dinnerware separates from Sl a • a 90 x 180 cm bamboo blind for $12 purchase mysel£, and these are birthday, piece. This means you could pur together a anniversary and Christmas gifts that are very dinner set for four people over a few Other suggestions for budget buys are to much appreciated. It is useless buying a $2 cheques wirhour breaking the bank, or visit places like Birkenhead Point, which can opener if ir falls aparr the rhird time you ouclay abour $20 in roral. They also had has homewares scores selling items very

!•·- 22 A lot of us have little say about where we live, or the condition of the places we live in, but that doesn't mean we have to live in dirty, depressing surroundings.

cheaply, Ikea has sales a couple of rimes a Do shout yourself a day at Ikea. It's a year, and the items are often dirt cheap. I great place for cruising and buying. challenge anyone to walk into Ikea with $20 for the shabby chic brigade, we always and nor come our with 2-3 items, plus some have St Vincent de Paul, and a whole world of change. Their homewares are nor only condhand furniture stalls. We also ha cheap, but reasonable quality, and they friends and relatives who have garages full of often have very unusual decorator items for half-empty paint tins, so use this readily well under $10. Unfortunately, their available resource. Your grandmother i competitors, Freedom, who used to be always good for plants, and you can buy budger oriented, are now very expensive, cheap pots to house them from The Reject ven for basic items. Shop for about $5 (glazed ceramic). Don't If you need curtains, for God's sake buy No-Name potting mix from anywhere. lt ignore all the people who tell you that is really low quality and your plants will hat, calico looks great. It doesn't! However, you for ir. small areas of muslin trimmed with braid So, the end result is that you don't need to can look great. Buy some cheap coloured pend a fortune to jazz up your home and cotton fabric and use your imagination. balcony. I am the first to say that $2 shops ac I recently did a Drape ir over rods, or combine several full of crap and tack but they also have the colours together for effect. Places lik occasional great find. They tend to just foray out to the Priceline and Home Yardage always have throw everything together, so nice pieces are ales on fabrics, bed linen, cushions, rugs often lost among the junk. lf you want to s Grace Bras and home accessories. Indian sari fabric can a piece, take it off the shelf and look at it a Clearance often be bought cheaply from places lik an individual piece, get it away from all the Sporlighr, and is great for curtains, junk and evaluate it as an entity. You may b Centre at cushions, table runners and serviettes. Tak surprised at what you find. advantage of parents, family and friend And, above all else, use your imagination! Maroubra called, who sew. It takes very little rime to sew a set A budget doesn't automatically rob you of of curtains (unless you are anal) and ir is that asset. Always remember: shopping is appropriately, now fashionable to have them draping over therapy. Go for it! the floor. Good Buys. This bought very is an entire mall places, and also • Good Buy often have towel Anzac Parade, Maroubra of seconds and bathmats on special, as well as sheet sets. • The Reject Shop, K-Mart, Best and Les Ikea is great for light fittings (and Easrgate Shopping Centre, clearance stores, long-life globes). They currently have a Spring Street, Bondi Junction cosmic-looking range of rice paper • Hot Potato and weren't hades (and I'm not talking your basic Oxford Street Mall, Bondi Junction rice paper ball) from $7 to $25. The one • Spotlight there some great in the upper price range reach almost Ebley Street, Bondi Junction from ceiling to floor. Ikea often has cheap • Victoria's Basement items to be hadI mosquito nets, clocks, picture frames, Basement, QVB Building, City shower curtains, tab curtains, rag and • Home Yardag, Wilton rugs (I bought a very trendy 120 x York Street, City (near Marker Street) 170cm Wilton rug from there recently for • lk, 35), bedside lamps (as little as $15 ea). Moore Park Supa-Cenra, Moore Park

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For one plwha, the move from private to public rental housing wasn't the answer

I am an hiv+ private tenant, currently 14 years, and rhen the owner of the unit I chair height. A clinical plastic invalid seat claiming Special Assistance Subsidy lived in decided to sell her investment. To folded down in the shower recess. A Special (SASS) from the Deparbnent cut a long story short, in that time of tandard-issue metal handrail was attached of Housing (DOH} and wish to remain change I voluntarily opted to try living in to the bathroom wall, presumably ready anonymous to protect my identity a DOH property - a so called 'stab! for when I became incapable of standing housing' option for my uncertain future unaided. Standard-issue bars across eh and prevent reprisals. as an hiv+ pensioner. This made perfect loungeroom windows served, presumabl Where and how we live remains a deeply nse in theory. to prevent me from falling out of it. Added personal issue. Public housing does nor suit It was explained co me that there would to all of this, the flat overlooked a main, everyone, and many of the 'unsuitable' considerable wait, even on the prioriry inner-ci ry street, rhe traffic noise being aspects of DOH properties do not become list - I had 'locational needs' and DOH unbearable day and night. The densiry of apparent until one is already living in such properties in my nominated area seldom the street pollution aggravated allergies I a place. Hiv+ pensioners have varied and become available. Several months passed had almost forgotten I had at intermittent constantly changing needs and are there­ and then I received a call from a DOH times of particularly fragile health. A toxic fore not always able to adapt and faU into letting officer who informed me that a layer of grime settled around the flat line with the standardisation aspects of suitable place had become available. The whenever a window was opened for mo most public housing. To pressure hiv+ officer strongly urged me to view it, insist­ than a few minutes. It was mid-summer private (SASS) tenants, who have built and ing that this was one of their better places, and 1 was prevented from opening a maintained a basic sense of self-respect, and reminded me that 'the first place you window. into public housing - where they may b are offered is usually the most suirabl I also became aware that I was suffering miserable - using the argument that public there is and if you rum ir down you only by not having regular baths, as my periph­ housing is more stable is an inhumane, gee one more offer!' I would have co occupy ral neuroparhy comes and goes and hot pennypinching, bureaucratic trap. the premises by the end of chat week if I baths had proven to be one of the best Public housing for some is ·a degrading accepted, and they needed a more or I remedies for it. Only when I came to Ii depressing, demoralising experience. on-the-spot decision. I hurriedly collected ithour a bath did I realise just ho Having to cut ties with the private rental the keys and went to see the Bae. It seemed integral having one was becoming co my market is, symbolically, the last straw in th to be in a reasonable condition and was in basic wellbeing as symptoms slowly losing of one's sense of independence and walking distance of my community and worsened. As I already pointed out, minor dignity. le is common knowledge that many healthcare facilities. The only obvious details such as these cannot always b attempts co escape this trap co get back drawback, at that rime, was that there wa clearly foreseen and may inco private rental later will inevitably no bath, only a shower. That on its own own, weak arguments against living result in prejudice and rejection from most seemed like a weak argument for refusing omewhere. However, minor derails add up real estate agents when they know someon rhe offer, even though I had been experi- and our needs are ever changing, just as our has been in public housing. Such a lif, ncing intermittent bouts of peripheral health often is. change is therefore a potential cause of neuropathy. In haste, I accepted and moved One deep and lasting emotional grief, adversely my whole life in just several chaotic days. more affecting the person's sense of identity. After recovering from rhis unexpectedly Recently, I had a disheartening, transitory sudden house move, I began to feel prema­ taste of public housing and dread the turely institutionalised. Small detail a gruelling and complicated thought of going back into it now that barely noticeable at my initial viewing of process - a process which someone who i DOH have scopped SASS being a longterrn the premises now became clear. An unweU would most likely avoid as being the housing option for hiv+ pensioners. emergency alarm-isolating button featured worse of two evils. So rhen you find I had been comfortable in private rental, halfway up my bedroom wall, just the right yourself stuck there, miserable and with SASS to pay most of my rent, for height for someone in a wheelchair (an unheard. It is a far simpler process to rnov everal years. I had a good, stable tenancy automatic assumption by someone rhat I to more suitable privately rented accorno­ record, having never lapsed in my rent, and would become wheelchair bound). Same dation as one's health needs change over changed address only twice by choice in story with all the power points - wheel- periods of time. Public housing does not suit everyone, and many of the 'unsuitable' aspects of DOH properties do not become apparent until one is already living in such a place.

Still, at least I was amongst people lik So I contacted an officer at DOH to English speaking or just downright hosril myself there, right? Wrong! Some may discuss the situation. Our conversation (the word homophobia sprang to mind lucky to find one or two fellow hiv+ people as brief - I was one reference number frequently). The longrerm effects of public bur we are still only a small minority in rh among thousands on a government housing had clearly had a dehumanising public housing system. Hiv status aside, computer database - and disappointingly ffect on many longer term tenants hoping for good neighbours in some public inconclusive. The general attitude from impacting on their self-esteem and social housing blocks is often unrealistic. Many that staff member was one of 'we are very outlooks. This was distressing for a public housing tenants have very limited busy' and 'think yourself lucky to have a newcomer' to witness firsrhand. life experience outside of the government home at all'. There are all kinds of other After several months in that situation I welfare system and can be worlds apart accumulative bureaucratic restriction was clinically depressed. I was also sleep­ from many hiv+ people, especially from that come into effect too, such as not less because of the traffic noise. I had to those of us who have led productiv being allowed spare front door swip discuss all of this with a psychologist and mainstream lives and understand basic cards in case you get locked out and not also had to be prescribed antidepressants self-respect and common courtesy. Many being allowed one for a carer who do and sleeping pills. of these public housing tenants ha not live with you in case you are too erious social problems and can be unwell to let them in. It became imperative ro restore my basic extremely difficult to live amongst. Disempowerment is one word to sense of grace and human dignity by I starred finding evidence of other describe how it can feel living in the moving our of public housing and back 'presences' in the corridors and other shadows of such a bureaucracy as DOH. into the private sector on SASS. I wa common areas. It is alarming to feel chat so much unusually fortunate to find a real estate Human waste (solid and fluid), empty business concerning such a personal agent interested in me now that I had cans and bottles, cigarette ends, pizza aspect of one's life as one's home can be aquired a public housing history. However, boxes, used toiler paper and other garbag so influenced by some public servant who people like myself will no longer have thi med to multiply each day. After about a doesn't know you and who mightn't seem choice when DOH changes its policy and month there I found a cleaner in the to want to, either. Especially when you makes SASS only a temporary measure and hallway and I asked him how often he cam stop to consider the power of discretion public housing the only longrerrn choic in to clean. Unfortunately he spoke no ome public servants can exercise either available to hiv+ pensioners. English. I did spot him again briefly, about in or against your favour in variou I am appalled that these DOH policy ix weeks later. He was also blind to much instances. You may or may not be allocat- changes, which make SASS only a tempo­ of the mess I had to wade through each day d with a particularly helpful staff rary measure, are being allowed to go whilst coming in and out of the building member. Yes, there are measures to take if through. I am shocked at hiv community and he left much of it uncleaned - as if h you have problematic neighbours or organisations for not actively preventing knew from experience that nobody would aren't satisfied with your treatment. You these changes, which allow the very peopl ever notice or complain. My best friend can even apply to be relocated. But if you they are employed to represent to risk came over one day with rubber gloves and were already in bed unwell or busy with being degraded, demoralised and institu­ detergents, and between the two of us we medical appointments, would you really tionalised in this way. scrubbed, mopped and cleaned the lift, have the time, energy and inclination to l fully expect poverty rates to worsen as garbage room, entrance foyer and face all of that red tape anyway? firestairs. The very next day the same As for getting to know one's neigh­ hiv+ private tenants struggle to resist problem had returned - urine, saliva, fast bours, aparr from the fact that many compulsory public housing, and depres- food containers, cigarette ends, cans and rued incapable of stringing a senrenc ion and suicide rates within the hiv bottles. It was disheartening, degrading together, there was a heavy atmosphere of community to rise as a direct result of these and seemed almost malicious after all th 'don't look at me, don't speak to me', as if deplorable reductions in lifestyle choice. 1, £fore we had made. Nobody in the block getting to know fellow tenants represented for one, will be seeking the further support appeared to do anything about this. Peopl major complicarions best avoided. Most of a psychologist at Albion St Centre in had apparently given up caring and become people I encountered were either drunk or order to try to come to terms with this accustomed to living in these conditions. drug wasted, mentally disabled, non- horrendous new•.

~ / • · I "-.. "I - - " .,. -: • • .,..,_.,. • .. ·• : •· -. ' ·- ·c. ··.,,.,' • ···" ,.'· ·_ Talkabout . .: .. :_ ·-- .. · ...... - Des Kilkeary Lodge re-opened - officially - in May. Coordinator Rhonda Bancroft and NorthAIDS Manager Adrian Eisler spoke to Susan Hawkeswood at the opening.

People can Funded by Northern Sydney Area fellow staying here at the moment. He's Health Service, DKL is part of looking for a one-bedroom unit. In Dee come and NorthAIDS. A Wellness Project at Why, he can spend $220 a week, in Manly bring a partner Crows Nest is the other ann of the he can spend $300. I think that's pretty service NorthAIDS provides, as well fair,' said Rhonda, who provides a housing or a carer, or as a new community outreach project support role while guests are trying to find. omewhere to live. 'But all that takes rime: based at Dee Why. Closed by fire two mother and to find the unit, put your application form years ago, DKL provides short-term in, that one falls through, ok onto the next child, anything respite care on Sydney's northern one. And it's just keeping them optimistic.' beaches. Coordinator Rhonda 'We help out with the moving. We help like that. Bancroft, who began working at DKL out with trying to find the furniture with as a volunteer six years ago, Mark ar BGF and rake rhem to Out of eh describes the refurbishment that took Closet ... We collect stuff here as well .... place after the fire as 'major', includ­ We collect jugs and linen ... and then once ing a fire escape. they're out in the community, we make Four bedrooms, each with king or queen phone calls ... make sure they're doing ok, ize beds, provide accommodation: 'Peopl help them with shopping, pick them up and can come and bring a parmer or a carer, or take them over to Crows Nest for lunch, mother and child, anything like that,' said things like that. lt's an ongoing support for Rhonda Bancroft. Most guests are from eh them because once they've moved over this inner city but DKL has provided care to ide and they're in this area, they're really funding to do what we need to do, wherea people from interstate, Wollongong and on their own. They're away from the inner the pressure is on us to decrease our ven had one guest from overseas. city, maybe they're trying to get away from funding and I find that intensely frustrating Although the maximum stay is officially that. But they're really starting, not just because we're aware every day rbat eh living in a new unit, they're starting a four weeks, 'we're finding lately that w needs are going unmet.' whole new life and we find they do need have a lot of people with housing issues, The two people housed at DKL since that encouragement and the volunteers and if they can show that they're looking ovember who have had housing issues here will help out with that as well.' for places and they've got people helping also had, said Rhonda, 'mental health aid NorthAIDS Manager Adrian them to look, we don't just say, 'well, you issues, drugs issues, and one had domestic have to leave'. As long as they're making an Eisler, 'As rrearments become effective and violence issues. So it's nor jusr the housing.' effort and they're doing the best that they people can live longer ... that kind of situa­ It is this combination of issues char make it can, we will, at times, extend their stay.' tion's going to develop too.... The frustra­ difficult for people ro stay motivated Guests ar DKL with housing problems tion that I feel at times is in the funding according to Rhonda. 'They've got all these tay an average of eight weeks. 'Sometimes environment where, in spite of all rhe great other things going on, and some days it's longer, depending on where they want to ... techniques and treatments ... the needs like, 'I just want co stay in bed and do live,' said Rhonda. 'We're very lucky. of all positive people have not gone away nothing' but they know that they've gor to Department of Housing down here at Dee and are likely nor to go away in the near keep going,' she said. Why is very good.' future, and yet somehow our political Adrian believes that 'the strictly hiv Most people looking for housing ar masters, in some ways, feel that the component' of some plwha's needs is 1 approved for SASS and look for accommo­ problem's sorted and they move on to other of a problem than other aspects. 'Having a dation on the northern beaches. 'There's a things. We're trying to battle for increased We're trying to battle for increased funding to do what we need to do, whereas the pressure is on us to decrease our funding.

There is multiplicity of factors ... makes it that cures we can work with. . .. It's not a much more challenging ro meet that question of making it easy for us, or currently no person's needs.... In metropolitan Sydney, having a quiet life. It's very much the there really are only two similar kinds of needs of the clients. We have had a waiting list for agencies ... ourselves and Stanford House,' respite care he said. who've wanted to make changes in their There is currently no waiting list for behaviour, whether it be drug or alcohol but that can respite care but that can change very or another issue ... who have found the quickly. The criteria for accessing services stay in the house has been a turning point change very at DKL is very strict. Plwha cannot self­ for them.' refer to the service. A referral from a social DKL's coordinator is fulltime. An assis­ quickly. worker or case manager is necessary. Tb tant coordinator works five hours a day, physical limitations of the house need to be five days a week. The rest of DKL's staffing taken into account, according to Adrian needs are met by volunteers but even with Eisler, when assessing whether DKL is th · that support, the service is unable ro best place to meet people's needs. provide 24-hour supervision. Volunteer 'Rhonda's job is ro make those kind of work until about 9 or 10 pm but not every assessments and see whether in fact tho night of the week. DKL is currently recruit­ needs fit with what our ability is todeliver,' ing for a care and support worker to fill th he said. nights volunteers can't cover. The 'mix of people' is, according ro Alchough DKL cannot provide servic Rhonda, something the service needs to be for plwha who need 24-hour supervision, careful about. 'I might put someone off for 'there might be provision', said Adrian, 'to two weeks if I think they might be a bring in a package of care that's specifical­ problem with a guest that's already here.' ly designed for a certain client.' We really had to 'I wouldn't take any more than, say, two 'We work together in partnership. It's housing issues. There are a lot of client not a question of us doing it aU on our sort of battle who come back year after year and if I own. It wouldn't be the right thing or in the know that they have, say, a drug problem best interest of the client, he said. through each day but I've already got someone else that has a Rhonda said, 'We did have ... a young drug problem or is trying to get off drugs, girl who did become very sick very quickly. because there I wouldn't put the two of those together,' She had her carer with her but we also had was nowhere for she said. to get home nursing in during the day, a Adrian said, ' ... as the epidemic physiotherapist, to look after her and until her to go. There changes, as treatments change ... some we could get her into hospital, we really people do have ... a complex set of needs had to sort of battle through each day was no beds. She and some of those behaviours can be quite because there was nowhere for her to go. challenging. We are a four-bedroom There was no beds. She had no home.... It had no home. house. We aren't funded to provide 24- did get to the point, after much discussion hour staffing, so necessarily that limits with her and hospitals, that I had to say, 'I our ability to cater for some people's can't look after you anymore', and she died needs. But we do have other support struc- two days after she left.'

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The Bangkok-based Manager of Australian Red Cross HIV/AIDS Programs in the Asia Pacific Region Bernard Gardiner has been appointed to a key global role in Geneva. Susan Hawkeswood compiled this report.

Mr Gardiner, a former General drug users, including the controversial delegates to the 6th lnrernarional Congress Manager of the Victorian AIDS approach of providing clean needles to on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific in Council, has accepted the newly nsure safe injection practices. The WHO Melbourne were told. Thailand and created position of Manager - AIDS aid the aids epidemic in virtually all of Asia Cambodia have seen the numbers of hiv Global Program with the 178 member is concentrated on sex workers and injecting infected people drop, mainly because of the drug users, making the region 'comparative­ International Federation of Red Cross wider use of condoms. Bur the biggest ly unique'. concern there, as in other Asian countries, is and Red Crescent Societies The WHO report said that in the n the spread of the disease via men who have (Federation). Reporting to Dr Alvaro few years aids wiU weigh even heavier on sex with sex workers and then pass on the Bermejo, the Federation's Health Asian countries, with more people stricken infection to their female partners. Department Head, Mr Gardiner's and dying of the disease. In areas most 'It's estimated that U-13% of all males in main task will be to organise the affected - Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand Cambodia have sex with more than one type scaling up of the Federation's hiv/aids and a few states in India - the death rates of of sex partner', said Dr Hor Bun Leng, of work in llne with the commitments adults will rise 40%, the WHO warned. the Cambodian National Center for hiv/aids. made at the United Nations General India alone could see a third of a million ln Asia, about 6.4 million people are living deaths due to aids in 2005, rhe WHO Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) with the disease, second only to the sub­ on hiv/aids last year. Saharan Africa region. Among sex worker Mr Gardiner said, 'It really is an honour 31 % of sex workers are hiv positive, to be offered this key role. We are at a critical 'In areas most affected - compared with 16% of occasional sex period in the global response to hiv/aids, with workers such as women who work in bars, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand our biggest immediate battle to o~rcome th karaoke clubs and massage parlors. ln 1998 the hiv infection rate among sex workers tigma associated with the virus. and a few states in India - the 'What we must do is to correct rh aked at 42.6%. misconceptions, provide the facts and in death rates of adults will rise Cambodia has the highest national rate of doing so ensure that knowledge is spreading hiv/aids infection in Asia, but the number of faster than the disease - only then can 40%, the WHO warned. ' new infections each year has dropped as hope to beat it,' he said. prevention strategies take effect. Infection Mr Nathan Rabe, International levels in Cambodia now are about 2.7%, or about ] 70,000 adults. Fifteen percent of Operations Manager for Australian Red forecast. For most moderately affected Asian married men and 21 % of unmarried men Cross, says Bernard's appointment is recog­ ountries, annual deaths among adults will went to sex workers in 2000, compared with nition for the key role he has played in direct­ increase by 5% in the coming decade due to a total of 11 % in Japan and 10% in ing the response of the organisation in rh aids, the report said. Thailand, surveys have found. So far, the Asia Pacific region, and the role he played Despite rhe aids threat, the WHO said pread of aids across Asia has been relatively last year in developing the Federation' few countries were equipped to deal with th contained to high-risk groups including sex partnership with the Global Network of problem with only Hong Kong, Japan, South workers, intravenous drug users and People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+). Korea and Singapore having 'adequate 'Bernard wiU be an ourccs to provide for both prevention and homosexual men. Australia and a powerful advocat care'. The report said 'most countries are ½IDS Battle Must Not Be Ignored, Say partnership with People Living With targeting efforts at the general public' but Experts', CNN.corn 06/10/01. [CDC News] HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and the fight against warned that 'the only responsible public CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News hiv/aids globally,' said Mr Rabe. health action to take' is to focus attention on Update ()<)/10/01. 'Adult Death Rates in Asia lo a report released in Manila last the groups who are most at risk. to Climb 4{) Percent Due to AIDS: WHO' the World Health Organization (WHO) Condoms appear to be reducing th Agence France Presse (24/08101). [CDC called on Asian countries ro 'aggressively number of new aids cases, but no govern­ News] CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News implement' hiv prevention programs for ment can afford to ignore the epidemic, Update 29108/01 -28 OP T IO N S

THINKING ABOUT RETURNING TO THE WORKFORCE? employment Positive+Decisions Program is an initiative of • PLWH/A (NSW) to assist HIV positive people services make this decision. Thinking about returning to work or study? The Facts: Need help? What are your options? • Vacancies at PLWH/A, • Remuneration for Options Employment Service is the only employment service in BGF, Sydney 2002 Gay training costs Australia specialising in providing Intensive Assistance to people Games and Options • Job hunting and living with or affected by HIV and/or Hepatitis, as well as deaf and Employment Services interview skills hearing Impaired people, who are wanting to return to the workforce. • A three month program • Linking you to the Our services include: • Three days a week appropriate services • assistance with resume writing and Interview techniques • Two days a week on the • Upgrading skills in • career counselling • Job search techniques • Work Preparation Training Programme job experience and one administrative work • assistance to access suitable training and work experience day formal training or other areas • job-matching and placement service • access to phone, fax, photocopier and computers \"•.E•.~ • post-placement support

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One of the longtenn side effects of called Vexinsouth. New-Fill comes in a box Medicare should cover New-Fill. However, some hiv medication is facial fat of two vials which, according ro finding the necessary funding for the trial i Vexinsouth, is generally enough for one loss, one of a group of symptoms a major challenge. known as lipodystrophy. Facial fat treatment. The cost of rhis box to rh loss is particularly distressing surgeon is $530 {plus GST). Dr Archer hopes ro start visiting Sydney regularly in because It causes sunken cheeks Questions to ask your June 2002 to see patients who want New­ and other changes in appearance. surgeon about New-FIii Fill and says char because of his travel cost New-Fill, a new treatment for the he will have to charge about $750 per treat­ • How is rhe procedure done and how cosmetic correction of this condi­ ment. Other surgeons charge considerably painful is ir? tion, first attracted attention at an more. • Is it beneficial for far loss from the international conference on lipodys­ Medicare cover is only available for temples as well as cheeks? trophy in 2000. plastic surgery chat has a functional as well New-Fill has previously been used in as cosmetic aspect, such as reconstructi • Has the surgeon n trained in adrninis- cosmetic surgery to treat fine lines, wrinkl urgery following breast cancer. tering New-Fill? and furrows. When injected into the wasted Plastic surgeons can claim a rebate from Can you talk to the surgeon's patients regions of the cheeks it works by plumping Medicare when they see patients interested who have had New-Fill? our the tissues. It may also stimulate rh in New-Fill who have been referred to them • How many treatments will you need to growth of collagen to promote the develop­ by a GP. However, surgeons get no achieve a benefit? ment of a thicker layer of skin. New-Fill Medicare rebate for the administration of does nor provoke an immune response by w-Fill, meaning they can either waive • What will the total cost, including the body, instead it is broken down and the cost or add ir to the fee they charge th costs of consultations? absorbed. There is no risk of post-operative patient. Medicare does offer a rebate for • What are rhe chances of scarring or other sagging or moving because there is no restoration of facial contour following complications? implant to sag or move. Recent· data on disease or trauma but this specifically ew-Fill appears to confirm it is both safe xcludes injection of liquid or semi-solid and cosmetically effective in people with material. Dr Warwick Nettle, a Sydney Contact details hiv-associated facial far loss. So why is it so plastic surgeon who has been using New­ hard to access? Fill chinks it is very unfair chat people with Surgeons New-Fill was only recently licensed for hiv arc in effect denied treatment with • Dr Brett Archer (Melbourne) marketing in Australia. Before that, w-Fill, He said, 'The current arrange­ ph 03 9686 9344 everal Australian plastic surgeons were ments place us (plastic surgeons) in a diffi­ mail [email protected] importing it from France for use on their cult siruarion. Because there is no Medicare patients. Dr Brett Archer, a Melbourne­ item number to protect ourselves, we must Distributor based surgeon, is one of the few include a GST in rhe treatment costs for Australian surgeons who has travelled to ew-Fill.' Dr Gwynne Morgan, a plastic • Vex.insouth (Adelaide) France to undergo rhe specialised training urgcon in Adelaide, has been lobbying ph 08 8267 6266 necessary to administer New-Fill. In rh Medicare ro cover the cost of liposuction previous nine months, he has used New­ for far accumulation ar rhe back of the Fill on a number of Australian hiv positiv neck (another symptom of lipodysrrophy) Newfllte: Mechanl■m of action people. One treatment with New-Fill and for the use of New-Fill. He chinks char involves the injection of 3 mls into each ew-Fill treatment _,11 _... check. Dr Archer says that most people private health insurers would be mor --- need three treatments and severe cases can - likely to offer coverage for it. need up to six. ACON is now working with NAPWA to The Therapeutic Goods Administration advocate for a national multicenrred clinical has licensed New-Fill for marketing in trial for New-Fill. lr is hoped that the results Australia by a South Australian distributor of the trial will strengthen the argument that Above left: Venerable Dr Mertanando Bhikkhu, of Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu (aids hospice) visiting Ayurrhays, in Thailand, with Ray Hansen, PLWH/A (NSW) member. Above right: Dr Yves Wanna is the only doctor at the hospice. He h been working unpaid for two years, despite no hiv-specific training.

Left: Dr Steven Oppenheim MD, Director of San Diego AIDS Hospice, tands next to an hiv/aids memorial at Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu - an aid hospice - in Lop Buri, Thailand.

Below: The temple at Ayurrhaya Ray visited.

Cover. AIDS Patient Boned Hill - a museum - at War Phra Bat Nam Phu houses the bones and ashes of people who have died of aids, not wanted or returned by relative, because of superstition and naivety about how ids is transmitted.

Pies: Ray Hansen