Wellbeing Times July 2011

A monthly newsletter from the HIV Wellness Program

JULY 2011

Welcome to the July edition of the Wellbeing Times (WBT). Amazing to think we are more than half-way through 2011 already - the year is sure flying by!

During June the Positive Services and Health Promotion team based at the PLC and Luncheon Club together with our volunteers successfully moved to 414 Elizabeth Street - our new home. Thank you for your support and understanding during the move, it has been a very smooth transition.

We are incredibly proud of our new facilities, and the wonderful resources at our, and your, disposal. You are encouraged to come along and see for yourself the many services on offer from within the HIV Wellness Program. On pages 6 -7 you’ll find a calendar of services available. So if you haven’t yet paid us a visit, we’d love to see you.

A reminder that our range of Complementary Therapies is back on stream. Simply contact us to make a booking.

Also, during July we’ll be running another Genesis Workshop, so if you know of anyone who’s been recently diagnosed and would benefit from this supportive, peer-facilitated program then please have them contact the Men’s Health Promotion team to arrange for an intake.

Till next time, take good care of each other Andrew Buchanan Manager, Positive Services and HIV Health Promotion

NEWS IN BRIEF:

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

WORKSHOPS:

NEWS FLASH! Funding approved for the treatment of HIV related Facial Lipoatrophy.

Big BINGAY - Winter Wonderland Join your host Tora Hyman and her side-kick Naomi Palmer for a special edition of Bingay, where a Winter Wonderland brings along new and exciting forms of fun!

Genesis Intakes are currently underway for the next Genesis Workshop to be held from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 July 2011.

We have moved!

The Positive Living Centre and Luncheon Club and the staff and volunteers of the Positive Services and Health Promotion Unit have relocated to 414 Elizabath St, Surry Hills.

Winter Warmer Recipe.

What could be better than a bowl of soup and crusty bread to keep the Winter chills at bay? This recipe for Vegetable and Bean Soup will sustain you through the cold weather.

HIV Wellness Program - Email: hwp@acon.org.au

Social Gathering at 414 Elizabeth Street Join us for a meal on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday at our new location.

Nexus Nexus is a monthly discussion group designed to offer newly diagnosed HIV+ gay men a chance to talk about a wide range of issues with their peers.

Women’s Wellness, Education and Support Day The next support day will be held on Saturday 13 August 2011

NEWS ONLINE:

Did you know you can read the Wellbeing Times on-line. Just go to http://www.acon.org.au/hiv/plc/ newsletter

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Co Elizabeth Street

Liverpool Street

Oxfo rd

Stree t

WE HAVE MOVED! Goulburn Street

Funding approved for the treatment of HIV related Facial Lipoatrophy As part of the May Budget, the Government announced the approval for funding the medical procedure to inject Sculptra. People needing treatment will be able to start claiming money back from Medicare for the procedure from 1 July 2011.

Eddy Ave

For more detailed information on Facial Lipoatrophy, please visit the ACON website at: www.acon.org.au/hiv/news/scupltra-2011

CENTRAL STATION

Bourke Street

Devonshire Street Crown Street

Elizabeth Street

Chalmers Street

Foveaux Street

Cleveland Street

The Positive Living Centre and Luncheon Club and the staff and volunteers of the Positive Services and Health Promotion Unit have relocated to:

414 Elizabeth St

Surry Hills

2010

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News save a forest Did you know you can read the Wellbeing Times on-line.

Just go to www.acon.org.au/hiv/plc/newsletter

LIFE COACHING Life coaching is a practice with the aim being to assist an individual to determine and achieve their personal life goals.

Life coaches use a number of different approaches to help you set and achieve realistic goals.

Positions are available.

Contact:

S harny Chalmers at schalmers@acon.org.au to have a discussion and arrange an intake.

Recently diagnosed HIV positive?

GENESIS may help you See page 3 for more information

HIV Wellness Program - Email: hwp@acon.org.au

social activites Getting togehter at the wellbeing cafÉ What better way to get together with your friends than over a meal? This opportunity comes your way 4 times a week as follows: • • • •

Monday Luncheon Club Tuesday Breakfast Wednesday Luncheon Club Friday Social Lunch

You are welcome to attend between 10am and 2pm, with lunch being served at 12.30pm. Vegetarian diets are catered for.

It’s a great time to gather in a relaxed, informal setting and catch up with old friends or make some new ones. It’s also a great time to hear about the various health promotion and treatments programs and initiatives that ACON and its fellow service organisations are offering, and interface with the staff of the HIV Wellness Program.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE WELLBEING CAFÉ AT 414 ELIZABETH STREET Unfortunately, due to unforeseen delays in finalising construction work on the kitchen fit-out, the Wellbeing Café, including The Larder, is unavailable to host meal services as planned. We hope announce an opening date very soon – please keep an ear and eye out!

Until otherwise advised, meal services will be held on level 3 at 414 Elizabeth Street as per the designated times. As we are unable to cook food on this level, we have had to limit the variety slightly however they remain nutritious and satisfying meals. It’s still a great time to unwind and catch up with friends.

The Larder is also temporarily unavailable as well, and we apologise to clients for this delay. We hope to restore the Larder service as soon as possible.

MENS HEALTH PROMOTION UPDATE Nexus Are you newly diagnosed HIV+?

Do you need to talk?

Nexus is a monthly discussion group designed to offer newly diagnosed HIV+ gay men a chance to talk about a wide range of issues with their peers.

Nexus provides a confidential, supportive social environment that can help newly diagnosed men by giving them a chance to talk with people who are dealing with similar issues.

When: Monday 25 July 2011, from 7pm to 9pm Where: ACON, 414 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills Contact: HIV Men’s Health Promotion Team Call: (02) 9206 2101 or Email: hivliving@acon.org.au

GENESIS IN JULY Intakes are currently underway for the next Genesis Workshop to be held from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 July 2011.

Genesis aims to help newly diagnosed HIV positive gay men make sense of the range of issues confronting them.

Genesis is peer-facilitated and takes place in a totally safe, confidential and supportive environment.

Thank you for your ongoing understanding and support.

Many of you will know the benefit of the workshop and the difference it makes to people’s lives from either being a participant yourself or speaking with someone who has been through the workshop.

From 10am each Tuesday morning, a breakfast/brunch is held at which you can enjoy a smorgasbord of healthy brekkie delights including fruit juice, smoothies, porridge, cereals, yoghurts, fresh fruit salad, tea coffee, toast and muffins.

If you feel that you would benefit from attending the two and a half day workshop, or if you have a friend or colleague that your feel would benefit, now is the time to contact the Men’s Health Promotion Team to arrange an intake. Places fill fast for this popular workshop so contact us ASAP to register your interest.

Better still you can stand around the cookers and go DIY, cooking some eggs and tomatoes yourself whilst you catch up with the latest news or ‘goss’ with your peers.

HIV Wellness Program - Email: hwp@acon.org.au

Contact:

all the HIV Men’s Health Promotion Team C (ask for Steve) on (02) 92062101/02 or Email: hivliving@acon.org.au 3

THERAPIES REIKI Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive.

Remedial massage is a therapeutic deep tissue massage that can treat specific health issues, musculoskeletal problems and injuries. It provides a wonderful relaxation if you are stressed and soothes sore, tired muscles. Massage therapy is based on three principles. Firstly that the body is affected by its parts, secondly shortened muscle tissues do not work, and thirdly that soft tissues of the body respond to touch.

Life Coaching

Bowen Technique

The aim of life coaching is to help individuals to determine and achieve personal goals. Life coaches use multiple methods that will help you with the process of setting and reaching goals. The treatment usually runs for 10/12 weeks for one hour per week.

Bowen Technique is a gentle form of body work in which very subtle moves performed over the muscles and connective tissue send messages deep into the body, retrieving cellular memory of a preferred, relaxed, balanced way of wellbeing. Bowen can be useful for back pain, nerve pain, headache, digestive and bowel problems, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, knee, ankle, foot problems, sporting and accident injuries, respiratory problems and hay fever or.. just for relaxation!

Acupuncture

Vitamin service

Acupuncture literally means ‘needle piercing,” the practice of inserting very fine needles into the skin to stimulate specific anatomic points in the body (called acupoints or acupuncture points) for therapeutic purposes. Along with the usual method of puncturing the skin with the fine needles, the practitioners of acupuncture also use heat, pressure, friction, suction, or impulses of electromagnetic energy to stimulate the points. The acupoints (acupuncture points) are stimulated to balance the movement of energy (qi) in the body to restore health.

ACON stocks a great range of multi-vitamins and supplements that can be purchased directly at ACON. We stock everything from a general multivitamin range to digestive enzymes and food supplement powders. with our new naturopath on board it’s the perfect opportunity to discuss your vitamin needs with a qualified practitioner. We can advise you on what items will target specific symptoms you may be experiencing.

Lomi Lomi Massage

Eden Community Garden

Lomi Lomi means “to massage”, “to knead” or “to weave”. Weaving aloha, weaving light, and weaving spirit, weaving consciousness into the unconscious. The massage practice integrates physical and energetic healing techniques with flowing forearm movements, breath, presence, aloha and sacred space.

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Remedial/Swedish Massage

Eden Community Garden is a community garden located behind the Uniting Church in Raglan Street Waterloo. The garden is a place to become refreshed and feel at peace. All are welcome. If you would like to know more about the garden please contact Sharny Chalmers on 9699 8756.

HIV Wellness Program - Email: hwp@acon.org.au

Women and Families Warm greetings to you all as we hit the peak of winter! We hope that you are keeping warm, and in good health. We are now settled into our new premises.

Workshops Our next Women’s Wellness, Education and Support Day will be held on 13 August 2011. The day will once again be held in Erskineville following the success of the previous day we held there. The program is shaping up as a great one, full of information, shared stories and the warm support of other women, along with some guest speakers. Lunch will be provided and if you have children and would like to attend, please let us know so we can arrange to have childcare on site with some fun activities for them to do.

Contact:

T o find out more call or email Jodie (02) 92062104 or jnasjones@acon.org.au.

Winter Warmer Recipe What could be better than a bowl of soup and crusty bread to keep the Winter chills at bay? This Vegetable and Bean Soup is packed with healthy vegetables and beans to sustain you through the cold weather. Serve a large bowl as a main course, or a smaller portion as a starter.

Serves 4 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 40 minutes.

Ingredients: • 1 can white beans, drained • 50g unsalted butter • 1 large onion, finely chopped • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped • 1 large carrot, peeled and finely chopped • 1 celery stalk, finely chopped • 1 litre vegetable stock • 1 can chopped tomatoes, with juice • Pinch of dried thyme • 1 tsp sugar • 1 bay leaf, fresh or dried • Sea salt and pepper • 2 tbsp finely chopped flat leaf parsley (to serve) Preparation: 1. In a large saucepan or stock pot melt the butter on a moderate heat, add the onion and cook slowly until translucent, stirring constantly. Add the garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes taking care not to burn. Add the carrots and celery and cook for a further 5 minutes.

2. Add the stock, beans, tomatoes, thyme, sugar, bay leaf and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer. Cook gently for 30 minutes, or until the carrot and celery are tender (avoid over-stirring to prevent the beans breaking up).

Remove the bay leaf.

3. Place half the soup into a food processor and purée.

Stir the purée back into the pot and season to taste.

4. To serve, ladle into warmed soup bowls and garnish with the parsley.

HIV Wellness Program - Email: hwp@acon.org.au

HIV Wellness program REGULAR PROGRAMS Condom Packing Group Shane and David run a table dedicated to making “safe packs” that are distributed throughout Sydney.

Join the group to help us continue this important work.

Eden COMMUNITY GARDEN Keith and his band of volunteers meet every Thursday morning. Come and make some new friends, learn some gardening skills and hopefully get some sun (remember your Vitamin D levels).

Eden Garden is located in the grounds of the Uniting Church, 56A Raglan Street, Waterloo.

THE Larder The Larder is a free grocery service for HIV + people who are on Centrelink benefits (proof of status and a pension card are necessary for participation).

This service provides grocery items and fresh fruit and vegetables on a fortnightly or monthly basis.

The Larder is available at the Wellbeing Café each Monday and Wednesday.

IN-REACH SERVICES BGF A staff member from the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation is available weekly at the Monday Luncheon Club in the Wellbeing Café to answer any questions or issues around the services they offer their clients. This includes practical support, referrals as well as financial counseling and advice.

Please ask staff for the dates they are available, alternatively contact BGF direct.

HALC An HIV/AIDS Legal Centre (HALC) staff members attends the Tuesday Breakfast every 2nd Tuesday from 10am -12pm to answer your legal questions. This is conducted in a confidential space.

Please check the calendar to see which dates they are in attendance. Clients are seen at a first come first served basis so please see a volunteer to have your name put on the list.

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juLY 2011 – HIV Wellness Program Calendar Mon

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Tue

5 Monday Luncheon Club 10am - 2pm The Larder 10 - 2pm BGF 12noon - 2pm Alan’s Exercise Class 5.30pm - 6.30pm

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6 Tuesday Breakfast 10am - 12noon Bowen Ian 1pm - 5pm

12 Monday Luncheon Club 10am - 2pm The Larder 10 - 2pm BGF 12noon - 2pm Alan’s Exercise Class 5.30pm - 6.30pm

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13 Tuesday Breakfast 10am - 12noon Bowen Ian 1pm - 5pm

19 Monday Luncheon Club 10am - 2pm The Larder 10 - 2pm BGF 12noon - 2pm Alan’s Exercise Class 5.30pm - 6.30pm

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26 Monday Luncheon Club 10am - 2pm The Larder 10 - 2pm BGF 12noon - 2pm Alan’s Exercise Class 5.30pm - 6.30pm

Wed

20 Tuesday Breakfast 10am - 12noon HALC 10am – 12noon Bowen PLC Breakfast Ian 1pm - 5pm 10am – 12noon HALC 10am – 12noon Healthy Life Plus 6.30pm – 9pm

Tuesday Breakfast 10am - 12noon Bowen Ian 1pm - 5pm

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Wednesday Luncheon Club 10am – 3pm The Larder 10am - 2pm Margaret Tree of Hope, Client Support 12pm - 2pm Acupuncture Angie 1.40pm - 3.20pm Remedial Fiona 1pm - 4pm Yoga 6pm - 7pm Wednesday Luncheon Club 10am – 3pm The Larder 10am - 2pm Margaret Tree of Hope, Client Support 12pm - 2pm Acupuncture Angie 1.40pm - 3.20pm Remedial Fiona 1pm - 4pm Yoga 6pm - 7pm Wednesday Luncheon Club 10am – 3pm The Larder 10am - 2pm Margaret Tree of Hope, Client Support 12pm - 2pm Acupuncture Angie 1.40pm - 3.20pm Remedial Fiona 1pm - 4pm Yoga 6pm - 7pm

Wednesday Luncheon Club 10am – 3pm Haircuts Elizabeth from 11am The Larder 10am - 2pm Margaret Tree of Hope, Client Support 12pm - 2pm Acupuncture Angie 1.40pm - 3.20pm Remedial Fiona 1pm - 4pm Yoga 6pm - 7pm

Thu

1

Fri

Sat/Sun 2/3

Friday Social Lunch 12.30pm - 2pm

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8 Remedial Kane 10am - 3pm Lomi Lomi Marc 6pm - 7pm Eden Garden Behind the Uniting Church at 56 Raglan St Waterloo 9.30am

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9/10

Friday Social Lunch 12.30pm - 2pm

15 Remedial Kane 10am - 3pm Lomi Lomi Marc 6pm - 7pm Eden Garden Behind the Uniting Church at 56 Raglan St Waterloo 9.30am

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16/17 Friday Social Lunch 12.30pm - 2pm Genesis 6.30pm - 9pm

22 Remedial Kane 10am - 3pm Lomi Lomi Marc 6pm - 7pm Eden Garden Behind the Uniting Church at 56 Raglan St Waterloo 9.30am

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23/24

Friday Social Lunch 12.30pm - 2pm

29 Remedial Kane 10am - 3pm Lomi Lomi Marc 6pm - 7pm Eden Garden Behind the Uniting Church at 56 Raglan St Waterloo 9.30am

Genesis 9am - 5pm

30/31

Friday Social Lunch 12.30pm - 2pm

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WHEN: Friday 29 July WHERE: Paddo RSL 7.30 PM COST: $37.00 for all games (Payment required at time of booking)

CALL: David 02 9206 2110 or EMAIL: events2011@acon.org.au

All proceeds to