Wellbeing Times September 2011

A monthly newsletter from the HIV Wellness Program

SEPTEMBER 2011

I’ve given up trying to predict the weather, leave it to the weather forecasters to get it consistently wrong. At least that way I’ve got someone to blame. But I do know that spring is on the way . . . the tiny buds on my May bush are forming and soon it will be blooming.

Bloomin’ time I say too!

This month’s newsletter has a wide range of valuable information for you from studies that are underway for you consider participating in to some general information about services that you might not have realised are available to you. Check it out.

On the Health Promotion front, September is another busy month with the second Healthy Life Plus program of the year about to get underway, and the third Genesis weekend planned for the middle of the month. Please read inside for further details and if you or anyone you know would benefit from these health promotions, we’d love to hear from you.

Those of you who have been coming along to the Wellbeing Café at Elizabeth Street on Mondays, Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s or Friday’s will know that the HIV Wellness Program is up and running, going from strength to strength each week. And located inside the Café is The Larder – make sure you put your name down when you arrive if you’d like to access The Larder either on a Monday or Wednesday.

Our Volunteer Program is in full swing too, with plenty of opportunities for you to consider lending a hand across a range of areas. If you’d like to get involved, please talk to one of the volunteers on duty in the Café or contact Sharny at schalmers@acon.org.au or on 9206 2000.

We’re having a whacky, fun day on Friday 16 September. It’s ‘Talk Like a Pirate Day’ and we’ll be holding our very own ‘Talk Like a Pirate’ party in the Café. You’ll need to dress like a pirate, walk like a pirate, have a pirate name and most importantly – be able to talk like a pirate!

There’ll be prizes throughout the day. So come along and let’s have some crazy pirate fun, me hearties. Aaaargh!

Till then, take good care of each other.

Andrew Buchanan Manager, Positive Services and HIV Health Promotion

NEWS IN BRIEF:

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

WHAT’S NEW?

Home Electricity - Switch to a cheaper provider (Page 2) It’s easy to switch your home and residential electricity provider with Make It Cheaper.

Rockdale Musical Festival (Page 4) An invitation to clients of ACON, BGF and Positive Life NSW, including family and friends to our spectacular September production Avenue Q.

Food Distribution Network (Page 2) A not-for-profit community organisation delivering boxes of fresh, inexpensive fruit and veg to people in need in the City of Sydney.

The Sydney Gay Community Periodic Survey (Page 3) Gay men are being encouraged to help ACON build the health and wellbeing of our community by taking part in an important bi-annual survey.

Belvoir Theatre Production (Page 4) On Thursday 15th September from 1 pm, clients who hold pensioner or concession cards are invited to a play at Belvoir Street Theatre for free.

Women - Tell Your Story! (Page 3) We are putting the call out for anyone who would be interested in writing a story for Talkabout magazine, a bi-monthly publication of Positive Life NSW.

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

1

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

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

Food Distribution network

News Home Electricity Switch to a Cheaper Provider It’s easy to switch your home and residential electricity provider with Make It Cheaper.

The people at www.makeitcheaper.com.au can take you through the options, compare electricity prices, show you how a new deal will save you money on your electricity prices, and make sure you get set up with the right supplier.

Make It Cheaper compares prices for electricity and gas you can switch one or both, and they will find you the right deal even if you use only electricity.

Phone Make It Cheaper now to save on your home energy bills...

1300 957 721

When you call you will need to have the following information: • Postcode • Current electricity supplier • Bill size • Current electricity bill • What’s important to you Don’t worry if you don’t have all of this information, they can still help you. Once you’re on the phone, they search for a better and cheaper deal available in your region. Even if you are moving into a new property wanting an electricity connection, they can help you find a better and cheaper deal.

The Food Distribution Network (FDN) is a not-for-profit community organisation that delivers boxes of fresh and inexpensive fruit and vegetables to people in need in the City of Sydney. The service is for older people needing assistance, people with disabilities and their carers and people living with HIV. Their aim is to assist people to remain healthy and live independently at home with the delivery of affordable, nutritious food.

HOW CAN I ACCESS THE SERVICE? They buy bulk wholesale produce twice a week from the Sydney Markets at Flemington, and volunteers unpack the truck on returning to the Redfern Centre from the markets and individual boxes are then made up for home delivery to clients either weekly or fortnightly basis. Nutrition information and recipes are also provided.

You must be assessed as eligible before you can access the service.

Deliveries are made on set days covering the City of Sydney Local Government Area as shown in the map below. There is also a delivery run on Wednesdays for people living with HIV and residing in suburbs adjoining the City of Sydney HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? Each box of fresh produce costs just $7 plus a $2 delivery fee.

Please contact the office to arrange a phone assessment on Phone: (02) 9699 1614 Email: enquiries@fdn.org.au Visit: www.fdn.org.au

All calls to Lifeline FREE from all mobile phones Under a newly-announced Government initiative, from 1 July 2011 calls to mental health and crisis support service Lifeline will be free from all mobile phones, no matter which mobile provider you use.

Over the past year, we’ve already seen calls to Lifeline made free on Telstra’s landlines and mobiles, Vodafone mobiles and iiNet VOIP services.

The new all-mobiles-are-free option is due to a government deal to pay the costs for those calls.

For more information go to www.lifeline.org.au

HIV Wellness Program Client Support The Treatments and Client Support Officer is available to provide information around new developments in services and treatments.

2

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

LIFE COACHING - POSITIONS ARE AVAILABLE The positive connection empowers the person being coached to recognize and draw on his or her own innate ability and resources to make lasting changes for a better and fulfilling life. The relationship is undemanding, supportive, realistic, truthful, observant and continually offering to go into different dimensions.

People generally work with a Life Coach because they are ready to make some type of change in their life. They can see how their life will improve if they are truly well, but have not yet succeeded on their own.

Coaching provides the structure, accountability, expertise, inspiration and support to enable a person to learn, grow and develop beyond what he or she can do alone. Through the process of coaching, clients deepen their learning, improve their performance and enhance their quality of life.

“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending” Carl Bard Contact:

Sharny Chalmers at schalmers@acon.org.au or 9206 2000 to have a discussion and arrange an intake.

The Sydney Gay Community Periodic Survey

Gay men are being encouraged to help ACON build the health and wellbeing of our community by taking part in an important bi-annual survey.

The Sydney Gay Community Periodic Survey is designed to improve understanding of gay health issues by gathering data on sexual behaviour, sexual health, drug use and community engagement.

The Periodic Survey is conducted by the National Centre in HIV Social Research and the Kirby Institute in collaboration with ACON and Positive Life NSW twice a year. The survey will commence on Friday August 19 and will continue through to Sunday August 28 by our ‘recruiters’ who will visit key venues, like pubs, clubs, gyms and sex venues.

The information is gathered by our specially trained ‘recruiters’, is anonymous and is used to gather important information that helps organisations direct funding towards programs, campaigns and research to ensure the health of gay, bi and same sex attracted men.

So if you get approached by one of our recruiters, please consider taking part in the survey. It only takes 10 minutes, is totally confidential and some of the questions can be quite interesting!

The study forms a vital part of NSW’s HIV response, enabling ACON and other organisations to measure the level of risk behaviour in the community every six months.

For more information go to www.acon.org.au

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

Women and Families affected by hiv project During August we held the quarterly Women’s Wellness, Education and Support Day once again in Erskineville this time with the focus on ‘Relationships’. It was another fabulous day, with 15 women coming along. The day was co-organised by HHAS (Pozhet) and ACON, with the objective of providing Positive Women with information and health promotions that will make their lives easier and more fulfilling.

As per usual we had child care available, so for those of you thinking you’d like to come along but not sure what to do with the children, just bring them along and they’ll be well looked after. This location is very well set up for kids, lots of play equipment and plenty to keep them occupied under the supervision of our volunteers.

Women’s pozquest BGF in conjunction with NSW Health and Petrea King’s Quest for Life Foundation will be holding a Women’s PozQuest in the lovely surrounds of the Southern Highlands during November. These workshops are in high demand and fill up fast so if you are interested in attending a 5 day residential that could change the way you see yourself, and others, then think about making a reservation soon.

Supported by: BGF, NSW Health and Petrea King’s Quest for Life Foundation Dates: Nov 14 to 18 (including all meals and accommodation) Venue: Quest for Life Centre 13-33 Ellsmore Road, Bundanoon Cost: $120 (to be paid to BGF by 28 October) includes 1 hour massage and Petrea King’s book: Your Life Matters For an Expression of Interest Letter, Agreement Form and Payment Form, go to www.bgf.org.au Contact: Peter Thoms, PozQuest Coordinator Phone: (02) 9283 8666 or Freecall : 1800 651 011 Email: phoenix@bgf.org.au

TELL YOUR STORY We are putting the call out for anyone who would be interested in writing a story for Talkabout magazine, a bi-monthly publication of Positive Life NSW. The editor is looking for women who would be comfortable to share their story around living with HIV. Each edition focuses on a different topic, and the editor is very happy to assist in whatever way to help you get your story out there. No need to use real names as a pseudonym can be used to protect your identity. If you are interested and would like more information, please contact me.

Contact: Jodie Nas Jones Women and Families Affected

by HIV Project Officer Phone: (02) 9206 2104 Email: family@acon.org.au 3

If you would like to book ahead please go to our website, or you can pay on the night.

www.rockdalemusicalsociety.com We have all been working hard, and I can assure you that this is one show that you don’t want to miss!!

BELVOIR THEATRE PRODUCTION

social activites

On Thursday 15th September from 1 pm, clients who hold pensioner or concession cards are invited to a play at Belvoir Street Theatre for free.

Monday and Wednesday Luncheon Club & Friday Social Lunch

Our world is saturated with news. Torrents of information transport us from battlefields to crime scenes, from celebrity homes to our own backyards. But how does this unending flow of information shape us? Lucy Guerin is one of Australia’s great choreographers. Like her contemporaries Kate Champion and Gideon Obarzanek, her work has often blurred the line between theatre and dance. This is not a play, but it is theatre.

The Monday and Wednesday Luncheon Club service, and Friday Social Lunch are run from 10.30 until 2pm, and are open to all people with HIV and their carers. A free lunch is served from 12.30 to 1.30pm offering a wide variety of nutritionally balanced food. The service also provides free health promotion workshops and referrals to other services as well as plenty of volunteering opportunities.

This is also a good time to learn about health promotion and treatments developments or events that may be of benefit to you. All clients of the HIV Wellness Program are encouraged to come and share a meal and each other’s company.

Through an explosive combination of imagery, gesture and sound, Human Interest Story explores the way we consume the news. With stunning inventiveness, Lucy Guerin confronts the impact of global catastrophe delivered daily to our homes. Guerin takes the media’s distortions of time and space and turns them into a visceral critique of the way we understand our world.

Every Tuesday morning, from 10am to 12pm, a breakfast/ brunch is served in the Wellbeing Café!

Human Interest Story’s choreography of modern chaos brilliantly reveals through movement what cannot be said.

A Lucy Guerin Inc. and Malthouse Melbourne Production in Association with Perth International Arts Festival.

The larder

Contact:

Tuesday Breakfast

The Larder is a free grocery item service for HIV + people who are on Centrelink benefits (proof of status and a pension card are required in order to participate in this service). The Larder provides grocery items, and fresh fruit and vegetables on a fortnightly or monthly basis.

For more information, contact the Belvoir Box Office on 9699 3444

When: Monday & Wednesday, 12pm to 2pm

INVItation from ROCKDALE MUSICAL SOCIETY Dear Friends, We would love to extend an invitation to clients of ACON, BGF and Positive Life NSW, including family and friends to our Spectacular September production Avenue Q.

HIV MENS HEALTH PROMOTION

It’s sexy, it’s naughty… and it’s very, very funny!

Healthy life plus

Winner of the TONY® “TRIPLE CROWN” for BEST MUSICAL, BEST SCORE and BEST BOOK, Avenue Q is part flesh, part plush - and both are packed with heart.

Our next Healthy Life Plus group starts this month and they will be working towards achieving their health goals over the next three months with a full agenda.

AVENUE Q is the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. He soon discovers that the only neighbourhood in his price range is Avenue Q.

Over the coming twelve weeks the fifteen participants are involved in a variety of health and wellbeing seminars including goal setting and body image, nutrition and core body strength. They’ll also be undertaking their individual fitness program at Golds Gym under instruction from our personal trainer as well as having one on one sessions with our nutritionist and dietician.

Still, the neighbours seem nice… With fun and surprises along the way, Avenue Q hits all the right notes.

The producers would like to extend an exclusive invitation for ACON and BGF clients and friends on Wednesday 7th September. Entry by donation - as much as you can manage.

4

All the health seminars are presented by specialists in their chosen field who volunteer their time to engage with the Healthy Life Plus crew and make the presentations as interactive, educational and enjoyable as possible HIV Wellness Program - Email: hwp@acon.org.au

Keep an eye out each month in the Wellbeing Times to hear how they are progressing in their healthy living journey during Spring and Summer. if you would like more information about the program or are interested in joining the next group please contact: Contact: The Men’s HIV Health Promotion Team Phone: (02) 9206 2101 or (02) 9206 2102 Email: hivliving@acon.org.au

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 and social environment that can help newly diagnosed men by giving them a chance to talk with people who are dealing with many of the same issues.

When: Monday 26 September 2011, 7pm to 9pm Where: ACON, 414 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills Contact: HIV Men’s Health Promotion Team Call: (02) 9206 2101 or (02) 9206 2102 Email: hivliving@acon.org.au

GENESIS Our next Genesis workshop for newly diagnosed gay men will be held on 16 – 18 September.

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 at ACON 414 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills. The workshop runs for a few hours on a Friday night then all day on Saturday and Sunday.

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 you feel would benefit, now is the time to contact the Men’s HIV Health Promotion Team. Places fill fast for this popular workshop so contact us ASAP to register your interest and to arrange an intake interview.

Contact: The Men’s HIV Health Promotion Team Phone: (02) 9206 2101 or (02) 9206 2102 Email: hivliving@acon.org.au

PLANET POSITIVE Planet Positive, a quarterly social night for HIV positive people and their friends, will be held on Friday 23th September 2011. Come along to Level One, The Midnight Shift with free entry, complimentary drinks and nibbles through the night and enjoy the tunes from DJ Paul Angel.

When: Friday 23th September 6pm - 10pm Where: Level One, The Midnight Shift, 85-91 Oxford St Contact: Men’s HIV Health Promotion Team Phone: (02) 9206 2101 or (02) 9206 2102 Email: hivliving@acon.org.au Contact: Women’s and Families Affected

by HIV Project Phone: (02) 9206 2101 www.acon.org.au/hiv/groups-and-workshop/Planet-Positive HIV Wellness Program - Email: hwp@acon.org.au

HIV Wellness program CALENDAR 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 at the Wellbeing Café.

Eden GARDEN GROUP 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.

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.

HIV Wellness program client support The Treatments and Client Support Officer is available on Wednesdays between 12pm – 2pm to provide information around new developments in services and treatments, make appointments with you and assist with referrals.

5

SEPTEMBER 2011 – HIV Wellness Program Calendar Mon

5

Tue

6 Monday Luncheon Club 10.30am - 2pm The Larder 12pm - 2pm BGF 12pm - 2pm Remedial Fiona 1pm - 4pm Alan’s Exercise Class 5pm - 6pm

12

Monday Luncheon Club 10.30am - 2pm Workshop SESIAHS - ‘Recovery model as it applies to HIV’ 11am - 12pm The Larder 12pm - 2pm BGF 12pm - 2pm Remedial Fiona 1pm - 4pm Alan’s Exercise Class 5pm - 6pm

19 Monday Luncheon Club 10.30am - 2pm The Larder 12pm - 2pm BGF 12pm - 2pm Remedial Fiona 1pm - 4pm Alan’s Exercise Class 5pm - 6pm

26 Monday Luncheon Club 10.30am - 2pm The Larder 12pm - 2pm BGF 12pm - 2pm Remedial Fiona 1pm - 4pm Alan’s Exercise Class 5pm - 6pm Nexus 7pm – 9pm

Wed

7

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

13

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

20 Tuesday Breakfast 10am - 12pm HALC 10am - 12pm Bowen Ian 1pm - 5pm

27

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

Wednesday Luncheon Club 10.30am – 2pm Treatment & Client Support Officer 12pm – 2pm The Larder 12pm - 2pm Tree of Hope, Client Support 12pm - 2pm Acupuncture Angie 3pm - 5pm Yoga 6pm - 7pm Club 14 Wednesday Luncheon 10.30am – 2pm

Treatment & Client Support Officer 12pm – 2pm The Larder 12pm - 2pm Tree of Hope, Client Support 12pm - 2pm Volunteer Meeting 2pm – 3pm Acupuncture Angie 3pm - 5pm Yoga 6pm - 7pm Club 21 Wednesday Luncheon 10.30am – 2pm

Treatment & Client Support Officer 12pm – 2pm The Larder 12pm - 2pm Tree of Hope, Client Support 12pm - 2pm Acupuncture Angie 3pm - 5pm Yoga 6pm - 7pm

Club 28 Wednesday Luncheon 10.30am – 2pm

Treatment & Client Support Officer 12pm – 2pm Haircuts by Elizabeth from 11am The Larder 12pm - 2pm Tree of Hope, Client Support 12pm - 2pm Volunteer Meeting 2pm – 3pm Acupuncture Angie 3pm - 5pm Yoga 6pm - 7pm

SEPTEMBER 2011 – HIV Wellness Program Calendar 1

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

8

15

22

17/18

Friday Social Lunch 10.30am - 2pm Planet Positive 6pm - 10pm The Midnight Shift

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

10/11

Friday Social Lunch 10.30am - 2pm

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

Sat/Sun 3/4

Friday Social Lunch 10.30am - 2pm

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

29

2

Fri

Genesis 9am - 5pm

24/25

Friday Social Lunch 10.30am - 2pm Friday Social Lunch 10.30am - 2pm

30 NEWS ONLINE: Did you know you can read the Wellbeing Times on-line.

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

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.

Chicken & Corn (serves 4)

Remedial/Swedish Massage 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 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 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 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.

Vitamin service 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 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.

Eden Community Garden 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 9206 2000.

8

ingredients • • • • • • • • • • •

Chicken thigh or breast or drumstick with all fat or sinew removed x 4 1 onion finely diced Garlic, finely chopped Little bit of ginger grated Little bit of parsley chopped 2 eggs (or just egg white) beaten Chicken stock (500ml) Tin creamed corn Coriander leaves Corn flour mixed with water to make a thin paste Optional: noodles of your choice

METHOD 1. In a big stock pot, fry off your onion, ginger and garlic until the onion becomes translucent. Then add your chicken pieces and fill the pot with water to cover the chicken. Bring to boil then simmer slowly until meat falls apart or is tender or falling off the bone.

2. Remove the chicken pieces (if they have bones in them) and allow to cool. Then remove the meat and place back into the pot. If you used breasts allow to cool and dice or shred, then place into pot.

3. Add the chicken stock, creamed corn and bring almost to the boil. Then quickly whisk in your beaten egg and stir. Reduce heat.

4. To thicken, add the corn flour paste and mix in well.

5. Add herbs at the very end, and serve over noodles.

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