AIDS ACTION COUNCIL
NEWSLETTER Winter 2013
Introducing our new Executive Director
As I sit down to write this article to introduce myself, I am somewhat embarrassed to say that I am now six months into my new role as the Executive Director of the AIDS Action Council ACT (the Council). It has been a wonderful period of induction and it is a pleasure and privilege to have been offered this opportunity to move back to Canberra. I will take on the challenge of helping to steer the organisation on the next stage of its journey as one of the most respected community organisations in the ACT. As I start, I would like to pay the warmest possible tribute to my predecessor, Andrew Burry. Andrew has given the past five years of his career to the Council and together with the esteemed Board has been instrumental in developing the organisation and building on the firm foundations that were laid before his time by those visionary leaders whose inspiration created it nearly 30 years ago. He, together with the Board, his friends and colleagues throughout the Council, can take great satisfaction in the outstanding contribution they have made in supporting our community and in building a strong and vibrant organisation with every reason to be facing the future with pride and confidence. My own background is both in the private and government sector. I spent the first 15 years of my career
managing my family, continuing my formal study, being a business proprietor in the private sector and then moving to the government sector with a focus on human resources and adult education. I have built in the last twenty years a second career, first in central agencies of State and Territory Governments and more recently as the CEO of the Adelaide based Government Industry Skills Council (a not-for-profit organisation funded by the Commonwealth Government). I also fulfil some other not-for-profit Board roles. The opportunity to bring my experience back to the ACT and to contribute to shaping the future direction of the Council was completely irresistible. I am grateful to the Board for their confidence in appointing me and will continue to devote my energies to ensuring that we are faithful to the vision of those who created the Council by supporting those people impacted by HIV/AIDS so they can enjoy the highest possible quality of life. Over the past six months I have met so many inspiring people tackling the challenges of HIV/AIDS and over the coming months I will meet many more of our key stakeholders. I am always keen to hear your thoughts, ideas and comments about the Council and how we should be shaping its future. We
have recently considered our future direction to ensure that we sustain, develop and grow our services to meet ever increasing demand in a changing social and economic environment. I commend to you the recently completed 2013 -2016 Strategic Plan which was developed with comprehensive community consultation. As we look to tomorrow the dedicated staff of the Council will be concentrating their focus on those we currently support and those we can support in the future, as well as maintaining our absolute commitment to ensuring that the safe health messages we deliver to the community are of the highest possible quality each and every day.
Jan Weir Executive Director, AIDS Action Council of the ACT
Counselling at the AIDS Action Council
Migration Service Westlund House community migration legal service has been running since 2009
Counselling services offered by the Council Peer support counselling
Psychological counselling
for people living with HIV is provided by Marcus Bogie. Marcus has a wealth of invaluable knowledge regarding HIV including community, medical and health services, housing and other government services, blood borne viruses as well as information regarding alcohol and drug addiction. Marcus is available by appointment Monday to Friday between 9.00 and 5.00pm.
is also offered by the Council and is provided by our psychologist, Mark Gleeson. Mark has been counselling and facilitating workshops in employee assistance programs, vocational and rehabilitation settings, tertiary education and corporate organisations since 1988. Mark uses a wide range of solution focused psychological strategies, techniques and processes in his counselling sessions. Mark has a strong interest in health psychology and incorporates body centred and mindfulness approaches into his counselling practice.
“We are here to help you”
Issues commonly presented to the Council include career and life management, coming out, identity issues, anxiety, depression, sleep, managing side effects of medication and addiction. Counselling is currently available on a Tuesday 10.00 am – 7.30 pm and Wednesday 9.00 am – 5.00 pm.
Westlund House Counselling Services Announcing evening counselling clinic hours The AIDS Action Council provides professional counselling support services for individuals, families and communities in the ACT and surrounding region. From 1 July we will be extending our counselling services to include evenings. We are a community-based, not-for-profit organisation and our services are for all members of the community, regardless of religious belief, age, gender, sexual orientation, lifestyle choice, cultural background or economic circumstances. Through counselling we provide assessments, support and advocacy for issues like coming to terms with sexuality, emotional
and physical health, relationships, employment, education and accommodation. A free and priority service is provided to those affected by or at risk of HIV; this includes individuals, partners and family. This service is designed for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and for people coming to terms with their sexuality. Our counselling is intended to be short term, solution focused and in general be up to 6 sessions. Special consideration will be provided for ongoing services to PLHIV if required.
To make an appointment please call (02) 6257 2855 during business hours
Our counsellors Mark Gleeson is a psychologist and works with a range of solution focused strategies and models. Mark has a strong interest in the Feldenkrais Method and works with a person centred approach. Marcus Bogie provides peer support counselling having worked in the HIV field for 14 years and has lived with HIV for 22 years. Marcus is available by appointment for PLHIV only. Kate Diggle is a compassionate and intuitive counsellor, qualified in gestalt therapy. Kate embraces the philosophy of healing through a genuine connection in the relationship between client and therapist.
The clinic is staffed entirely by volunteer solicitors and migration agents with training opportunities offered to ANU Migration Law students. At its core, the clinic provides a confidential service for people to discuss their immigration concerns and issues with a solicitor or migration agent. The clinic seeks to provide a referral service to clients or to provide strategic advice during a 60 minute client consultation. If staff are unable to provide solutions for clients within the consultation period we will endeavour to place clients in touch with other services and agencies who can offer additional assistance.
Run under the auspices of the AIDS Action Council’s Living Well Program, the legal and migration clinics are intended to provide a supportive and confidential service to clients of the Council. However, the service is also open to the general public on an appointment basis. The clinic is registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority and works within its guidelines. Registered Migration Agents are bound by a Code of Conduct and are required to have an in-depth knowledge of Australian migration law and procedures and meet high professional and ethical standards.
The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority regulates Australia’s registered migration agents to: • ensure that clients receive high quality immigration assistance, and • protect the interests of people receiving immigration assistance. The clinic operates every Thursday afternoon with the fourth Thursday of each month being an evening clinic. This service is open to the whole Canberra community but by appointment only which can be made by calling 02 6257 2855.
Introducing Philippa Moss Philippa Moss joins the AIDS Action Council as the Manager, Client Support and Education. Philippa has qualifications in psychology, public policy and management, with a wealth of experience in the community sector both in NSW and in the ACT. Since moving to Canberra in 1998, Philippa has worked in health promotion, community development and most recently managing a multidisciplinary health and community service in Queanbeyan NSW. Philippa has two teenage children and a personal interest in the healthy cities movement and is passionate about the principles of equity, empowerment and community participation through local action in urban settings.
Philippa’s role at the Council centres on prevention and support, providing overall management of client services, allied health and volunteer support. Philippa and her team provide focused programs for health and well-being, counselling and case management and cross sector preventative education using the latest research and innovative practices. Philippa and her teams work will contribute greatly to the organisations mission. Please join us in welcoming her to the team.
30th International Candlelight Memorial The wet skies cleared for the 30th International Candlelight Memorial on Sunday 19th May The National Gallery of Australia was again the reverent venue with the memorial moving to Gandel Hall for the first time. The event was designed to honour the friends, partners and family members who have passed on from HIV/AIDS and for participants to stand in solidarity with those who the virus continues to affect today. The ABC’s Genevieve Jacobs hosted the ceremony with a graceful air of respect for this special occasion. Genevieve’s support in the lead up to the event also resulted in two feature interviews on ABC 666. Mandi and Marcus (Council staff) discussed the
challenges people living with HIV face and Philip Habel (an HIV nurse) spoke of the changing nature of and treatments for the disease.
privileged to hear from three exceptional guest speakers. Fred Wensing, President of the Haemophilia Foundation ACT and Al from the AIDS Action Council’s Her Excellency Ms Koleka Mqulwana, Positive Living Program generously High Commissioner of the Republic shared their personal experiences. of South Africa addressed over 200 guests and shared an International As someone relatively new to the perspective on the campaign to fight AIDS Action Council and indeed HIV/AIDS. Her Excellency spoke on a steep learning curve for all about her experience working with matters relating to HIV/AIDS, I truly orphans of the virus in South Africa appreciated these gentlemen trusting and pledged her ongoing support us with their stories to help educate for the work of the AIDS Action and advocate for those living with Council of the ACT. It was fitting that HIV. Fred and Al helped guests The Heart & Soul Singers then took understand the diverse nature of centre stage and shared renditions HIV and the impact it can have on of traditional African and Indigenous individuals, workplaces, Australian songs, backed by images family and friends. of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. As a longtime supporter of the AIDS Guests at the memorial were Action Council, the extremely modest
and extraordinarily credentialed Dr Elizabeth Reid was invited to speak. There was barely a dry eye in the hall as Elizabeth shared her raw and heart-wrenching personal story of how HIV touched her family when her husband contracted the virus following medical treatment abroad. Incredibly, Elizabeth was able to convey the silver lining of her experience — this being the tremendous support she received during her family’s battle with HIV. The Canberra Gay and Lesbian Choir “QWIRE” sang two beautiful songs, most befitting the occasion. “Deepening Twilight” and “Fix You” by ‘Cold Play’ drew huge applause from the audience (clapping intermittent with more eye dabs), as representatives from the Bit Bent
Youth Group unwound and supported the red remembrance ribbon, bearing the names of those loved ones who have passed – names which were also scrolled on a large screen for guests to view.
and support throughout the room was inspirational. I cherished the opportunity to share a hot drink with many guests at the conclusion of the event and to hear more personal stories.
The candle lighting ceremony took on a new image this year, as guests moved outside and were handed a small red candle. Ken from the AIDS Action Council’s Positive Living Program lit the remembrance candle to signify the start of one minute’s silence. A lone piper signalled the end of this minute and guests moved to place their candles on the lawn, forming a large red ribbon.
Thank you to everyone for attending and to those who volunteered, helping make the memorial so special.
As I write this, I am again filled with the emotions felt on Sunday night. The general feeling of solidarity
— Joanne Fricker Manager Communications and Community Engagement If you have any feedback or suggestions for future events, please feel free to email me at joanne@aidsaction.org.au or give me a call at the office on 02 6257 2855
Mindfulness... Jon Kabat-Zinn who created the eight week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) describes mindfulness as ‘paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally.’
Sounds easy? Well, try sitting still for five minutes and concentrate solely on your breathing and think of nothing else. Very soon you realise that your mind has moved away from your breathing and has started to plan dinner or to make a list of things to do. One of the biggest misconceptions many people have about mindfulness meditation is that once they start practising it their minds will suddenly turn off and they will fall into blissful silence. How shocking to discover that we can’t just make our minds stop planning for the future or thinking about the past, while all the time missing what is happening in the moment. It is usually at this point that many people give up and think it’s all too hard or that ‘this meditation stuff is not for me’. Sadly, they are missing the point. Meditation is about learning how to tame our crazy wild horse of a brain. It’s about learning how to ride the horse and how to rein it in. Your mind can be a pretty strange place at the best of times. At worst, it can feel like a prison where you are both the inmate and the jailer. If you have ever experienced an episode of depression or anxiety this description may seem familiar. Constantly marinating in our own thoughts of fear and terror or judgment and self-loathing creates a physiological stress response in the body. We literally want to fight,
run away or play dead—but with ourselves. This can get acted out as self harming behaviours, suicidal thoughts and a numbing down of our senses with substances. Over time, all of these coping strategies become unhealthy and dangerous. Seeking support during these times is vital and one option is mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness teaches us how to activate our body’s very own stress-release button — our parasympathetic nervous system — through breathing and movement. Through meditation you develop stronger concentration. You start to recognise your thoughts, sensations and emotions with more clarity which makes it easier to attend to them before you get caught up or lost in them. You also get an opportunity to learn about your body and how we have evolved to deal with stress. Did you know that our minds are like Velcro to bad experiences and Teflon to good experiences? Our ancient cave-dwelling cousins needed to remember where danger might be lurking. They had a better chance of survival if they retained the negative experience and learned to react quickly. Positive experiences are not going to kill us so there is no need to store them. It’s simply explained. But in today’s world we need to cultivate positive experiences in our daily lives or else things can start to get, well . . . depressing.
One very simple way to cultivate a positive experience is to STOP Stop what you are doing Take a few deep breaths and really feel your whole body breathing
Observe your senses one at a time – feel the breeze on your skin, the smell of cut grass, the sound of the sea or anything that is around you
Proceed with what you were doing This is a very simple exercise you can do anywhere and at any time. The few deep breaths immediately activate our natural stress release, which then helps us to move our attention away from stressful thoughts and into the present moment. We are then open to pleasant sensations that give our brains those much needed yummy experiences while giving us a rest from stressful thoughts. Reproduced from an article Positive Living, Winter 2012 edition by Curt Mason who is a Sydneybased psychotherapist
Blue Illusion Fundraiser
Sexual Health Testing The core message from any AIDS Action Council is that the most effective way to reduce the transmission of HIV is to use a condom and water based lube, especially with casual sexual partners. We know from the latest reports, such as the 2011 Canberra Gay Community Periodic Survey (CGCPS) that nearly a third of guys (33.8%) who had sex with a casual partner had not used a condom at least once in the last six months.
The AIDS Action Council would like to say a big thank you to Blue Illusion in Manuka for holding a fundraising event for the Council on March 22. Around 40 people joined us for an evening of French inspired fashion, raising over $600 for the Westlund House Community Development Fund.
This tells us that when you include the 45% of men who always use condoms with casual sexual partners (the difference being 21% who didn’t have anal sex with their casual partner), that most men are using condoms most of the time and that’s great! Sure, we’d like to see those percentages rise but we are still glad that the majority of men are using condoms.
We would also like to thank our models, Stephanie Marion-Landais, Megan Munro, Joan Scott and Jen Lewis for donating their time and making the night such a success. We look forward to seeing you at future events.
CGCPS is a biennial survey of community attached gay and bisexual men conducted in partnership with the National Centre in HIV Social Research. The next survey will take place towards the end of 2013. We also know that an increasing number of gay and bisexual men are accessing sexual health screening. The stats tell us that 90% of guys in Canberra have had a HIV test whilst 76% have been tested in the last 12 months. We can also see from our own STRIP (Sexual Health Testing, Referral and Information Project) Clinics held here at Westlund House, The Ranch and BitBent Youth Groups, that we had a 13% increase in access to services from 2011 – 2012. We think that it’s fantastic that more and more people are accessing the free and
confidential sexual health screening offered to the community. The STRIP Clinics are also picking up other STI’s that may not have been identified. The next round of STRIP Clinics will commence on July 25 through to August 22 and run on Thursday nights from 6:00 – 8:00pm at The Ranch in Fyshwick for men only, whole of community testing takes place at Westlund House and will start July 27 through to August 17, these are held on Saturday’s 10am – 12pm. For more details check For Your Diary in this newsletter or visit www. aidsaction.org.au/strip.
Blue Illusion is situated in Manuka at shop 4/1-7 Bougainville Street, telephone 02 6232 7033
National Condom Day National Condom Day is celebrated every year on the 14th of February and is planned to coincide with Valentine’s Day. National Condom Day is an initiative of Sexual Health and Family Planning Australia which the Council is partnered with. This year we visited the three main CIT campuses; Reid, Bruce and Philip, to promote the day as well as supplying information about how to use condoms, where to get them and other useful information. Over the few days that the posters, resources and condoms were on display, more than 1200 condoms were distributed to staff and students.
it’s never too early to
take control
WWW.THENEWDEAL.ORG.AU
For info and tips on healthy living with HIV check out:
www.yourbodyblueprint.org.au
For your diary... July
From 1st
Tuesday after hours counselling commences
25th (Thursday) & 27th (Saturday)
STRIP Outreach Clinics Thursday 6:00 – 8:00pm at The Ranch, Mugga Lane Fyshwick Saturday 10:00am – 12:00pm Westlund House
August
3rd & 10th
Looking Out Workshop
17th (Saturday) & 22nd (Thursday)
STRIP Outreach Clinics Thursday 6:00 – 8:00pm at The Ranch, Mugga Lane Fyshwick Saturday 10:00am – 12:00pm Westlund House
24th & 31st
Out There Worskhop
14th & 21st
Together Workshop
October
9th
Annual General Meeting
November
9th
SpringOUT Fairday
December
1st
World AIDS Day
September
For further information on upcoming events call the office or email events@aidsaction.org.au
aidsaction.org.au (02) 6257 2855