AIDS ACTION COUNCIL OF THE ACT
NEWSLETTER The greatest investment you can ever make is in your health. It is the basis of all your accomplishments, both at the family and social level. Everyone working with the AIDS Action Council understands and appreciates this, hence our strategic commitment to advance the provision of healthcare to our community. In the past few months, we have been focussing on enhancing our services through the broadening of our counselling services (with the awesome assistance of Rodney Cole and Kate Diggle) and the surveying of our community to ascertain the current and future needs of those in our community living with HIV and AIDS. We have also been delivering more education into the community and will soon commence a corporate membership drive. Before the end of this financial year, we will be holding a very important Search Conference which will involve participation of key stakeholders from across the community with the outputs providing the focus for the delivery of services to people impacted by HIV in our community. Although 2013 was overall a very positive year for the Council, we must continue to ensure that our services are well structured in order to meet the highest standards of operational efficiency. All of us at the Council continue to work extremely hard in order to close the gap between where we are today, and what we know we can achieve with hard work and dedication. I’d like to remind members that memberships are due for renewal at 30 June 2014 and I encourage you to invite your friends and colleagues who are not currently members, to join www.aidsaction.org.au/ become-a-member/ Jan Weir Executive Director
Newsletter March 2014 Page 1
MARCH 2014
NOTICE: ACT HEALTH IS NOW FUNDING HEPATITIS B VACCINATIONS FOR IV DRUG USERS This is in addition to the ACT Governement funded hepatitis B vaccination program for people living with or in a sexual relationship with a hepatitis B positive person. If you qualify talk to your Doctor about accessing this vaccination.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY Six ladies representing the Positive Women’s Network dressed up in their finest to attend the UN Women’s Luncheon to celebrate International Women’s Day. The lunch was held at the National Convention Centre and guest speakers included Natasha Stott Despoja the Ambassador for Women and Girls and Adi Tafuna’I - the Executive Director of Women in Business Development Samoa. Speakers discussed how we need to help provide women and girls with education and meaningful work to end the cycle of poverty and create a brighter future for all. The AIDS Action Council is also very proud of Lexxie Jury, our long-serving SWOP Education Officer, for her nomination for the ACT Woman of the Year Award. While not the recipient of the award, it is wonderful to see Lexxie recognised for her years of work with women including Sex Workers and Reclaim the Night. Philippa Moss Manager Support and Education