NSW HIV+ HealthPromotion Interagency

AFAOEducator’s Conference

2008

Russell Westacott

Director of Client Services, ACON

Why an HIV+ Health Promotion Interagency

• Other interagencies strategize around similar areas of work within the NSW context:– STIGMA– MGM

• HIV+ health promotion is conducted by a variety of organizations

• No centralized strategizing is formally conducted on this area of work in the NSW context

Positive Life NSWand ACON

• Co-convenors are:– Positive Life NSW– ACON

• Both organizations provide a range of HIV+ health promotion activities

• Both organizations already collaborate on a range of HIV+ health promotion services

• Both organizations are eager to bring together other stakeholders to ensure this work is adequately addressed across the sector

Existing PL and ACON MOU

• Existing ‘Memorandum of Understanding’

• Natural progression to build from this base

• Opportunity to engage other stakeholders in this type of collaborative work

Membership to-date• Co-convenors are:

– Positive Life NSW– ACON

• Other members include:– SESIAHS– SSWAHS– NSCCAHS– SWAHS– MHAHS– PozHet– ASHM/HIV Prescribers representative– AHMRC– AIDB, NSW Health– NCHSR Representative– NCHECR Representative– Australian Health Promotion Association

Terms of Reference

• Key points of the ‘Terms of Reference’ include:

• Evidence-base responses

• Work to the parameters of the NSW HIV Strategy 2006-09

• Where appropriate work in partnership and collaboratively

• Advocate for research in areas that are lacking

Terms of Reference(cont.)

• Key points of the ‘Terms of Reference’ include:

• Co-ordinate cross-area and/or multi-agency responses to avoid duplication

• Provide a forum for developing and sharing creative concepts, ideas and insights

• Maintain collaborative relationships with the Metropolitan Gay Men’s HIV Prevention Interagency (MGM) and the Sexually Transmissible Infections in Gay Men Action group (STIGMA)

Terms of Reference(cont.)

• Key points of the ‘Terms of Reference’ include:

• Provide regular updates to the health promotion subcommittee of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on HIV and Sexually Transmissible Infections

• Ensure that members are reflective of the HIV health promotion partnership – including regional representation

• In the context of this interagency HIV+ health promotion will not be limited to clinical and treatment issues

Interagency to-date

• The group has met twice over recent months

• Next meeting is scheduled for June 9

• Group still in formation; not all stakeholders have participated to-date

Current focus of interagency

• Comparison of workplans

• Understanding the ‘remit’ of each of the stakeholders at the table

• Identifying gaps and duplication in our work

Further Information

• Russell Westacott, ACON

P: 02 9206 2119

E: rwestacott@acon.org.au

• Rob Lake, Positive Life NSW

P: 02 9361 6011

E: robl@positivelife.org.au