Positive Life NSW

Rob Lake reports on the Board Advisory Groups held in February.

The February meeting of the Board Advisory Group was attended by sixteen people. Presentations on the projects of Positive Life NSW were followed by a discussion on work to be undertaken in 2009 – 2010. Highlights in our advocacy work included submissions outlining the difficulty in making successful complaints about health care,  and the need to do more work so we better understand the impact of HIV related discrimination in insurance. In our ongoing work with people in serodiscordant relationships, there was a reminder to ensure that we support both positive and negative partners.

Topics highlighted by the HIV Living Working Group participants included a discussion on euthanasia. Many wanted to be able to talk about euthanasia and learn more about current policies. The delivery of services to an ageing population of people with HIV provided another focus for the group. Other topics identified as a priority included: our involvement in the national consultations on human rights, a stronger focus on mental health needs and services, affordable housing across NSW, models of peer support (what works and what else is needed?), and the broader impacts of same sex legislation.  Participants also voiced the importance of being aware of the particular and differing needs of people who are ill and who seem invisible, people on disability support pension who will never work again, and people who are well and employed.

Members of the HIV Health Working Group asked important questions on hep C testing for people with HIV (how important is it?), anal cancer screening (how successful is the project?), dental health (what happens if the Commonwealth EPC ends?) and is the evidence strong enough to support a push for earlier commencement of Anti Retroviral Treatment at 500 T Cells rather than 350?

Discussion also focussed on health prevention, the importance of quitting smoking, good nutrition, health screening, wellness or resilience based programs, and the need for coaching to support these. Other topics included: people with HIV in prisons, lipodistrophy treatments (not just facial, but also abdominal). Participants also wanted a follow up on how things were going for patients since St Vincents reduced the number of HIV specific beds.

Following our recent request for expressions of interest, it's great to announce that we have ten new members, one each from Newcastle, Northern Rivers and  Albury, as well as from around Sydney. The next Positive Life E News will include a report on the meeting, to be held in Sydney on Saturday 9 May.

The HIV Living and HIV Health Working Groups are convened by Board members David Riddell and Malcolm Leech, while the day is hosted by Jason Appleby, the President of Positive Life. The Advisory Group meets with the Board four times per year to talk about new and emerging issues, to identify priorities and to feed into the planning and development of the work of Positive Life. If you'd like to know more, you can contact us at Positive Life and/or talk with the President or one of the group Convenors.