Share your story
It’s easy to think you are the only person dealing with a particular situation. Or that you’re the only person faced with living with HIV or facing a difficult decision.
There’s often many other people experiencing a similar thing. You just haven’t heard about it.
Share your story about HIV and help normalise the experience of living with HIV as just another medical condition. It can also help to break down stigma around HIV by humanising the experience of living with HIV. Every story shared is a chance feel less alone, and it also can help other people realise they’re not alone.
Talkabout is your magazine! It’s a place where people living with HIV in NSW speak for ourselves. The magazine is published by Positive Life NSW, the largest organisation staffed by and for all people living with or affected by HIV regardless of gender or identity in NSW.
Talkabout’s greatest strength is the voices of the people living with HIV who contribute our stories of success and hardship, love and loss, joy and sadness, courage and fear that really make a difference!
If you have a story to tell, or have an idea for an article but need some ideas, please contact Talkabout Editor on (02) 8357 8386 or 1800 245 677 (freecall outside metro), or email editor@positivelife.org.au Reading other people’s stories of living with HIV can be helpful, and you can find these at our extensive Talkabout online library going back to 1988.
To share your story, you don’t need any writing experience, just a willingness to share your experiences or thoughts. We can help you do the rest.
Stores or articles must be at least 500-800 words and written by a person living with HIV in NSW.
If you don’t have time to write, but still want to share your story, get in touch! We can also interview you and write up your story for Talkabout.
Your stories and experiences about living with HIV are accepted at any time.
Published articles are eligible for a $30 Woolworths voucher.
If you want to write your story yourself, below are some guidelines:
Protect your privacy
You’re welcome to write your story with your real name and other details that identify you personally if you wish. Some people prefer to write using just their first name, or a fictitious name (pseudonym).
If you write under a pseudonym, we will edit identifying details that makes it easy to identify you, in order to protect your privacy.
To submit something for Talkabout, please include your name, address and phone number (this will never be published).
Editing and moderation
Positive Life will review stories and edit out any political discussion, swearing or inappropriate language before publication. We will also need to remove the names of specific venues, businesses or organisations, or other advertising or endorsement for services, books, blogs or websites.
Sending in your story is not a replacement for seeking help
Submitting a story or reading these stories isn’t a replacement for clinical care or peer support. If you need to talk to someone, please contact us to find out what support is available for you.
Respect copyright
Anyone else’s copyrighted material will either need to include the original copyright owner’s permission or be acknowledged as their copyrighted work.
For your safety
If you are at immediate risk of harming yourself or someone else, please call Lifeline 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 or emergency services on triple zero – 000.
