Media Release
Sunday 9 March 2025
Today as we mark 10 years celebrating the National Day of Women living with HIV, we come together as women living with HIV to commemorate A Decade of Progress and Challenges: Celebrating our Journeys as Women Living with HIV.
As we look back on the past decade, we reflect on the significant achievements we’ve made from advancements in HIV treatment to ensuring that women’s voices are heard and their contributions and experiences are central to the HIV response, including our trans and gender diverse sisters and those who identify as non-binary, while acknowledging the persistent challenges that still lie ahead for us.
“This 10th anniversary celebration is a call for continued action for the next decade—through collaboration and innovation, to work towards an equitable and positive future free of HIV-related stigma, discrimination and inequality for all women living with HIV,” said Positive Life NSW CEO, Jane Costello.
“This important milestone is a testament to the strength, resilience and unwavering spirit of all women living with HIV,” she said.
We invite the community of all people living with HIV across Australia to engage in meaningful discussions about the next steps needed to further advance our cause,” said Positive Life NSW Peer Navigation Officer, Priscilla Njeri.
“Together, let’s continue to raise awareness of the unique needs and challenges faced by women living with HIV, and foster an inclusive environment where we continue to advocate for optimal health and wellbeing for all women living with HIV.”
While women living with HIV continue to experience many negative intersections of health, gender and perceptions of risk, we will continue to challenge medical assumptions that women are at lower risk of HIV which results in delays in testing for HIV; strive to reduce the number of late HIV diagnoses; and address the systemic ongoing gender-based violence and power imbalances which put woman at greater vulnerability to acquiring HIV.
CELEBRATION EVENT
Positive Life NSW will hold an annual National Day of Women living with HIV high tea in Parramatta on Sunday 9 Sunday 2025 from 2pm, for women living with HIV, friends and supporters and hear from a range of presenters speaking to our 2025 theme, A Decade of Progress and Challenges.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jane Costello, CEO – 1800 245 677 or email communications@positivelife.org.au
Positive Life NSW is the largest peer-led and run representative body of all people living with HIV in Australia based in NSW. We make a significant contribution to, and positive impact across the spectrum of health and social issues on behalf of all people living with HIV in collaboration with HIV specialist and mainstream services to improve the health and quality of life of all people living with HIV in NSW. We do this through evidence-based health promotion, research, policy advice and peer support.
