HIV infection in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities will be the focus of a series of workshops throughout Queensland from Monday, 25 July.
The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC), in collaboration with the HIV Foundation Queensland, will engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Queensland HIV Treatment as Prevention (TasP) Roadshow, starting next week and continuing into early August.
QAIHC Senior Policy Officer Dion Tatow said raising community awareness was required because of the spikein Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland in the past 12 months.
“The Queensland HIV TasP Roadshow includes eight meetings with Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Services, and evening dinner meetings for health professionals in the same locations, starting in Brisbane on Monday, July 25,” Mr Tatow said.
He said the Roadshow brought together latest practice and evidence from around the globe in HIV prevention including treatment as a prevention tool; and new medications such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), both of which aim to significantly reduce the number of new HIV diagnoses and potentially end HIV.
“The aim of the Roadshow is to raise community awareness and improve engagement with a broader range of health professionals and health services to improve timely access to HIV treatment and other prevention measures in Queensland,” Mr Tatow said.
He said each of the meetings would involve Associate Professor James Ward, Head of Infectious Disease Research – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, who will discuss issues relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Other speakers include experts in HIV prevention from British Columbia, Canada.
Mr Tatow said Associate Professor Ward was keen to meet with Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Sector (AICCHS) staff and community members separately to the dinner meetings, to discuss in more detail the increasing STI rates (particularly HIV and syphilis), risk factors, prevention, treatments, care management, support and new medications.
Key Speakers:
Monday, 25 July:
Brisbane – QAIHC Training Room, Level 2, Russell Street – South Brisbane QLD 4101. 10am to 12pm.
Contact: Darren Braun on phone (07) 3328 8500.
Tuesday, 26 July:
Gold Coast – Kalwun Jellurjal Cultural Centre 1711 Gold Coast Hwy ,Burleigh Heads. 12.30pm – 2.30pm.
Contact: Dane Husband. Phone (07) 55261112
Kalwun Health Service – Miami 2020 Gold Coast Highway, Miami QLD 4220
Thursday, 28 July:
Toowoomba – Carbal Toowoomba Medical Centre 104 Mary Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350. 9am to 12pm.
Contact: Renee Day on phone (07) 46397300 or mobile 0409 287 558
Friday, 29 July:
Sunshine Coast – North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health- Maroochydore Office 15/27 Evans St, Maroochydore QLD 4558. 9am to 12pm.
Contact: Lerisa Rolls on phone (07) 5443 3599 or mobile 0431 795 433.
Monday, 1 Aug:
Cairns – Wuchopperen Health Service – Cairns 13 Moignard St, Manoora 4870. 10.30am – 12.30pm.
Contact: La Donna Ballangarry-Kearins on phone (07) 4032 4961.
Tuesday, 2 Aug:
Townsville – TAIHS Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health Services (TAIHS) - Townsville 57-59 Gorden St, Garbutt Townsville 4814. 2pm – 4pm.
Contact: Robert Scott on phone (07) 4759 4000.
Wednesday, 3 August:
Rockhampton – Bidgerdii Health Service – Rockhampton 162 Bolsover St, Rockhampton 47002pm – 4pm.
Contact: Jasmin Ahmat on phone (07) 4930 4600.
Thursday, 4 August:
Gladstone – Nhulundu Wooribah Indigenous Health Organisation Incorporated – Gladstone Cnr Hixon & Manning Sts, Gladstone 4680. 10am-12pm.
Contact: Jenny Kerr on phone (07) 4979 0992.
To register, phone QAIHC Sexual Health Project Officer Darren Braun at Darren.Braun@qaihc.com.au or via phone (07) 3328 8500
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