HIV/AIDS in Australia

AIDS on Our Doorstep
A PNG based Franciscan priest has made a moving grave-side appeal for doctors skilled in caring for children with HIV/AIDS to help PNG as it stands poised to be ravaged by the pandemic.

News Update: October 6, 2007

Australia's new Ambassador for HIV/AIDS named

News Update: March 2007

Victoria's HIV cases at highest level in 20 years
Carol Nader, The Age, 10/3/07

The HIV Epidemic in Australia - Nov, 2004

A Cumulative Profile to 31 March, 2004

July, 2004

Australia Appoints Its First HIV/AIDS Special Representative - Congratulations!

And Since Then...Click for more

Aussie AIDS plan to benefit PNG: O’Keeffe - The National Newspaper – Pt Moresby, 13/09/04

Ms Annmaree O'Keeffe

Groundbreaking Thai/Australian Partnership Initiative - May 2004

Clinical Trials Announced Into Efficacy
of Limes (or lemons) as Nature’s Microbicide
to Combat HIV/AIDS!

Mechai Viravaidya

Agreement on Eve of XV International AIDS
Conference in Bangkok - 11-16 July, 2004

Dateline: May 28, 2004

The Thailand government is to fund clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of lime juice - first as a contraceptive and then as nature's own microbicide to combat HIV/AIDS.

The so-called Manoi (Lime) Trial was given the go-ahead nod at a top level meeting at the Thai Ministry of Health in Bangkok on May 4, 2004.

Click here for more info

"A Circle In A Room Full Of Squares"
Homophobia in Schools - An excellent new resource - May 6, 2004
Published in Sydney Star Observer 1/4/2004

Women and HIV/AIDS Bill of Rights - Barcelona, Spain, 2002 and Bangkok, Thailand, 2004

The Australian AIDS Fund Incorporated is a signatory to this Women and HIV/AIDS Bill of Rights as approved at the XIV International Conference in Spain, 2002, and offered for presentation at the Thailand Conference in Juy, 2004.

A special cause for Rotary International? - January, 2004

A dramatically moving invitation is being offered to Rotary International to take up the battle against global HIV/AIDS as its next special cause following on its magnificent efforts to beat world polio.

The Australian AIDS Fund Incorporated and AIDS Information Services fully endorses the invitation.

You can read the invitation by clicking here.

A Superb Resource

The HIV/AIDS Portal for Asia and Pacific - www. youandaids.org

As supplied to AIDS Information Services in July 2003, the cumulative HIV/AIDS profile for Australia up to September, 2002 was:

HIV Infection 22,305
AIDS 9,918
Deaths 6,202
The number of people then living with HIV in Australia stood at 13,090.
Nationwide, there were 14 children (under age of 13) living with AIDS while 142 others were living with HIV.
A total of 1,135 women were then living with HIV in Australia.

The worry is that no one can say how many people there are in Australia who are living with HIV and simply don't know it!!!

The general public needs to be encouraged to come forward for HIV blood tests...and this requires government effort in mainstream media.

In America, it's estimated that about over 250,000 people are living with HIV and don't know it!

September 2002

Annual Surveillance Report 2002- HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia

From: National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical research

Summary

After adjusting for reporting delay, there were 8,810 AIDS cases and 6,174 deaths following AIDS, in Australia, cumulative to 31 December 2001. The number of HIV diagnoses, adjusted for multiple reporting, was 18,854 at the end of 2001. An estimated 12,730 people were living with HIV/AIDS in Australia in 2001.

The annual number of AIDS diagnoses in Australia peaked at 954 cases in 1994 and has dropped to 178 cases in 2001. The decline in AIDS incidence from 1994 was due to a sharp drop in HIV incidence occurring in the mid 1980's and to the effectiveness of combination antiretroviral therapy in delaying progression to AIDS among people whose HIV infection was diagnosed before AIDS diagnosis.The number of AIDS cases reported in people whose HIV infection was diagnosed within the preceding three months has remained stable.

The annual number of cases of newly diagnosed HIV infection has remained relatively stable in 1997 - 2001 at around 700 cases. The number of diagnoses of newly acquired HIV infection has also remained stable at around 150-200 diagnoses per year, providing a lower bound to the number of new HIV infections that have actually occurred in Australia over this time. An estimated 450 new HIV infections occur in Australia each year.

Transmission of HIV infection in Australia continues to be mainly through sexual contact between men. A history of male homosexual contact was reported in more than 85% of cases of newly acquired HIV infection diagnosed in 1997 - 2001. HIV prevalence remains below 1% among injecting drug users, prison entrants and among men and women with a history of homosexual contact, both in Australia and overseas, including women with a history of sex work.

In 1992 - 2001, 167 HIV diagnoses and 69 AIDS diagnoses were notified among indigenous people. The population rate of HIV and AIDS diagnosis among indigenous people was similar to that among non-indigenous people. However, a higher proportion of HIV diagnoses in indigenous people were among women, and AIDS incidence has declined more slowly in indigenous people.

AIDS incidence and estimated HIV prevalence in Australia at the end of 2001 were 0.9 and 66 per 100,000 population, respectively. AIDS incidence in Australia in 2001 was similar to that recorded in the United Kingdom in 2001 and was substantially lower than in France (2.1), Spain (4.8) and the United States (14.3). Within the Asia-Pacific region, estimated HIV prevalence in Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand were substantially higher than that in Australia in 2001.

Survival following AIDS in Australia has increased from 19.5 months for diagnoses in 1994 to 46.9 months for cases diagnosed in 1997.

An estimated 50% of all people living with HIV infection in Australia in 2001 were treated with antiretroviral therapy.

A Brief History

1981	An Australian gay community paper, the Sydney Star, runs Australia's first article on AIDS.
1982	In November, the first case of AIDS is diagnosed in Australia.
1983	AIDS Action Committee (NSW), first community based AIDS group is established.
	Australia's first AIDS death.
	First community AIDS support group formed by gay men in Sydney.
	AIDS Prospective Study launched, the first major epidemiological study in Australia.
1984	Publication by community groups in Victoria of a landmark advertisement on the need for safe-sex practices.
	Signs of a strong national response evolving in Australia, characterised by partnership between governments, health workers and researchers, and the affected communities.
	Bobby Goldsmith Foundation begun, first community-based fund-raising charity.
	First training course run by Community Support Network, beginning of voluntary care groups for people with HIV/AIDS.
	Special meeting of Australian Health Ministers Council called in response to announcement of deaths of four infants in Queensland from HIV-contaminated blood. Five million dollars allocated to AIDS services, including $3.7m in grants to states for education and counselling and support services. National AIDS Task Force formed to advise the Commonwealth Government on scientific and medical aspects of the virus. National Advisory Committee on AIDS (NACAIDS) established to advise on education, treatment and care and legal and health policy.
1985	49 cases of AIDS reported in Australia.
	Australia becomes the first country in the world to secure its blood supply from HiV infection with testing of all donations.
	First testing clinics open
	First National Conference on AIDS is held.
1986	Commonwealth government funds the newly formed Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations as the national peak body representing HIV/AIDS related community organisations.
	State and Commonwealth grants used to fund State-based AIDS Council for education, support and care programs.
	AIDS Council of NSW/Macquarie University funded for breakthrough social research, the Social Aspects of the Prevention of AIDS. Australia now at the forefront of work in AIDS prevention.
	Establishment of the Australian AIDS Fund Incorporated using various Victorian properties at Frankston, Collingwood, Fairfield, Northcote & North Melbourne before moving to its present San Michel supportive accommodation facility & resource centre in Melbourne's eastern suburbs in 1991.
1987	385 cases of AIDS in Australia.
	National Centre for HIV Epidemiology and Research begins first Australian clinical trial of AZT, a promising anti -retroviral. From now, Australia will be on the frontline of treatment research.
	Commonwealth government launches a $2.9m National AIDS Education Campaign, spearheaded by the Grim Reaper television commercial. This is the first campaign to directly target the issue of heterosexual transmission and transmission outside of 'high risks groups' generally.
	Governor General of Australia formally founds the AIDS Trust of Australia to conduct fund-raising for a range of HIV/AIDS programs.
	Suzi's Story screened on television about woman with AIDS. This program is one of the key events in raising community awareness about AIDS in Australia.
	Commonwealth and State governments establish the InterGovernmental Committee on AIDS (IGCA) to deal with issues that require a coordinated response from both levels of government.
	AZT approved as a treatment, agreement between Commonwealth and States to share costs. This sets the pattern for funding on anti-retroviral treatments.
	AFAO produces first National AIDS Bulletin, a monthly magazine which provides news, research reports and articles on a broad range of HIV/AIDS issues.
	Australia hosts WHO regional meeting on HIV/AIDS for the Asia Pacific Region.
	First AIDS Day Care Centre opens.
1988	Australia records its 1000 case of AIDS. More than 500 Australians have now died.
	The Australian National Council on AIDS (ANCA) is established to replace NACAIDS and the National AIDS Task Force. ANCA comprises experts in public health, science, law, education and representatives from the community sector.
	Commonwealth's second national AIDS awareness campaign. This one is targeted primarily at young heterosexually active people ('Beds' and 'Feet' campaigns).
	Campaigns are also developed targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Condoman make his first appearance promoting the use of condoms.
	First 'Living Well Conference'. These are later to become National Conference of People With HIV/AIDS.
	WHO declares the first World AIDS Day and Australia takes part.
1989	The Commonwealth Government launches the first National HIV/AIDS Strategy, a policy framework on AIDS. The strategy aims to eliminate transmission of the virus, and to minimise the personal and social impact of HIV. Central to the policy is the belief that people with HIV/AIDS have the right to participate in the community without discrimination.
	Commonwealth established the Commonwealth AIDS Prevention and Education Program (CAPE) Commonwealth AIDS Workforce Information, Standards and Exchange Program (CAWISE).
	National AIDS Education Campaign widened to target people of non-English speaking backgrounds and AIDS carers who lack medical and nursing training.
1990	Australia has 2831 cases of AIDS, of whom 1423 have died.
	National Centre for HIV Social Research is established.
	New Commonwealth education campaign targets recreational intravenous drug users (Be Safe, Be Sure). Links unsafe drug use and sexual transmission. All States now have needle distribution and disposal centres.
1990	Mid 1990's San Michel & Rosehaven begin receiving the first of ongoing stream of visits from medical bureaucrats, social & health workers & officials from Africa, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Indonesia and China....as part of various international projects to show how Australians care for Aussies living with HIV/AIDS.
	Advocacy on behalf of and the provision of direct material support to grassroots AIDS-care and shelter projects in Mexico City, Uganda and Thailand. An ongoing activity.
1991	AIDS Education; The Next Three Years 1991-1993, the first national AIDS education policy is released.
	Commonwealth launches its first campaign targeted at both gay men and bisexual men (That Feeling).
	Travel Safe is launched, a Commonwealth program directed at international and Australian travellers.
	West Australian government is the first to offer a compensation package to those with medically acquired HIV. All States follow over the next years.
	Two gay men, both significant in the response to HIV/AIDS in Australia, are made Members of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
	Release of the Baume inquiry into drug evaluation and marketing in Australia. It radically changes current practice and ensure speedy future access to promising treatments.
	Wellcome Australia is the first pharmaceutical company in Australia to conduct a campaign jointly with AIDS Councils. The campaign targets HIV testing and early treatment.
	Ten years into the epidemic, a survey conducted by the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health in Canberra finds that people have more sympathy for those whose lifestyle leads to heart, lung or liver disease, than for people with HIV/AIDS.
	ddl is approved in Australia within six weeks of its approval in the US under the changed system for drug evaluation and approval. It is only the second anti-viral to be approved in ten years.
1992	First National Aboriginal Conference on HIV/AIDS.
	The National AIDS Archive Collection is established at the Australian National University.
1993	Commonwealth launches its HIV/AIDS - related Discrimination Campaign. This is the first campaign of its type in the world, targeted at reducing discriminatory behaviour towards people on the grounds of their known or imputed HIV status. The campaign theme is 'HIV doesn't discriminate, people do'.
	Second National HIV/AIDS Strategy released. It maintains the goals and policy directions of the first Strategy.
	Eve Van Grafhorst dies in New Zealand aged 11 years.
	A South Australian teacher wins a landmark case in the Equal Opportunity Tribunal in that State which finds that the State Department of Education had illegally discriminated against him because he was gay and HIV positive.
1994	First campaign run by AFAO promoting the right to sexual practice for people who are HIV positive. Creates controversy with former Federal Minister for Health, Graham Richardson. Matter is resolved.
	Commonwealth Employment Service in Victoria accused of breaking confidentiality of an HIV positive man. Inquiry called into existing CES guidelines.
	Commonwealth runs its HIV/AIDS discrimination campaign for a second time.
	Australian National Gallery holds a major exhibition 'Don't Leave Me This Way. Art in the Age of AIDS'. The exhibition is funded from Commonwealth education program funds.
1995	Rosehaven opens Australia's first supportive accommodation & care facility for women & children with HIV AIDS in Melbourne.
1997	The Australian AIDS Fund Inc (AAFI) begins using Christmas Cards a fresh AIDS Awareness vehicle, marketing 50,000 initially which point to associated care & shelter programs in NSW Queensland, N.T. and Western Australia.
1998	AAFI establishes Camp Seaside in Victoria - twice yearly respite camps for families affected or infected by HIV. First such camps outside Sydney ( and still need ongoing financial support).
1999	San Michel visited by Federal Health Minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge.
	AAFI launches The Red Ribbon newsletter as a further AIDS Awareness effort, targetting Victorian schools.
	AAFI pilots first SCHOOL AIDS DAY, focussing on the life, trials and courage of Eve Van Grafhorst.
	Fifty Sundays. Rosehaven offers new outreach program for women - hospitality and peer support in casual environment. (Another project in need of ongoing financial support)
	AAFI commissions the production of a special "cause" rose as a new fundraiser. To be registered on the world roses registery as THE HOPE ROSE, it'll be "a perfectly-shaped classical rose, white with an ivory centre" to push the need & hope for a vaccine in the new millenium. Hopefully to be available in late 2000 and to be marketed and offered Australia wide through variety groups who can share in profits as partner agencies.
2000	South Australia's Premier John Olsen launches World's first HIV/AIDS 'cause' rose - HOPE - at International Rose Festival in Adelaide - for The Australian AIDS Fund Inc. which will offer it as a mutual fund-raiser for all HIV/AIDS Care Agencies in Australia. It will also make its debut in USA, Europe and Asia as soon as possible. Look out for it on World AIDS Day (December 1) in your capital city.
January, 2001	John Landy M.B.E. Governor of Victoria and Mrs. Lynne Landy accept invitation to become Patrons in Chief of The Australian AIDS Fund Incorporated.