QPP is continuing to monitor closely the COVID-19 situation through our Public Health Management Team. We have needed to adjust how we deliver our services to communities we support to ensure client and staff safety. We would like to thank you for your understanding and flexibility at this time.
COVID-19 cases have remained relatively low, however we all need to be vigilant to ensure individual and community safety. Despite the challenges please continue to do what you can to support the HIV and broader community. Please reach out to the team at QPP if you need our assistance or support.
QPP is continuing to update you on COVID-19 and HIV. Our latest blog on COVID-19 Risks for PLHIV can be found here:
Over the coming months, we will be highlighting some of the common health conditions (co-morbidities) experienced by PLHIV and provide you with information on how you can manage these conditions to achieve the best health outcome.
If anyone has any concerns, questions, or issues that arise from the everchanging COVID-19 situation please feel free to contact our Peer Navigation team through website, phone etc.
As a peer-based organisation QPP recognises the centrality of the positive voice and values the importance of the lived experience of HIV. All that we do at QPP is underpinned by the principles of Meaningful Involvement of People with HIV (MIPA).
MIPA principles recognise that people with HIV are integral and central to the HIV response. MIPA values PLHIV as a valuable resource providing lived experience and knowledge to help inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services.
In line with our commitment to MIPA principles, we are pleased to announce in the upcoming opening of expressions of interest for our Community Advisory Group (CAG).
The CAG seeks to engage with the diverse community of people with HIV across Queensland and to provide a platform through which individual and collective voices can be heard. The CAG will assist QPP to identify current and emerging community needs and will assist QPP to establish strategic priorities in service delivery, advocacy, health education, and information. For full details of the Community Advisory Group or to lodge an EOI, visit:
QPP.ORG.AU/QPPCAG
Our online Social Groups continue to be popular with attendees enjoying the opportunity to connect with other PLHIV.
An example of groups over the past month included ‘Inspiring Stories’ where we celebrated some of our own stories of resilience that help and inspire others and ’Book Week’, a great chance for people to share what’s inspiring them in written form during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the month of September, there will be an opportunity to have an audience with QPP’s president, Mark Counter, and CEO, Melissa Warner. Learn more about QPP, ask a question, or provide your feedback, check out the website for further details.
QPP continues to engage and partner with state and national research institutions, government, and other community-based organisations on research. QPP seeks to focus on research that seeks to better understand the needs of our communities and further our knowledge to ensure the services we provide are relevant and responsive to the needs of the communities we serve.
Recently our Executive Programs Manager, Chris Howard presented at the International AIDS Society Conference (IAS Virtual 2020) on HIV and ageing. The presentation was drawn from “Living Positive in Queensland: a qualitative longitudinal study of ageing, place and social isolation (LPQ)”
QPP partnered with the University of Queensland to research the lives of people that live rurally and regionally across Queensland. This study has followed the lives of 72 people living with HIV across Queensland through a series of qualitative interviews for the last four years and finished in late 2016. LPQ specifically aimed to understand the complexities of the relationship between the experiences of HIV, ageing and other factors and examine the experiences of social isolation of people living with HIV in rural and regional settings in Queensland including the effects on issues such as stigma, sexual negotiation, and prejudice.
The IAS presentation highlighted the concerns people expressed about the uncertainty of ageing with HIV. Feelings of invisibility that many older and people living longer term with HIV experience were also discussed. Despite the many challenges experienced by participants, the presentation highlighted the ability of many participants to develop resilience which was key to successful ageing.
The research was also published in AIDSMAP and can be found here:
Please do not forget to check out our website for our events or give one of our team a call.
Stay connected and keep yourself safe!
QPP is Hiring (and so is LGBTI Legal Service)
See below for some great job opportunities with QPP and our community sector friends, over visit https://www.qpp.org.au/about/employment-opportunities
| HIV/STI TEST FACILITATOR RAPID – TOWNSVILLE
Queensland Positive People is seeking an HIV/STI Test Facilitator to work out of the RAPID clinic within the Townsville Sexual Health and HIV Service. The primary purpose of HIV/STI Test Facilitator position is to provide HIV/STI testing and education to people who believe they may have been at risk of contracting HIV. This will require the delivery of time-limited interventions that involve conducting appropriate test procedures, discussion of sexual health strategies and the delivery of results. Applications must be received by 5pm Thursday, 10 September 2020. |
HIV/STI TEST FACILITATOR RAPID – BRISBANE
Queensland Positive People is seeking an HIV/STI Test Facilitator to work out of the RAPID clinic within the Townsville Sexual Health and HIV Service. The primary purpose of HIV/STI Test Facilitator position is to provide HIV/STI testing and education to people who believe they may have been at risk of contracting HIV. This will require the delivery of time-limited interventions that involve conducting appropriate test procedures, discussion of sexual health strategies and the delivery of results. Applications must be received by 5pm Monday, 28 September 2020. |
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| STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION CASE MANAGER
The primary purpose of the Stigma and Discrimination Case Manager is to provide time-limited advocacy and referral for those PLHIV who experience HIV related stigma, discrimination or other HIV related legal problems affecting their quality of life. The position will assess individuals for legal/advocacy support and provide information or refer as necessary to relevant external legal, government and non-government services. The position will build and develop referral pathways and enhance the capacity of the team through the development of resources and education. Applications must be received by 5pm Tuesday, 15 September 2020. |
Solicitor – LGBTI Legal Service
The LGBTI Legal Service Inc. provides high quality legal advice and support to the LGBTI community in the areas of discrimination, employment law, criminal law, civil law, family law, domestic violence and child protection. The Solicitor will work within the Service and the position aims to provide enhanced access to legal assistance in a range of legal matters To apply, please forward your resume and covering letter addressing the selection criteria to solicitor@lgbtilegalservice.org by Monday, 7 September 2020, with the following subject line: [Your Surname], [Your First Name]: Solicitor Application. |
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ONLINE SOCIAL GROUPS
R U OK? Day is on 10 September 2020. It’s a national day of action when we remind Australians that every day is the day to ask, “Are you OK?” if you think someone you know is struggling with life’s challenges.
For next week’s QPP online social group, let us take some time out to check in and see how we are all doing. We will have Peer Navigators online to provide any support needed as we chat through some tough stuff too.
Click here to register – https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUoc-6oqzopH9PjGHjJay44k0wKFB2ziEDO
Did you miss our Book Week online social? The facilitator Glenn has posted a list of all the books discussed on the Event Facebook post, check them out and while you’re visiting, follow the page to see all our events as soon as they’re out there!
Get the list & follow QPP on Facebook
Positively Women
One of our QPP members, Kim Oatley in conjunction with the Kirby Institute is planning to run two online art workshops during the month of October, with 6 women in each workshop (12 total). Due to the limited spaces, we encourage women who may be interested to contact the Research Manager, Patricia Morgan (cc’d), as soon as possible.
- Deadline for expressions of interest is Saturday 12 September
- Email: positivelywomen@kirby.unsw.edu.au
- Phone: +61 2 9385 9018
Everyone who self-identifies as a woman living with HIV (including cis, trans and gender diverse women), 18 years of age or older, in every state and territory is welcome to participate. We will select participants according to two core principles:
- reflect the diversity of women living with HIV in Australia (including by age, gender, sexuality, culture, ethnicity, disability, relationship context, geography, etc.)
- support opportunities for community capacity building (prioritizing both more experienced leaders in the community and those who may be less well-connected)
Please do not hesitate to be in touch should you have any questions and many thanks in advance for your continued support
2020 Joint Australasian HIV&AIDS + Sexual Health Conferences: VIRTUAL – COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
The ASHM Scholarship Program is open for applications to 2020 Joint Australasian HIV&AIDS + Sexual Health Conferences: VIRTUAL to be held from Monday 16 – Friday 20 November 2020.
DEADLINE: Applications will close on Sunday 27 September, 2020 at 11:59pm AEST.
To be eligible you must:
- Be a person living with HIV in Australia AND/OR
- Be a volunteer working in the HIV&AIDS sector AND/OR
- Working for a community grassroots non-government organisation.
Priority will be given to:
- Women, Migrants and People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people, Heterosexuals, Sex Workers, People who use drugs, Trans people, People from custodial settings.
- Applicants who have not received funding from ASHM in the past – particularly in the last 2 years, and people living with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.
Scholarship Inclusions:
- Full VIRTUAL Registration for the conference.
Terms and Conditions:
- All applicants must complete the application form truthfully and advise ASHM if their situation changes.
- All scholarship holders will be expected to provide report backs from the conference (according to specific guidelines). The nature of the report back will be negotiated with the recipient.
Only apply for a scholarship if you do not have access to the following:
- Funds from a research grant to cover attendance at this meeting.
- Access to professional development funds available through your employer, such as health department, university funds and Training, Education & Study Leave (TESL) in your state.
- Funding from a pharmaceutical or other industry partner.
- Financial support from your employer.
Important Note: Reimbursements cannot and will not be provided registrations, that have already been paid for. ASHM will pay for these directly on your behalf to fulfil the requirements of the grants. All other incurred expenses are not included.
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