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2022-2023 Annual Report

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About Queensland Positive People

About us

Our Strategic Plan

About us

Board President and CEO Messages

About us

Patron Statement

About us

Peer HIV/STI Prevention and Testing

Delivering whole of life programs

Peer Support and Navigation

Delivering whole of life programs

Community Development and Education

Delivering whole of life programs

HIV Treatment and Management

Delivering whole of life programs

Ageing and Disability

Delivering whole of life programs

Stigma & Discrimination

Delivering whole of life programs

Funding Relief for PLHIV

Delivering whole of life programs

World AIDS Day

Inclusive and innovative services

HIV Stigma Campaign

Inclusive and innovative services

Reaching Our Community

Inclusive and innovative services

Reconciliation, Inclusion, Diversity and Belonging

Inclusive and innovative services

Accessibility

Inclusive and innovative services

IAS Conference on HIV Science

Enhancing relationships

Volunteers

Enhancing relationships

State of the Nation

Enhancing relationships

Community Events

Enhancing relationships

Membership

Enhancing relationships

Peer & Staff Training

Best practice standards

Advocacy

Best practice standards

Research

Best practice standards

Positioning QPP for the future

Strengthening funding

Tributes

More of the year

Service to Our Community

More of the year

Acknowledgements

More of the year

Financial Statements

More of the year

About us

About Queensland Positive People

Strategic plan

Our 2021-2025 QPP Strategic Plan informs delivery of our whole of life programs, ensures our services and inclusive and innovative, promotes enhancing our relationships with our communities and stakeholders, whilst keeping us focused on maintaining best practice standards and strengthening our funding for the future. You can explore our progress towards our goals below.

Board President and CEO messages

From the President 

If you haven’t looked at QPP’s Strategic Plan lately I would encourage you to do so. It sets out the program areas QPP has committed to work on to improve the quality of life for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and reduce the transmission of HIV and STIs across Queensland through until 2025. In this Annual Report we are pleased to provide an update on our progress, and whilst you will see that we have made good headway on some fronts, in other areas we still have much to do.  

Below, in no particular order, let me share with you some of my highs and lows of the past year. 

Mark Counter

Board President – Queensland Positive People

CEO report 

We have so much to be incredibly proud of and grateful for this year. 

In Queensland and nationally, there have been significant historic shifts for people living with HIV in improved access to treatment and testing, and commitment for legal and migration reforms.

We have also had the opportunity to mobilise community leadership and contributions and connect locally, nationally and globally with researchers, academics, clinicians, policy makers, funders and politicians.

Our success is the result of the collective efforts of our dedicated team, the support of our community and clients and our unwavering commitment to excellence. 

Our other key achievements in 2022/2023 were:

Melissa Warner

Chief Executive Officer – Queensland Positive People

Patron statement

Once again, I am pleased to offer a few words in support of QPP and the HOPE Fund in respect of the work in the fields of HIV, scientific, social and community activities during the years 2022 and 2023 to date.

QPP continued to deliver services and activities as in the past.  In collaboration with QPP, Queensland was host to two HIV conferences.  These were the Australasian HIV and Sexual Conference on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, in September 2022 and the International HIV Science Conference in Brisbane in July 2023.  Whilst these activities, especially the second, consumed enormous amounts of time and energy, they were important opportunities to describe the contemporaneous response in Australia and the measure of success and difficulties that inevitably arise.

The annual report of QPP set out the progress made in Queensland in respect of HIV, human rights and the law during the reporting period.  QPP has been advocating decriminalisation of HIV to reflect the opinions and recommendations of national and international bodies, specifically of the UNDP Global Commission on HIV and the Law and the UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights.  The efforts resulted in a Queensland roundtable in May 2023, including many relevant community organisations.  I praise and support the work of QPP in all that it has been doing in this regard to bring Queensland law and policy into line with the international gold standard. 

In fact, Australia has been a leader in providing the measures necessary to comply with universal human rights and to ensure the greatest possible effectiveness of the Queensland HIV response and legislative landscape.  In addition to changes in statutory law, alteration in police practice, and the response of the public sector have been important. 

Paradoxically, and contrary to the intuitive response of some observers, the best way in which to tackle the transmission of HIV is to reach out to, and support those who are living with HIV.  This has proved, in Australia, the best strategy for improving health outcomes alongside with efforts to ensure all persons who are diagnosed with HIV are placed as quickly as possible in a position of access to antiretroviral medication and other treatment.  Such treatment prevents transmission of HIV, by allowing an undetectable viral load to be maintained.

There are many other achievements that are included in this report.  I congratulate QPP and the HOPE Fund for their ongoing activities to support those who are living with HIV and the communities in which they live, who also deserve and need the most effective protection.

The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG^*

Patron – Queensland Positive People

^*Former Justice of the High Court of Australia.  Inaugural member of the WHO Global Commission on AIDS (1989-92); Commissioner of the UNDP Global Commission on HIV and the Law (2011-12); Member of the UNAIDS Expert Group on HIV and Human Rights (1996-2020).

Delivering whole of life programs

Delivering whole of life programs

Peer HIV and STI prevention and point of care testing

RAPID clinic: a record-breaking year!

We’ve been there for 9 HIV diagnoses, 59 cases of syphilis, 340 gonorrhoea detections, and 753 chlamydia positives.

You can explore the below data in greater detail but hovering over each data point you are interested in, and display/omit data by clicking on the chosen option/s from the key below.

RAPID’s mail out HIV self-testing program: expanding reach and enhancing impact

Peer support and navigation

Peer navigation program  

Social groups

Community development and education

Digital Health Connect

HIV treatment and management

Continued success supporting people to engage in care and overcome barriers. 

Ageing and disability

Introducing our new Aged Care Navigation service 

First Queensland Ageing Forum for people living with HIV 

Stigma & discrimination

The QPP and the HIV/AIDS Legal Service partnership continues to demonstrate community need

Modern medicine and scientific strides in understanding and treating HIV have allowed many people living with HIV to manage their health successfully and achieve improved health outcomes.  

However, a continued lack of widespread understanding of HIV  means stigma and discrimination remains one of the most  significant pervasive final barrier for the community.  

The QPP/HALC partnership has provided legal services and information to 68 people living with HIV in Queensland, including 43 people born overseas.  

Services have been extended to include a weekly legal clinic providing discreet legal services in any area of law to improve legal literacy for people living with HIV. The legal clinic is provided by phone, online, or in person at the QPP Brisbane office.  

HALC provides legal advice, information, referrals, assistance with legal tasks and representation services including dispute resolutions and attendance at courts/tribunals relating to HIV and immigration, discrimination, disclosure, employment, child protection, domestic violence, financial and consumer matters.  

During this reporting period, HALC have also assisted in: 

• Supporting QPP in advocacy efforts to decriminalise HIV in Queensland. For further information on QPP’s advocacy efforts broadly here. 
• Updating the QPP disclosure guide, which details the requirements around disclosing HIV status to employers, sexual partners, insurers and other external parties according to the most up to date laws and regulations. 
• Education and training for QPP staff including development of the QPP Advocacy Guide for QPP staff to provide support to clients and other general information about legal-related matters including confidentiality protections, disclosure, insurance and more.  

If you are a person living with HIV and you need legal support – please contact us here.

Funding relief for people living with HIV

The HOPE Fund continues to support community members in need

The Hats Off Positive Endeavour (HOPE) Fund was established on 1 February 2006 by co-founders David Bermingham and Simon O’Connor to support people living with HIV in need in Queensland. The Fund provides small grants for goods and services to PLHIV who are experiencing financial hardship, have a demonstrated material need, or are looking to improve their lives. 

The Fund is an initiative of Oz Showbiz Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and QPP, in partnership with the Queensland Council for LGBTI Health(QC). The grants committee comprises of a representative from each organisation who decide the outcome of each application. 

Nineteen people living with HIV were supported through The HOPE Fund in 2022/2023 with the total amount awarded being $ 18,771.65. 

The balance of The HOPE Fund at 30 June 2023, after all grants were awarded and paid, was $83,090.00. 

Ensuring Access to Medication

The HIV Emergency Treatment Fund (ETF) is a QPP-managed program that is funded by Queensland Health on an annual basis. The ETF provides short term financial assistance for all people living with HIV residing in Queensland (including people ineligible for Medicare) experiencing financial hardship to support early and ongoing engagement in HIV-related treatment and services.  

Support includes clinical consultations for Medicare-ineligible people living with HIV, and costs for medication, food, communication (e.g., phone credit), travel, and emergency accommodation. Other items that may affect medication adherence can also be applied for.   

This year, the ETF provided $14,075.73 of financial assistance to 78 people living with HIV. 71 were Medicare-eligible and 7 were Medicare-ineligible. People supported were born in 17 different countries and resided across Queensland.   

We expect the number of ETF applications to remain constant throughout the next year. We do however expect to see applications for HIV medication decline, due to the Queensland Government’s recent commitment to make HIV treatments free for all. This means that the ETF will be able to provide increased assistance to improve their health.

Supporting our clients to address barriers

The ‘CCF’ is an annual fund provided by Queensland Health to QPP to support people with complex needs.  To be eligible to access the fund people need to be referred to QPP by the HIV Public Health Team (HPHT). The primary aim of the fund is to support people with practical assistance to address barriers which are impacting their ability to engage in HIV treatment and care. 

Applications to the fund are made by HPHT and QPP case managers for people who are collaboratively supported. A committee comprising of representatives from QPP and the Communicable Diseases Branch assess applications to the fund. 

Inclusive and innovative services

Inclusive and innovative services

World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day 2022 – Boldly Positive

Held on 1 December, World AIDS Day is the longest-running awareness initiative of its kind. Since 1988, World AIDS Day and the iconic red ribbon raise awareness about issues surrounding HIV/AIDS and commemorate those lost to the pandemic. While fundraising is no longer a primary focus, funds raised for World AIDS Day across Queensland are donated to The HOPE Fund.

The 2022 key message was derived from community feedback that those living with HIV shouldn’t be ashamed of their HIV status. To help disrupt this internalised stigma, the message: “Boldly Positive” was phrased. This message could was also used by allies to promote acceptance amongst the wider community whilst empowering those living with HIV.

QPP in partnership with Queensland Council for LGBTI Health (QC) and the Queensland World AIDS Day Alliance (QWADA), led by the HIV positive voice, developed curated messages where where there had been substantial changes in the response to HIV or more work was required.

• Large colourful digital billboards at four key sites throughout Queensland. This was a two-week campaign, running from 27 November to 3 December 2022. The Digital Billboard Campaign had approximately 1.1 million views.
• Supporting the key sites, an additional 36 sites throughout Queensland, joined on the campaign for World AIDS Day, showing in digital roadside billboards, bus shelters, and in shopping centres. This increased the reach of campaign to all parts of Queensland, being seen by more than 12,000 people.
• A media pack with World AIDS Day messages including U=U, PrEP, HIV Support and Stigma & Discrimination was translated into 5 languages with the support of ECCQ and was made available for download.
• The Brisbane Candlelight Vigil was planned to be an in-person and online event but was held online only due to poor weather. The live stream has been viewed by more than 500 people.
• The Cairns Vigil, held at the Cairns Esplanade, was attended by at least 75 community members with more online.  
• Both candlelight vigils included a reading of lives lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic commemorating those the community have honoured and remembered throughout the 40-year history, with the Cairns Vigil including a community gathering afterwards.
• Many buildings and structures around the state were illuminated in red throughout World AIDS week and on World AIDS Day, with local councils and the Queensland state government again continuing their support.

Six World AIDS Day grants were awarded to community groups across regional Queensland, runnings 8 events for their communities. QPP and QC worked collaboratively to implement and promote the Regional Grants Program. Through this program we were able to raise awareness and amplify the HIV positive voice through the following events:

• Sunshine Coast World AIDS Day Remembrance Lunch – QC
• Gold Coast World AIDS Day Vigil – Gold Coast Rainbow Communities
• World AIDS Day Women’s Circle Luncheon – Herbert Street Family Medical Centre Bowen
• World AIDS Day Men’s Group BBQ – Herbert Street Family Medical Centre Bowen
• Townsville World AIDS Day Remembrance – Townsville Sexual Health
• Townsville World AIDS Day Awareness Lunch – Townsville Sexual Health collaborating with QuIHN and Public Health Team
• Toowoomba World AIDS Day Morning Tea – Carbal Medical Services
• Mt Isa World AIDS Day Information Stall – North West Hospital and Health Service, partnered with Gidgee Healing & Young People Ahead

In addition to collaborating on the World AIDS Day Vigils and regional events, a number of other events were supported with in-kind assistance for promotion, resources, and organisation. These included:

• Metro Series 4 “Red Ribbon” Performance – Bowen Hills – Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO)
• World AIDS Day Reflections – Maryborough & Hervey Bay – QC
• ECCQ World AIDS Day Multicultural Community Forum – Inala – Ethnic Community Council of Queensland
• World AIDS Day Information & Red Ribbon Stall – Ipswich – West Moreton Sexual Health & BBV Clinic
• World AIDS Day Stall – Yarrabah Youth Festival
• World AIDS Day & HIV Awareness Week – Cairns Sexual Health
• World AIDS Day Afternoon Tea – McCullough and Robertson Lawyers

HIV stigma campaign

Being part of the change to HIV stigma

We asked our community in 2021 through our engagement survey what we could do better.  One thing resonated more clearly than anything else; we need to do something meaningful about HIV stigma. We listened.

HIV stigma is frequently experienced by people living with HIV in everyday settings, from everyday people. We wanted to create a campaign, about people living with HIV that speaks to everyday people and reduce HIV stigma.

In late 2022, with the support of Gilead Sciences, ViiV Healthcare, Queensland Health, and NAPWHA we contacted the Nick Deane from Wonderkarma who we could trust with such a campaign. Nick presented us with an offer too good to be true – a partnership to change the conversation around HIV.  Along with his team, together we (really they) set about crafting an incredible, bold, vibrant, and positive campaign.

Launched at the Unity Vibes community event at the start of IAS 2023. So far, the campaign has been seen by hundreds of thousands of people on digital billboards with thanks to the amazing support of QMS Media and Zenith Media, on TV and radio thanks to Nine and SBS, in QNews, and in newspapers, and on social media and more. More results of the campaign will be presented in next year’s annual report.

This campaign would be nothing without its ambassadors – the faces of our campaign.

Jimmy

Christabel

Monty

Terrilee

John

Stephanie

Greg

Susan

Clint

It’s a big ask for many to be open about their HIV status.  Not only to the people you know, but to the people you don’t. With the support of our partner organisations, we consulted our communities and called out for ambassadors, not just from within Queensland but Australia wide.  This was never a campaign just for us, it is for everyone, to everyone.

Our campaign will be one of, if not the most significant, positive organisation led HIV campaigns ever seen in this country. No fear mongering, no Grim Reaper, no feeling sorry for us, just vibrant, unique, real people with HIV, sharing their story, and living a long and positive life.

Reaching our community

Growing our community influence

Over the past twelve months, we have been working both in front of and behind the scenes to improve the way we communicate to people living with HIV, and about people living with HIV to the broader community.   Our QPP Engagement Survey highlighted areas where work was needed and where improvements could still be made on existing strong foundations. This past year, we worked towards launching our latest and largest campaign to address HIV stigma ever, read more here, together with evolving and updating our website, and improving our social media reach.

Our new website, redeveloped and launched last year, has incredibly well received, allowing easier access to a wealth of information about HIV, and what we do at QPP.  We also know that the site’s content is being highly ranked in online searches, and the information and articles is often used to answer questions related to HIV inputted into search engines. We love that our up to date and contextual information is being used by Google and others to answer their questions.

Our main QPP website was accessed by over unique 3,000 visitors each month last year, many returning several times across the year. 

Our site’s pages on RAPID HIV/STI Testing, Cost of HIV Treatment, HIV Disclosure, and the Law are proving especially popular. This was similar to the previous 12 months.

Our QPP Facebook reached 197,000 people, which is a more than an 1800% increase on the previous year.

We had 3,653 page visits, up 270% on the previous year, with 92 more followers to our page, which is a 44% increase from the previous year. If you aren’t already following us on Facebook, maybe it’s time you should.

In addition to this significant upward trend in Facebook reach and use, we used paid Facebook ads on a variety of events and health related information which reached a further 275,000 people.

QPP creates newsletters, social media, and promotions for QPP, health and education, community events and opportunities of interest.

Throughout the year, we delivered our regular QPP Plus community newsletter – it delivers an easy to read, colourful approach on everything QPP is engaged in at the time.  If you aren’t receiving your copy in your inbox, let us know so we can add you to the list.

Through all these different methods, we continued the important work of educating our community around coming social events, research, volunteering opportunities, and acknowledging important days of significance like World AIDS Day. We also had in significant increase of volunteering opportunities and events with IAS in Brisbane in 2023. You can read more about those here.

Reconciliation, diversity, inclusion and belonging

Building a culturally competent organisation  

Building a culturally competent organisation at QPP has been a continued commitment over the last 12 months. The combination of the board’s self-evaluation, the development of the management team, changes to the Anti-Discrimination Bill, undergoing accreditation and the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) has led the organisation to broaden our understanding of governance, best practise and discrimination and how we can be more inclusive and responsive to diverse cultures.  

We are not expected to become experts in all cultures; rather, to have systems and processes that support the organisation and staff to be skilled in respecting and responding to cultures. 

To date, we have implemented training and staff development, with advice from consultants and the Human Rights Commission, at our staff and board meetings.  

The first priority in our journey of embracing diversity, inclusion and belonging has been the reconciliation commitment. We  have been working closely with Reconciliation Australia and in 2022, QPP launched our Reflect RAP.  We’d like to also thank First Nations artist Nigooli for their ‘Working Together’ artwork proudly featured in our RAP. You can learn more about the artist and work here.

Undertaking the Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan has prompted the organisation to begin a journey where we change how we think, how we communicate, and how we operate regarding First Nations peoples and working towards being more inclusive and respectful.  

We understand building meaningful relationships with First Nations communities is a long-term commitment and an ongoing process which will take time and years to build.

Accessibility

Successful grant awarded to install inclusive accessibility ramps at Manilla Street

In alignment with our organisational values and commitment to inclusion, we recognise access to our buildings is an important consideration when it comes to considering inclusion of all abilities.   

At Ann St we have an outdoor lift offering access to ground floor level at the RAPID clinic, but at Manilla St we had difficult to utilise ramps, disrupting easy access to enter and exit our building for our visitors.   

The Operations Team were tasked with sourcing a grant to fund us to build a permanent solution for Manilla Street.  Larah, with support from the team, composed and submitted a proposal to the Gambling Community Benefit Fund from Liquor, Gaming and Fair Trading.   

We are so proud and happy to announce that Queensland Government and the Gambling Community Benefit Fund from Liquor, Gaming and Fair Trading approved our proposal! 

The work has now been completed and we are excited to be able to provide easy access to all members of our community from our front door and also to our lovely courtyard.   

Enhancing relationships

Enhancing relationships

IAS Conference on HIV Science

Queensland’s colourful connections: IAS 2023 Positive Lounge

QPP proudly designed and hosted the Positive Lounge at the IAS 2023 12^th Conference on HIV Science, held in the Sky Room, at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC), South Brisbane, in late July. 

The Positive Lounge (PL or ‘Poz Lounge’) is a dedicated space within the conference venue for delegates living with and affected by HIV from across the globe. This is where people can recharge, refresh, and relax in a welcoming and nurturing environment. The allocated room for the Positive Lounge within the BCEC was the beautiful top-floor Sky Room and outdoor Sky Terrace, offering privacy, accessibility, and stunning views to the Brisbane city skyline. 

QPP were excited and honoured to lead the co-design of the Positive Lounge, working directly with the IAS team, and with input from members of a convened Positive Lounge working group, to be able to influence the theming and comforts for inclusions for our guests to enjoy.  

QPP’s team member Riss, relished the opportunity for Queensland and our diverse PLHIV Community to be represented as part of the bigger global HIV story, and hoped to convey a little of Queensland’s uniqueness and colour, for the many guests visiting from both interstate, and internationally to enjoy. 

The theming for the Positive Lounge was inspired and influenced by the IAS 2023 Indigenous artwork Kurrpara Mirndingunyas “Three Paths”, by Leah Cummins.  

The focus was also on privileging Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and representing a uniquely Indigenous themed décor, colour selections, and fresh Australian wildflowers and natives were consciously chosen. 

It was also important to focus on privileging people living with HIV and focusing on the ways we could delight our guests through the offer of Refreshing, Recharging and Relaxing amenities and offerings.  

Positive Lounge guests were invited to participate in creative, collaborative, artistic activities, with the final completed artwork kept as a QPP legacy IAS 2023 memento. Creative materials were made available for Positive Lounge guests to access and utilise, with the aim of promoting benefits of creative engagement, expression, and well-being. We are big advocates for promoting the proven benefits of engaging with creative activities, including reducing feelings of stress and loneliness, with Riss stating “It can help to boost confidence and make us feel more engaged and resilient.” Art engagement also alleviates anxiety, depression, and stress. 

“…(T)he amazing Positive Lounge at the conference where I so proudly saw our wonderful volunteers going out of their way to make our guests from all over the world feel welcome, and doing it with grace, even when I could tell (like us all) they were running out of energy”

Mark Counter, QPP President

The Positive Lounge commenced on the 2^nd day of the conference, with a small, intimate opening ceremony providing opportunity to gather and respectfully give acknowledgments, to Country, to Peoples, to acknowledge sponsors and introduce Positive Lounge Volunteers. 

Located just outside the Positive Lounge entrance, a poster exhibition ‘You and U=U’ showcased Undetectable Equals Untransmissible (U=U) campaigns and messaging from community organisations across the world. 

The exhibition highlighted how the science of U=U is communicated and how each nation relayed different health and social messages to their communities.

The Positive Lounge contributed to the overall historical IAS 2023 legacy for people living with HIV and Queensland and was overwhelmingly well-received and enjoyed by many guests from across the world.  

It is estimated the IAS 2023 Positive Lounge welcomed and received at least 400 visitations.

The IAS2023 Positive Lounge was funded by the International AIDS Society (IAS), sponsored by conference partner Gilead Sciences, and hosted by Queensland Positive People. The National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA) also provided generous additional support.  

The Positive Lounge was staffed by six IAS volunteers. Four Volunteers were connected to QPP as either Peer Navigation staff or Community Advisory Group members, and two volunteers connected with Living Positive Victoria (LPV). 

HIV Science as Art

HIV Science as Art, which exhibited 24 July to August 5 at Metro Arts in Brisbane, paired twelve artists living with HIV and leading researchers whose work and findings were presented at IAS 2023. The aim of the project was to communicate the latest in basic, clinical, epidemiological and social research in a visual and emotional language that speaks to the lived realities the community faces. 

The original artworks displayed at HIV Science as Art were auctioned online through the run of the exhibition. Anyone in the world could bid on the pieces. A limited edition set of art prints of each work, an exhibition catalogue and set of postcards are still available for sale on QPP’s Website. All funds raised through the sale of the original artworks and merchandise will be used to fund micro grants towards projects supporting people living with HIV in Asia and the Pacific. 

I’ve been covering HIV scientific conferences since 1998. Never before have I have witnessed such a strong, skilled and committed community presence in such an event. QPP has set a new standard at a very high level. Congratulations, this was impressive!

David H.-U. Haerry – Positive Council Zurich Switzerland 

HIV Science as Art was a collaboration between the IAS and NAPWHA, funding by ViiV Healthcare, supported by QThink Consulting, Metro Arts and QPP.  

Volunteers

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers 

From gardening in our courtyard to co-ordinating, hosting and cooking at our social groups, we greatly appreciate the support our volunteers provide QPP with their time and their generous spirit.   This support allows us to further engage our community and provide them with safe, friendly, and beautiful spaces to enjoy.  

In our garden, we now have basil and other herbs, cherry tomatoes, marigolds, passionfruit and a lemon tree happily growing in our concrete courtyard that has now been expertly cared for and softened now with healthy greenery. 

Thank you to all of you who have given up your time and your weekends, and for your tireless effort contributing to the work we do for our community. We couldn’t do it without you. 

State of the Nation

Community events

The CWC Cabaret continues to sparkle

In August 2023 and March 2023, long time venue and supporter, The Sportsman Hotel was filled to capacity for our Citizens Welfare Committee (CWC) Charity Cabarets. These events, a much-anticipated highlight of the Brisbane drag scene, have been running every year for more than 30 years, helping to raise much-needed funds for people living with HIV in Queensland.

A unique and diverse cavalcade of over 30 performers, donate their time, talent, and enthusiasm all to raise funds and support QPP.

Membership

Become a QPP member

Best practice standards

Best practice standards

Peer leadership and staff training

Positive Leadership Develop Institute (PLDI Aust/NZ) 

IAS 2023 Conference on HIV Science

Staff training and professional development helps us better serve our community

Advocacy

HIV, human rights and the law

New consent laws in Queensland 

Research

QPP research activities

Strengthening funding

Strengthening funding

Positioning QPP for the future

Positioning QPP for the future

Where to from here?  

More of the year

More of the year

Tributes

Vale Matthew Hall

QPP Board, staff and friends were deeply saddened by the news of Matthew Hall’s sudden passing this year.  Matt was a passionate and devoted HIV advocate. 

Growing up in Melbourne, Matt was an elite junior sportsperson, in both basketball and AFL. In 1997, a couple of years after being diagnosed with HIV, he attempted to register for the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). His application was denied, and he was subsequently banned from competing in the sport he loved. 

Undeterred by the discrimination he was subjected to, Matt challenged their ruling, with the support of HIV specialist Dr Darren Russell, and by 1999, he had won, winning the hearts, and changing the minds of the football loving Victorians along the way. The changes to the ‘blood rule’ that occurred due to Matt’s case, are a legacy not just for AFL, but to many sporting codes throughout the world. 

Matt moved to Queensland about 20 years ago, following another one of his passions; motorsport. His positive impact on the HIV community continued here too.  

In 2018, Matt shared his story about HIV stigma, which you can watch below. This powerful film will form yet another part of his enduring legacy to the Queensland and Australian HIV community. 

Our thoughts remain with Matt’s family, friends, and colleagues.  

Matt became a member of QPP in 2016, joining our board in the same year, a real insight into how engaged he was in making a difference. He served in a number of roles including President in 2019. Together with his work on the Positive Speakers Bureau, his impact on QPP and our community is profound. 

Service to our community

Acknowledging Chris Howard 

Long time advocate, Chris Howard leaves his post as QPP’s Executive Programs Manager after nine years of service.  Chris was responsible for overseeing service development and delivery for the treatment and care services including peer navigation and case management programs, advocacy, community engagement and education.  

Chris has worked in the HIV sector in Queensland, in paid and voluntary capacities for over 26 years and has been living with HIV for 36 years.    

Chris has engaged in HIV research in Queensland and in Australia for the past 12 years and is the co-author of over 15 peer reviewed papers. He is also the former Treasurer/Secretary of the National Association of People with HIV Australia and has been an active participant on national and international working and advisory groups for many years. 

The Board and staff of QPP wishes to recognise the passion, advocacy and contributions Chris has delivered in the HIV sector, particularly during his time at QPP. 

Chris’s driving purpose has always been the quality of life for people living with HIV, as he was determined to make change and pioneer new innovations in service delivery.  

Chris leaves QPP a significant legacy through his work, a lasting and meaningful impact of which we are all proud, demonstrated in the exceptional client services we deliver today. 

Acknowledgements

Some of the many people and organisations we would like to thank

Financial Statements