Our History
Queensland Positive People has proudly represented people living with HIV since 1989.
The History of Queensland Positive People
Queensland Positive People has proudly represented people living with HIV since 1989. We have come a long way since we sat under the auspice of the (then) Queensland AIDS Council (QuAC).
QPP is very proud of the diversity we represent; our board members are all HIV-positive and active members of our community. With our passionate team, QPP believes that we can achieve the increased wellness of Queenslanders living with HIV, plus the elimination of HIV transmission. Through our past challenges and successes, we are confident that QPP, as the organisation representing all people living with HIV in Queensland, can work in partnership with government and other community-based organisations to ensure our joint efforts make that happen and that we set an example of innovation and excellence in our response to HIV across the state.
1988
At the Third National Conference on HIV/AIDS in Hobart 1988, a group of brave attendees marched on stage as openly HIV-positive, protesting the lack of visibility and inclusion of PLHIV in the national response to AIDS. Among this group was Reg Carnell, who, inspired by the energy and momentum generated from the conference, returned to Queensland with a bold vision: creating a state-wide PLHIV group led by PLHIV.
Many thoughts crossed my mind after the… conferences that I had attended and the need was seen for something to be done for People Living With AIDS in Queensland… Decisions on future issues will be made by those people who are directly affected. We shall no longer be told what to do or what is best for us, but shall be making the decisions for ourselves.
Reg Carnell 1989
1989
Reg Carnell, Bill Leebody and Rob Allender among a group of PLHIV founded Queensland Positive People on February 26th, 1989. As the first QPP Convenor, Reg chose the name for its uplifting spirit: positive by name, positive by nature, positive by status. QPP found its feet thanks to the generous support of the Queensland AIDS Council (QuAC), the Sisters of Mercy, and an amazing host of compassionate, community-spirited carers and volunteers. Six people attended the first QPP meeting and all held hands around the meeting table and gave thanks QPP was up and running.
The Allen St House, at No. 5 Allen St, Mater Hill opened its doors for PLHIV and allies as a drop-in centre, where people could access amenities, counselling, medical services or simply chat to a friendly volunteer. Allen St became the headquarters of QPP and a weekly open day was held on Fridays, which always concluded with a shared meal. Attendance rapidly grew with many new faces each week, until the number of people attending far exceeded the capacity of the small house and a back terrace was installed with QPP’s own funds to provide additional space. Many QPP members have fond memories of Allen St and the wonderful, welcoming community spirit that felt like family.
1990
The first edition of the QPP ALIVE magazine was printed in September 1990 and the publication continued for 25 years through to 2015. Magazines were filled with articles relating to diet, nutrition, treatment options, uplifting real-life stories and topics of interest to positive people. QPP ALIVE connected the positive community throughout Queensland.
1993
Reg Carnell passed away on 25th September 1993. His photograph was placed above the Allen St visitor’s sign-in book and one minute’s silence was observed in honour of all the QPP members who had since lost their lives to AIDS. We have been forever grateful to Reg Carnell and all the other early activists who worked so courageously to build QPP, for their sacrifices and contributions to fighting AIDS, often with failing health and for giving hope to PLHIV in Queensland.
1994
The first Candlelight Vigil in Brisbane was held in the late 1980’s, but it wasn’t until 1994 that a dedicated committee annualised the event. Approximately 2,000 people attended the inaugural Candlelight Vigil at Southbank Parklands, publicly sharing their grief and showing their support for PLHIV. This is an opportunity each year for the community to come together to reflect on special memories of the friends, family and lovers we’ve sadly lost.
1999
Queensland Positive People proudly celebrated 10 years of growth and service to the positive community. Throughout the decade, QPP provided invaluable support to the newly diagnosed and terminally ill, regular Friday night social events, HIV outreach education, and organised simple weekend away stays for QPP members, who in many cases had limited financial resources. These feats were accomplished through the immeasurable generosity and tireless hard work of unpaid QPP members, carers and volunteers. After the advent of new drugs and combination therapy in 1996, PLHIV began experiencing new levels of wellness. Many QPP members felt a new strength to push harder to assert their position as a strong community organisation. We are immensely proud to be continuing this vision many years later.
2002
Queensland AIDS Memorial Quilt was officially unfolded on 27 November, 2002 at the Brisbane Powerhouse A panel bears the names of QPP members whose lives were lost to AIDS: Richard, Andrie, Ben, Mark, Alan, Lyn, Lee, Greg, Ross, Doug, Phillip, Warren, Bill, Reg, Patrick, Phillip, Ross, Jason, Glen, Ted, Keith, David, Jeff. Although sadly we do not know the stories of all 23 of these names, we are immensely proud to honour them and are grateful for their sacrifice and dedication to QPP
2003
Queensland Positive People officially incorporated on 5 December. This marked a significant step forward, as it gave QPP the right to advocate directly with Queensland Health on issues and services relating to HIV. As a newly incorporated organisation, QPP successfully secured a tender for the HIV Positive Education and Support Program to fund a small range of peer-support services. The Health Enhancement and Monitoring Project (HEMP) commenced to coordinate service-delivery and community support initiatives. This same year also saw us move into new premises, from the Allen Street Centre, to Vulture Street, South Brisbane.
2004
QPP welcomed Simon O’Connor to the role of CEO (then called General Manager) of QPP, a position which he held for 15 years. Simon worked with the community to fortify QPP’s position as an independent community organisation, successfully increased funding, and recruited many staff, who all have been integral to QPP’s success. QPP and the community are forever grateful to Simon for his many years of commitment, passion, dedication and comradery.
QPP always recognised the importance and value in people living with HIV having significant input into the HIV response. In a renewed commitment to the MIPA Principle, it was decided to revert to the classes of membership that had originally been established to ensure only people living with HIV could stand for election to the QPP Board and vote on QPP business.
2005
With increasing demand for our services, 2005 was a year of enthusiastic growth for QPP that included a more full time staff, expanded locations across Queensland, establishment of the Queensland World AIDS Day Alliance (QWADA). Queensland’s first Planet Positive social event was held at the Pavilion at Southbank in 2005. Many PLHIV at the time were on the DSP pension and simply couldn’t afford a night out. Planet Positive was an opportunity to get together and connect with the community.
2006
In 2006, we began a review of our service delivery, as we moved away from a welfare model to supporting self-determination through the use of a self-help model. With this, QPP expanded the peer and social support events. On the 1st February that year, the Hats Off Positive Endeavour (HOPE) was founded by David Birmingham and Simon O’Connor to provide goods and other services to PLHIV in need. Donations to the fund are made by generous individuals as well as proceeds raised from World AIDS Day. The HOPE Fund is still in operation today.
2008
The QPSB was a not-for-profit, collaborative partnership, formally established in 2008 that facilitated public speaking programs nourished by the lived experiences of people living with HIV and Hepatitis. Engagements aimed to empower individuals and the audience to assist in breaking down stigma and discrimination.
2009
In 2009, QPP acquired a new home at 21 Manilla St East Brisbane. With the aid of a Capital Works Grant, and 18 months of extensive renovations and disruptions to the office, our new home was officially opened on 29 May 2010. QPP were joined by the Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Murray Watt MP to officially open the building with a ceremonial plaque. This is the first time in QPPs history that we have owned our own building and were the first state- based PLHIV organisation to achieve this incredible feat.
2010
QPP expanded our support services for people living with HIV outside of the South East Queensland region. We also celebrated our 21st birthday with a Planet Positive social event on 1 October at Brisbane’s Shafston Hotel. One-hundred guests attended and speakers included representatives from Queensland Health and NAPWHA.
2014
Queensland’s first RAPID HIV testing clinic in Fortitude Valley opened its doors in partnership between QPP, HIV Foundation Queensland (HIVFQ) and Queensland Health. RAPID provides free, rapid HIV and STI testing with results in only 20 minutes, facilitated by trained peers.
2016
With funding from Queensland Health, QPP created a dynamic, new LIFE+ Program. LIFE+ continues to support PLHIV in Queensland through treatment and support services, Peer Navigation, stigma and discrimination services and information and resources.
2017
QPP were awarded a grant to oversee and manage the HIV Emergency Treatment Fund, which provides emergency funding for HIV-related treatment and services to PLHIV in need. Due to the success, Queensland Health has continued to support this fund.
2019
QPP celebrated its 30th Birthday at Manilla St, East Brisbane on 29 November. Approximately 90 guests attended including current and past staff, Board and volunteers, QPP members, community groups and Department of Health representatives. The incredible stories told on the night were truly a testament to QPP’s achievements over the last thirty years, and several attendees who were present in the 80’s and 90’s shared stories of the early days at Allen St. The overwhelming highlight of the evening was the presence and heart-warming speech delivered by Sister Angela Mary Doyle, a champion for PLHIV in Queensland. Melissa Warner, who this year we welcomed as QPP’s CEO spoke about our visions for 2020 and beyond. Many attendees expressed their thanks on the night, and several wrote by email to congratulate and commend QPP for a wonderful evening.
QPP has continued to grow over the past thirty years, and we are immensely grateful for the humbling array of support we have received to date. In the early days it was from generous and compassionate people and organisations such as the Sisters of Mercy, The Queensland AIDS Council (QuAC) and an amazing host of wonderful carers, volunteers and staff. The Queensland government – and specifically Queensland Health – has played a crucial role in encouraging, supporting and believing in QPP to get to where we are today. Thank you to everyone who has helped build and shape our fantastic organisation and we are excited to see what the future holds.
