Visitors to this year’s Mardi Gras Fair Day on Sunday 17 February are being urged to find out how to improve their health and wellbeing by visiting the ACON Zone. Located near the Cleveland Street and City Road entrance of Victoria Park in Camperdown, the zone will showcase ACON’s work in relation to HIV prevention, HIV support, LGBTI health and LGBTI inclusion.
Drop in and have your photo taken at the Ending HIV green screen as well as its popular giant PrEP, condoms and UVL inflatables; find out more about other effective forms of HIV prevention; take part in vital health surveys; learn about cervical health; pop into the Breast Screen NSW van and get a free mammogram; get more information about ACON’s counselling, community care and Mardi Gras safety services, ACON’s work across rural and regional NSW; or chill out in the Welcome Here Marquee.
“Mardi Gras Fair Day is an iconic event on our community’s calendar that really has the ability to bring everyone together,” said ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill.
“Fair Day also provides ACON with a unique and effective platform to showcase the many and varied ways we work to improve the health of our community and celebrate our diversity. Our staff and volunteers will be on hand throughout the day to also provide information on how people can safely enjoy all that the Mardi Gras festival has to offer.”
HIV and sexual health peer workers will be promoting ACON’s new ‘We Can’ campaign, which is all about celebrating the way gay and bisexual men continue to care for each other by looking after their sexual health as well as that of their partners. Visitors can help spread the word by having their photos taken in front of a green screen which will overlay a range of campaign messages over the images.
Visitors will be able to make a vital contribution to community health research by taking part in the Sydney Gay Community Periodic Survey, which only takes a few minutes and will help generate much needed data that informs important community health initiatives.
ACON’s LGBTIQ Women’s Health Projects will be on hand raising awareness of breast and chest health by showcasing ACON’s new breast screening campaign, Our United Front. The BreastScreen NSW van, which will be offering free mammograms all day.
This year, the ACON marquee will showcase the Welcome Here Project, ACON’s successful LGBTIQ community safety program. Visitors can learn all about how businesses and organisations across Australia are building environments that are welcoming and inclusive of LGBTI people. With fans and bean bags, the Welcome Here Marquee will be a great place to mingle, relax and socialise.
Visitors will also be able to find out more about ACON’s services for LGBTIQ women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander gay men, young gay men and Asian gay men, as well as how ACON promotes workplace, sporting and health inclusion for LGBTI people. Other dedicated stalls within the zone will provide information about ACON’s range of ageing and community care services such as counselling, care coordination, and home-based care and support for older people and people with HIV.
Attendees will also be able to find out more about the ACON Rovers, teams of volunteers who help keep partygoers safe and protected at all the big Mardi Gras events and parties.
Parkhill said: “We invite all our friends, supporters and partners to join us on Fair Day, to make this year a special and safe Mardi Gras.”
WHAT: ACON Zone at Mardi Gras Fair Day
WHEN: Sunday 17 February 2019, 10am – 4pm
WHERE: Victoria Park, Camperdown
COST: FREE
ENDS
For more information please contact: David Alexander, ACON Media and Communications
E: [email protected] T: +61 (02) 9206 2044 M: +61 (0)428 477 042