Welcome to Rainbow News October edition. In this issue we share information about upcoming community events, LGBTIQ news and health information. If you have an event or story you would like to contribute to future issues of Rainbow News, please let us know!
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What Does HIV Look Like in 2030?
Imagining HIV in 2030, a new discussion paper developed by ACON, examining how current trends and future developments will impact the HIV landscape in NSW.
“In the early 1980s, our communities were confronted with the devastation of the HIV crisis,” said ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill. “But in the face of death and fear, gay men mobilised and took action, as did other affected groups such as sex workers and people who injected drugs." United in this journey were researchers, scientists, clinicians and policymakers, all of whom bravely took up the fight against HIV and AIDS.
“Against that background, it is remarkable that in 2018, NSW recorded the lowest rate of new HIV notifications since surveillance began”.
“With this paper, we want to explore what the future might look like for HIV in NSW. What changes need to be made? What are the issues that still need to be addressed? What do we need to do to create public health history? By releasing this paper, we hope to kick-start this conversation,” Parkhill added. “Imagining HIV in 2030 is rare opportunity to reflect on how far we have come.”
Read Imagining HIV in 2030 Discussion Paper here
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First survey of trans and gender diverse sexual health reveals major gaps in health system
There is an urgent need to prioritise health resources and services to support the sexual health and well-being of transgender (‘trans’) and gender diverse people, according to a new report from the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney, launched today at the Australasian Sexual Health Conference in Perth
Trans and gender diverse people also reported experiencing very high rates of marginalisation when accessing care related to sexual health. “Less than half of our participants said they’d experienced inclusive and respectful care for sexual health. Importantly, less positive experiences in care were associated with lower testing rates for sexually transmissible infections amongst sexually active participants,” said Mr Teddy Cook, an adjunct researcher with the Kirby Institute and Manager, Trans & Gender Health Equity for ACON.
The survey collected data from more than 1,500 participants, the largest study of trans and gender diverse people to have been conducted in Australia to date. It was the first national study designed to examine sexual health and well-being among trans and gender diverse people, and it was conducted in close collaboration with community partners.
Read the Report here
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Woven Together: Yarns Really Do Heal
Yarns Heal is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ sistergirl & brotherboy suicide prevention campaign launched earlier this year. Yarns Heal was developed by IndigiLez Womens Leadership & Support Group and the gar’ban’djee’lum network, as part of the National Suicide Prevention Trial with Brisbane North PHN.
It's about sharing our stories and reaching out to our loved ones and Community Cultural Connectors when times are tough. Yarns Heal will help us learn how to better support one another and aims to strengthen our peer support systems so we can access help in culturally safe ways that nurture cultural healing, love and hope.
Check out the Yarns Heal Facebook page here for videos by some deadly community members here
Or the website www.yarnsheal.com.au
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Living with HIV? Northern NSW Sexual Health Services want to hear from you.
Northern NSW Sexual Health Service have recently made some changes to the way they deliver care. They hope to continually improve services to meet the needs of people living with HIV in Northern NSW and have locations in Tweed Heads and Lismore.
They are seeking feedback from people living with HIV about their service and team approach to health and well-being.
There are different options for providing input, via email or over the phone.
Please contact on 02 6620 2980 (Lismore) or 07 6620 2980 (Tweed) if you would like to provide input.
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Need Transport To Get To Your Appointments?
HART Services provides individual and group transport, travel training and in-home assistance to elderly and to people with disabilities across the Northern Rivers. HART Services are a ‘Welcome Here’ approved organisation and proudly display the Welcome Here logos in all fleet vehicles. We are open to hearing ideas that create accessibility and cultural comfort for people in the LGBTI Community.
Contact 02 6628 6000 for more information or to access HART services
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'No men, no meat, no machines': Amazon Acres, a womyns’ utopia
Amazon Acres, also known as The Mountain, was a female-only community set up within a sprawling 400 hectares of remote mountaintop in northern New South Wales in the mid-1970s. Many women now living in the Northern Rivers have spent time there and some are still connected to this land, also known as ‘Womens Land’.
ABC Radio’s RN program have produced two episodes telling the amazing stories of the women who started this community and the joys and challenges experienced up the mountain.
Listen to the two episodes here
Image: Swimming hole, Amazon Acres, 1974 (Anne Roberts
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Radical Fae Get Elemental
The 2019 Radical Faerie Glitter Ball is coming up again! A fun night of Ritual, Cabaret & Dancing. This year’s theme is Elemental. The event will be held on Saturday 12 October, 6pm-2am at Jiggi Hall (20 minutes out of Lismore). Tickets are available at the door. $25 without costume, $20 with costume & $15 concession. BYO. Camping available (please arrive before dark if camping). Yummy food will be available in the kitchen. Not to be missed!!
Check out their Facebook event page here...
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LOCAL LGBTIQ GUIDE IN NORTHERN RIVERS
We have recently updated our local info guide in Northern Rivers. This guide lists the Local HIV and STI services, LGBTIQ social and support groups, youth services and many others. This guide can be shared online and printed. Download a copy here....
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ACON acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land and waters on which we work on across NSW and value that we are on Aboriginal land. ACON also acknowledges the Elders throughout this state.
A link to ACON's Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) can be found here
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