Australia accelerates efforts to end HIV transmission

BGF welcomes the announcement of a new taskforce and increased funding both domestically and internationally as the Albanese Government accelerates Australia’s efforts to eliminate HIV transmission.

Nick Lawson, CEO for Bobby Goldsmith Foundation attended the annual World AIDS Day Parliamentary Breakfast where this was announced and said, “These are very positive outcomes for the community of people living with HIV and the organisations that support them.

We look forward to the manifestation of the outcomes for the benefit of our clients.”

Statement from the Minister for Health, Hon Mark Butler MP

The Albanese Government is accelerating Australia’s efforts to eliminate HIV transmission.

After funding was extraordinarily cut by the former Government, funding will be restored to the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) and the National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA). Each organisation will receive $700,000 a year over four years to help build on successful activities to prevent HIV transmission and support people living with HIV.

The Government is also delivering on our election commitment by establishing a new taskforce that will drive Australia’s HIV response and the implementation of the 9^th National HIV Strategy, which will have a clear focus on hard-to-reach populations and bring new and innovative ideas to the table.

The new taskforce, chaired by the Minister for Health, will include community representatives (including AFAO and NAPWHA), medical experts and the research sector. To maintain continued bipartisanship in this area the co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends for Action on HIV/AIDS, Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually transmitted Infections will also be on the taskforce.

In addition, one-off funding of $220,000 to AFAO will boost community consultation activities targeting the health issues and barriers LGBTIQ+ Australians may face. LGBTIQ+ Health Australia will also receive one-off funding of $250,000 to assist with consultation on a national LGBTIQ+ Health plan.

A further $300,000 will support AFAO to establish a peer-led, contact tracing workforce development pilot as part of the national HIV response and to improve wrap around support at the time and place of HIV diagnosis.