National Network of Women living with HIV

The National Network of Women Living with HIV is an advisory group by and for women living with HIV, constituted to provide collaboration between those involved in policy and advocacy work for women living with HIV in Australia. We advocate, inform policy, collaborate and contribute to research and respond to the issues and challenges facing all women living with HIV in Australia.

The National Day of Women Living with HIV occurs annually on 9 March, as an opportunity to celebrate the lives of women living with HIV. This year, NAPWHA’s National Network of Women Living with HIV chose the theme ‘Challenge HIV Stigma’.

In the ongoing battle to end HIV stigma, Australia’s National Network of Women Living with HIV is showcasing to all Australians how women living with HIV challenge HIV-related stigma. The aim of the campaign is to empower women living with HIV who have experienced stigma by giving them a platform to share their stories, and educate people about what HIV stigma looks like.

Steph Lee is living with HIV and is the vice chair of Positive Women Victoria. They are developing a documentary film on HIV-related stigma as a social experiment. Take a look at the trailer. 

See also previous National Day of Women Living with HIV events:

• ‘Living well’ marks the theme of 2022 National Day of Women Living with HIV (March 2022)
• ‘Taking control of our health’ marks the theme of 2021 National Day of Women Living with HIV (March 2021)
• Femfatales make a call to action for #EachforEqual increased awareness and equitable access to HIV testing (March 2020)
• National Day of Women Living with HIV — Awareness. Celebrate. Advocate. Inspire. Empower. (March 2019)

The group connects primarily by teleconference, with capacity for an annual face-to-face meeting. An email loop is used to facilitate discussion and consultation between meeting times, circulate information for discussion, and assist in NAPWHA’s consultation process as matters arise.

Teleconference costs are covered by NAPWHA, and airfares and travel costs will be covered by NAPWHA for face-to-face meetings. Child care arrangements will be facilitated by NAPWHA as required to support women to attend face-to-face meetings.

Living Well: Women with HIV

This website was published in 2016 by NAPWHA and AFAO and had the input of many positive women but particularly the National Network of Women and Positive Women Victoria. The website was relaunched with a new design in 2022.

Breastfeeding and Women living with HIV in Australia

If you are living with HIV and you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, you may be thinking about breastfeeding your baby, and whether it is safe or advisable. The information in this NAPWHA community resource is provided for women who are living with HIV and want to understand the issues around breastfeeding or formula feeding. It  is also to be used in conjunction with the clinical guidance resource produced by ASHM (Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine) —The Optimal Scenario & Context of Care: ASHM Guidance for Healthcare Providers regarding Infant Feeding Options for People Living with HIV with highlights from Breastfeeding and Women Living with HIV in Australia (2021).

HIV FUTURES 8 – Women Living with HIV in Australia

HIV Futures 8 is a survey about the health and wellbeing of people living with HIV in Australia published by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) at La Trobe University.

Antiretroviral Guidelines – Women and HIV Treatment

Access the ASHM Antiretroviral Guidelines website published by the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM)

Understanding U=U for Women Living with HIV

The science behind the U=U message provides the evidence that we can reduce the anxiety related to the sexual transmission of the HIV virus with confidence. This community brief was written by a team of women living with HIV and was guided by a global community advisory committee under ICASO, also made up by women living with HIV. Together ICASO collected stories from over 65 women living with HIV from around the world and held two community consultations in Amsterdam in July 2018. This brief concludes with four actions that as women living with HIV believe need urgent attention. We acknowledge and appreciate that U=U is providing a platform for women* to have a voice that respond.

Life and Love with HIV

Life and Love with HIV is a blog and online community dedicated to de-stigmatising sexuality and relationships among women, partners, and couples living with HIV by shifting the focus from risk to pleasure. Life and Love with HIV is for women, partners, and couples living with HIV, and those who love and support them. Whether you’re having sex or not, single or in a relationship, wanting to learn more about sexuality, or just plain curious… our goal is to make this site a pleasurable space for everyone, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, country, and so forth.

Good Quality of Life

Access NAPWHA’s Good Quality of Life website where people with HIV share some great moments as well as the things they do to maintain a good quality of life including being on the right HIV treatment.

Podcast series – Our Stories: Ending HIV Stigma

Listen to Our Stories: Ending HIV Stigma, a podcast about women, by women living with HIV in Australia to challenge the myths and stereotypes that feed HIV stigma. It is produced and published by Positive Women Victoria (PWV)in 2021. In the podcasts, women share stories of achieving personal and career goals, navigating sex and relationships, and our journey through pregnancy and motherhood in this new era of Undetectable equals Untransmittable (U=U).

Our Stories are real, unfiltered and always inspiring. Hosted by Heather Ellis, a journalist and author, who has lived with HIV since 1995. The podcasts are free to listen to via Spotify, Apple, Google or wherever you download your podcasts.