Older PLHIV – Victoria

Living Positive Victoria is the state wide not for profit, community based organisation representing all people living with HIV regardless of gender or sexuality in Victoria since 1988. In response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, Living Positive Victoria was created as a safe place to provide support and advocate those living with virus.

The demand for services increased over the years and the organisation has grown to a team of 16 individuals providing workshops, peer-support and activities that increase the mental, emotional and social wellbeing of those living with, or affected by HIV.

Living Positive Victoria also works closely in partnership with a range of HIV-sector and other organisations to deliver a comprehensive and coordinated response to the needs of PLHIV in Victoria, nationally and internationally.

Phone: (03) 9863 8733
Email: info@livingpositivevictoria.org.au
Address: Coventry House, Ground Floor, 95 Coventry Street, Southbank VIC 3006

Health promotion – ‘Taking Charge’ project for older PLHIV

The activities of the Taking Charge project are delivered ‘in person’ and online’

Peer Support Network

Monthly events are a combination of health promotion delivering education to improve health literacy and a social space to connect with other peers to address social isolation.

The Self-Management Program provides older PLHIV with capacity building that includes selfcare skills and health literacy that improve their quality of life.

Facilitated by trained peers, sessions are highly interactive. Through mutual support and success, participants gain confidence in their ability to manage own health and maintain an active and fulfilling life. Challenges such as depression, loneliness, isolation and stigma are addressed. By participating in this program, participants gain valuable knowledge and skills to manage their HIV and general health.

Contact: Vic Perri (03) 9863 8733 or vperri@livingpositivevictoria.org.au

Well Beyond 50 (CURRENTLY BEING REVIEWED) brings together health information, resources across social support for PLHIV, personal stories and access to a robust service directory listing Victorian providers. The pages on the website:

• Personal stories shared by PLHIV themselves
• Health topics
• Social hub
• Support and future planning
• Services directory

This is a core service of Living Positive Victoria, and is open to – and used by – older PLHIV. Wherever possible, older clients are linked with peers who are age contemporaries, but this may not always be possible especially in areas away from inner Melbourne.

The underlying model is that it is a peer supporting a peer through one-on-one support. Peer navigators aren’t expected to ‘know everything’, but they are trained and supported to be able to refer appropriately.

For more information call the Peer Support Manager on 03 9863 8777.

Online workshops are held in partnership with Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (BGF). Referral support is provided to mainstream services. Living Positive Victoria also looks at how to support PLHIV for example with train fare to come to Melbourne to take part in activities. The Taking Charge Peer Network Group has also started events in regional areas.

Workshops/fourms

Living Positive Victoria hosts workshops/forums that keep PLHIV and service providers informed about research, community and organisational developments. There is an increasing focus on topics related to HIV and ageing

The Positive Caring Handbook is a resource developed as a joint project of Living Positive Victoria and the Royal District Nursing Service Limited (RDNS). Since 1985, RDNS has provided care and support to PLHIV, their carers, partners, friends, and families.

Positive Caring was written to provide information and resources for older people living with HIV (PLHIV) and their care team. This may include carers, care workers, health professionals, and family and friends. The handbook aims to answer common questions frequently asked by people caring PLHIV, and to provide clear and practical information. The information is applicable in any setting where older PLHIV require care including their home or residential care facilities.

Thorne Harbour Health was formed in 1983 (initially as the Victorian AIDS Action Committee and later the Victorian AIDS Council) as a central part of the Victorian community response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. From the outset, it has used a social model of health which is aligned with the Ottawa Charter which determines that all people have the right to increase control over and improve their health.

The organisation provides a range of services, including prevention education, treatment and care of PLHIV and counselling services. Recent years have seen a broadening of its portfolio to serve the health needs of Victoria’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) communities to ensure all gender, sex, and sexually diverse individuals are treated with dignity and can participate fully in society.

Address: 200 Hoddle Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Phone: (03) 9865 6700
Toll Free: 1800 134 840

Opening hours: Monday 9AM – 6PM; Tuesday 9AM – 6PM; Wednesday 9AM – 6PM; Thursday 9AM – 6PM; Friday 9AM – 5PM

Positive Women Victoria is funded by the Victorian Department of Health & Human Services to provide health promotion to women in Victoria who are living with HIV. For over 30 years, Positive Women Victoria has responded to the changing needs of women living with HIV; recognising the impact gender has on the way women, femmes, cis women, and trans women experience HIV and addressing the specific needs and emerging issues that affect these women.

The organisation provides peer support, information and advocacy for older women who are living with HIV.

Elder Rights Advocacy supports older people, their families and representatives in Victoria address issues related to Commonwealth funded aged care services. It is a member of the national Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN), delivering the National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP). The service is free, independent and confidential.

Location: Ross House
Level 2 Room 3
247-251 Flinders Lane
Melbourne VIC 3000

Email: era@era.asn.au or use the contact form Please address general correspondence to CEO, Philippa Campbell at Philippa.Campbell@era.asn.au

Free-call: 1800 700 600
Phone: (03) 9602 3066 – mobile and STD rates may apply

Interpreter: call directly on (03) 9602 3066 to arrange an interpreter, or call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and let them know you want to speak to Elder Rights Advocacy on (03) 9602 3066.

A key service is Advocacy – helping a person’s needs, wishes and rights be heard, especially in regard to decisions that affect their life. The kinds of situations in which an advocate could help include when feeling pressured to make a choice, not satisfied with the care received, not satisfied with decisions made about them, and wanting information regarding accessing services or additional support.

The service has a specialist Aged Care Navigator who can help people better understand and navigate the aged care system. The Navigator can help people get connected with aged care services including:

• Understanding aged care options
• Registering with My Aged Care
• Choosing providers
• Questions about Home Care Packages
• Understanding out of pocket costs and financial hardship applications
• Completing Home Care Package Fee Assessment forms
• Problem solving

Clients can be met by phone or in person at a location of their choice.

The Community Visitors Scheme brings together older people receiving aged care with caring, friendly volunteers from the community for friendship and companionship. The CVS is for older people in regional Victoria who are receiving Commonwealth-funded home care services, on the waiting list for Commonwealth-funded home care services, or in a residential aged care facility. Volunteers are members of the community, preferably based in regional Victoria. People are matched based on shared interests and values, to make sure both enjoy the time spent together.