Each year, on March 9th, the National Network of Women Living with HIV celebrate the lives of women with HIV in Australia. We use this day to educate the wider community that HIV does affect women in Australia; and to speak to our network about issues of importance.
In the lead up to our 7th National Day of Women Living with HIV on March 9th, 2022 we’re releasing a social media campaign. We asked positive women around the country to share their voices to help us celebrate the theme of this year’s National Day event #WomenLivingWell. The campaign aims to raise the profile of our unique perspectives and stories across the country.
This initiative by our National Network of Women Living with HIV heard from many positive women whose voices are being featured in 20 social media images.
“We asked what does living well mean to you? This is a theme which focuses on the importance of joy, health, wellbeing and connection in our lives,” says Kath Leane from the National Network.
“What does living well look like and feel like in your everyday life? What are some of the challenges to living well for women living with HIV? What changes would you like to see? What are your hopes for yourself and for other women?”
“When women living with HIV, in all their beautiful diversity, share their voices and tell their stories, we support each other; we end our own internalised stigma; and we raise awareness within the wider community,” says Heather Ellis also from the National Network. Heather is also the host of the ‘Our Stories: Ending HIV stigma‘ podcast series, published by Positive Women Victoria.
“The stories of all women living with HIV are so very powerful in fighting ignorance and ultimately ending HIV-related stigma once and for all.”
The short but powerful quotes in this campaign reflect the diversity, resilience, challenges and strengths of women’s lives. On this National Day, we continue making time to celebrate the lives, stories and resilience of positive women. by hosting events and raising the awareness and profile of women living with HIV in Australia.
See below a listing of events around Australia hosted by various organisations, agencies and groups
See also previous National Day events:
‘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)
Also visit the major makeover of the ‘Living Well: Women with HIV’ website
This year’s National Day of Women Living with HIV theme and socal media campaign initiative ties in with the Living Well: Women with HIV website. This website having undergone a major makeover, offers wide ranging information about living with HIV, disclosing HIV status, having sex, taking treatment, caring for your body, having children, keeping well, and getting support. It was first published by AFAO and NAPWHA in 2016.
This new-look website Living Well: Women with HIV, reflects some of the ways the world of positive women has changed during the last few years, including the release of the The Breastfeeding for women living with HIV in Australia community resource which was launched in September 2021. The new design has been to enhance online access.
Women’s Morning Tea Event in Adelaide — Wed 9 March
Join SAMESH and The David Roche Foundation for a guided tour of Silhouettes: Fashion in the Shadow of HIV/AIDS, followed by a morning tea on the manicured grounds of The David Roche Museum.
Kath Leane from Positive Life SA (PLSA) and the National Network of Women living with HIV (NAPWHA) will also speak about the importance of the day and give us some history of women living with HIV in Australia.
When: Wed, March 9, 2022 — 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ACDT
Where: The David Roche Foundation, 241 Melbourne Street, North Adelaide, SA 5006
Women’s Morning Tea Event in Brisbane — Wed 9 March
To commemorate this years 7th National Day of Women Living With HIV, QPP is hosting a Morning Tea at New Farm Park Rotunda, 10:30am, Wednesday, 9 March 2022.
Join us to celebrate Living Well this National Day of Women Living with HIV, enjoy a relaxed morning tea, share your experiences and even discuss the national social media campaign published and launched by NAPWHA on the day.
To RSVP for the event, please email info@qpp.org.au or phone 07 3013 5555. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements too.
Women’s Breakfast Event in Perth — Wed 9 March
WAAC are hosting a Breakfast meeting for the SHEWomen Group to commemorate the National Women HIV Day at Biara Café (previous known as Stickybeaks Playground Café) located in Kings Park and Botanic Garden. on the Wednesday 9 March 2022 at 10–12 noon.
There is also the first Open Community Consultation for people living with HIV is on Tuesday 8 March. Finger food and soft drinks from 5:30pm–6:00pm. The Consultation/Forum will be from 6:00–7:30pm.
Register your interest by contacting Melphina Moyo
WAAC HIV Peer Educator (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday)
Phone: 08 9482 0000 | Mobile: 0436 431 435
Women’s Morning Tea Event in Sydney — Wed 9 March
Positive Life NSW invites women living with HIV and a guest to celebrate the lives of all women living with HIV over an Afternoon High Tea, at the Seventh National Day of Women living with HIV.
Join us as we relax with friends and supporters in a mixed social environment over a classic range of sweet and savoury treats, coffee and a range of tea selections, hear from a range of presenters speaking to our theme Living Well: Beyond Stigma and enjoy some light entertainment.
RSVP essential for catering purposes. Please advise dietary restrictions (gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan) on RSVP. Places limited to 50 guests.
Time: 2pm – 4pm
Place: Sheraton Grand Sydney, Hyde Park, 161 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW
Register: (02) 9206-2177 or 1800 245 677 (freecall) by 5pm Wednesday 2 March or contact@positivelife.org.au
Listen to ‘Our Stories: Ending HIV Stigma‘ — a podcast series by Positive Women Victoria
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. We share our stories of achieving our 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. Original podcast music by Mark Daniel. Podcast artwork by Carolina Relander.
Join the NAPWHA social media campaign: Living Well — What it means to you
Each year, on March 9, the National Network of Women Living with HIV celebrate the lives of women with HIV in Australia. We use this day to educate the wider community that HIV does affect women in Australia; and to speak to our network about issues of importance.
Our theme this year is ‘Living Well’, and focuses on the importance of joy, health, wellbeing, and connection in our lives. If you are a woman living with HIV, we want to hear from you.
We want to hear what living well means to you. What does it look like? Feel like? What are your hopes for yourself and for other women? What work still needs to be done?
The goal of this campaign from the National Network of Women Living With HIV & NAPWHA is to celebrate our strengths and hopes, as well as highlighting the work that still needs to be done to make sure all women living with HIV have the support to truly live well.
We hope to share the words from women like you in a social media campaign to raise the profile of our unique perspectives and stories across the country. Of course, you can be anonymous if you like.
Get involved by responding to the short questions below with as much or as little detail as you like. Make sure you send us your words by Friday, 4th March. We hope your voice will be part of it!
