Positive Latinx Australian Network (PLAN)
The Positive Latin Australia network, known as PLAN, is an advocacy group represented by and for a collective of people living with HIV in Australia who are from Latin American and Hispanic backgrounds.
Who we are
PLAN was founded in 2021 through an initiative of the NAPWHA HIV Health Literacy Framework project – a community-led project which employs a participatory action research approach aiming to build the capacity of PLHIV communities and to develop tailored health promotion.
Led by Community Advocate, Miguel Valencia, who works in collaboration with a founding group of other peers, including Oscar Sanchez – PLAN has been established through NAPWHA and continues to advocate for health literacy and health promotion. The network will meet regularly for advocacy work and to support social networks.
HIV and migration
Previous events and activities
Finding your place – Migration and Mental Health – July 2023, Vic
An Empowering and informative event, “Finding Your Place: Migration & Mental Health,” dedicated to enhancing migration literacy and promoting mental health resilience. This event aimed to shed light on the challenges faced by migrants while fostering a greater understanding of their experiences, as well as providing valuable insights into building resilience in the face of adversity. Topics included: Understanding Migration: Explore the social, economic, and cultural aspects of migration, along with its impact on individuals and communities; Migration and Mental Health: Learn about the unique mental health challenges faced by migrants and effective strategies to promote well-being and resilience; and Legal Perspectives: Gain insights into the legal frameworks surrounding migration and the rights of migrants.
Visa, Migration Discussion Forum: Part 2 – December 2022
The second installment of the online comunity forum was an opportunity for PANA and PLAN to discuss the lived experience and visa journeys of people living with HIV, and related mental health challenges.
Visa, Migration Discussion Forum – October 2022.
This online community discussion forum invited PLAN and; PANA to learn more about what it means for people living with HIV to apply for student, work and partner visa processes, and another important pathways like health waiver process. We were joined by guest panellist from HALC (HIV/AIDS Legal Centre)!
Experiences of accessing healthcare for culturally and linguistically diverse people living with HIV In this HIV Australia podcast, Jimmy Chen from the National Association of People with HIV Australia talks with Carlos, who is originally from Chile and is living with HIV, and shares their experiences accessing healthcare for culturally and linguistically diverse people living with HIV.
How to join
Are you interested in joining PLAN? This is open to all people living with HIV, of Latin-American background, and living in Australia. Fill in the registration form below and/or forward any questions to plan@napwha.org.au
How to engage with us
It is also a way to exchange conversations relating to HIV and general health – this includes talking about navigating the healthcare system in Australia.
How our meetings are conducted
About the Health Literacy Framework project
PLAN was founded in 2021 from work and the findings under the NAPWHA HIV Health Literacy Framework project. The Health Literacy Framework project is a community-led project which employs a community member to develop and tailored health promotion for people living with HIV (PLHIV). Community Advocate, Cristian Cortes consulted with community peers to develop the ideas for establishing a national network.
Activities undertaken to establish PLAN:
- In 2021, Community Advocate Cristian Cortes with Oscar Sanchez, conducted Community Conversations with peer networks from around Australia. This aimed to investigate what works where and how in terms of health literacy (gaps, enablers and opportunities) and improving HIV-related heath outcomes for heterosexual men. These consultations went on to inform a range of health literacy initiatives targeting (or tailored for) latinx people living with HIV.
- Latinx Community Conversations was summarised in a Report available for download [PDF]
From this investigation, the health literacy project aims to implement some project initiates, including:
- In 2021, a core reference group including Oscar Sanchez will commence formalising discussions around the formation of a NAPWHA-auspiced network.
Video: NAPWHA Project Officer, Eloise Monteiro presented as part of a Health Literacy Framework project report back to members at the NAPWHA AGM 2021. Community Advocates from the project made announcements of new NAPWHA-auspiced national networks: Jimmy Chen of Positive Asian Network Australia (PANA); Anth McCarthy of HetMAN Australia (Heterosexual Men Advocacy Network); and Cristian Cortes of Positive Latin Australia Network (PLAN)
