In February 2020, NAPWHA advertised the National Congress of people with HIV (PWHIV) in Australia which has necessarily been postponed until September 2021 due to the COVID-19 epidemic. As a consequence of this delay several members of the advisory group have had to withdraw their participation of this organising group for the congress.

Therefore, the advisory group is seeking expressions of interest from people living with HIV in Australia to contribute their lived experience and skills to the Advisory Group for the 2021 National Congress of people with HIV.

Eligible applicants are encouraged to APPLY now before 13 November 2020.

National Congress 2021

The congress is an initiative of ViiV Healthcare and NAPWHA. NAPWHA is ensuring the Meaningful Involvement of People with HIV (MIPA) in the development and implementation of a National Congress of people with HIV (PWHIV) in Australia. The congress presents an opportunity to bring HIV positive people across the country together to exchange views and ideas to advance the wellbeing of PWHIV in Australia. This forum will be a unique opportunity for HIV positive people in Australia and aims to focus on the Art of Flourishing and living well with HIV.

Scope

The scope of the advisory group will be to provide advice on the format, content, topics, speaker selection, and attendance of this gathering of people with HIV in Australia.

What we are looking for

We are looking for engaging and inspiring people with HIV who are willing to commit to participating in the advisory group for its duration. The advisory group wishes to enhance the representation on the group from any of the following demographics of positive people:

• young
• recently diagnosed
• women
• trans and gender diverse
• Indigenous
• multicultural background

Eligibility

• Openly HIV positive and living in Australia
• Enthusiasm and skills to ensure a successful event
• Available to participate in regular meetings both remotely and in person

Application Process

Please submit an application (in Word format) addressing the following points. (no more than 2 pages)

1. A brief introduction to you, your experiences, skills and background
2. What population of people with HIV best reflects you?
3. Why do you want to participate in the advisory group?
4. What can you contribute to the advisory group?
5. How will you share your learning’s from the congress with the diverse HIV population in Australia?
6. What is your vision for a People with HIV congress?

Please ensure you provide your contact details including which State or Territory in Australia you currently live, email, and contact phone number. If you are currently involved with a HIV organisation providing services to people with HIV, include the name of your organisation and your role/function

For more information / Send your application

• Contact Oonagh Rocks on oonagh@onewisewoman.co or +61 401 085 116

‘Our Future, Beyond Resilience’ is a congress of HIV positive people planned for early September 2021.

It aims to bring together over 100 delegates from across Australia representing the diverse populations of HIV positive people.

It will be a forum of discussion on the issues that impact the lives of HIV positive people living in Australia and will be held in Melbourne prior to the Australasian HIV&AIDS conference with the intention of being a face-to-face gathering.

The congress is endorsed by the National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA) and supported by ViiV Healthcare.

The meaningful involvement of people with HIV

The meaningful involvement of people with HIV (MIPA) principles, inform the congress development. The congress is an opportunity for HIV positive people to have robust and comprehensive conversations about issues that affect them now and into the future.

The Advisory Group

An Advisory Group (AG) of 14 HIV Positive representatives was formed through an expression of interest process and has a broad diversity in its membership; young through to older, recently diagnosed through to people living long term, from across regional and metropolitan Australia and representing the diverse groups that encompass the HIV population.

The AG will decide the format, content and composition of the congress and will follow a workplan ensuring the delivery of a comprehensive and inspiring event. Work has already commenced and the title of this congress OUR FUTURE, BEYOND RESILIENCE, has been agreed.

The AG will, over the course of the next few months, determine a process for awarding the fully funded attendance scholarships for the congress. There will also be the option of a limited number of fully self-funded attendance by HIV positive people and those from organisations that support them. The process for this, along with the program and planned activities will be communicated as decisions are made.

Importantly, confirmation of the congress occurring as a face to face event will be made by the end of April 2021.

At the completion of the Congress there will be a Communique to the whole HIV sector outlining the discussions that have taken place and identifying matters arising. A more formal report and evaluation will also be available at the completion of the project.

An important element for this congress is the involvement of organisations and interested parties including individuals and small-scale entities within the program of the congress.

We are looking for Expressions of Interest

The Advisory Group is conducting an Expression of Interest process and extends an invite to all of the above to submit ideas for their engagement within the congress. The AG will consider these submissions as they build the congress program.

Expressions of Interest can be emailed to oonagh@onewisewoman.co and closing date for applications will be 26th March 2021

Contact for more information

If you require further information please don’t hesitate to contact:

• Robert Mitchell (Chair – Advisory Group — Australian HIV Body Positive Congress) — +61 406 925 937 or Neika@activ8.net.au
• Oonagh Rocks (Congress project manager)  — +61 401 085 116 or oonagh@onewisewoman.co