Charlie Tredway, NAPWHA Project Officer and passionate community advocate, shares with Dr John Rule (NAPWHA Senior Research Manager) a peer-run and community-led initiative that was developed by NAPWHA to support social connection during the restriction stages of COVID-19 lockdown in Australia from May-September 2020.

Chinwag: Positive Connections was a 12-week series of 1-hour video meetings which ran on Friday evenings from May until September 2020, aiming to create a safe, informative, and inclusive space for social connection. It was hosted by Vanessa Wagner and HIV Peer Supporters from around the country. The initiative responded directly to a NAPWHA survey which was run in April 2020, enquiring into the impact of COVID-19 on people living with HIV where 147 participants responded.

In this interview, Charlie shares with John some of his own personal experiences of mental during the COVID-19 lockdown.

This interview was recorded on 28 October 2020

Virtual 2020 Australasian HIV&AIDS Conference

At the virtually-held Australasian HIV&AIDS Conference (18 – 20 November 2020), Charlie will also share his lived-experience and insights as part of a panel discussion session that will focus on the increasing importance and prominence of mental health during COVID-19. This includes the impact on patients and affected communities as well as providers – either as typical reaction to the stress of living and working in a COVID-19 context but also the challenges of addressing and meeting the needs of people with specific psychological issues (including health care workers) and those with more distinct mental illness and co-morbidities. This will also include a focus on people with HIV, long-term who have been impacted by the current pandemic and resilience/support.

Moreover at the Australasian HIV AIDS Conference, Vanessa Wagner will host a special lunchtime CHINWAG to give conference attendees the opportunity to talk directly with HIV Peer Supporters from around the country; Sarah Feagan (Living Positive Victoria), Ruan Uys (Bobby Goldsmith Foundation), Glenn Ryall (Queensland Positive People), and Charlie Tredway (NAPWHA). The conference event aims to provide a fun and informative hour and hear about health and support delivery viewed through the lens of people living with HIV.

The National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA) is Australia’s peak non-government organisation representing community-based groups of people living with HIV across Australia. In this video series, we share the experiences and responses of communities managing and adapting to the unfolding 2020 pandemic.

Hear other video episodes

In this series, Dr John Rule reports back from the NAPWHA members to hear about community stories and community-led responses adapting to life during COVID-19.

Taking the Temperature — Episode 01 — Sam and Wilo
Taking the Temperature — Episode 02 — Richard Keane
Taking the Temperature — Episode 03 — Kirsty Machon
Taking the Temperature — Episode 04 — Anth McCarthy
Taking the Temperature — Episode 05 — Hayden Patterson