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Living with HIV

Living well with HIV/AIDS means more than taking care of your health. Managing relationships, preventing transmission of HIV to others, childbirth and pregnancy, and travelling with HIV are just some areas where being HIV positive presents special challenges.

HIV Living deals with the lived experience of the diversity of positive people to inform stakeholders and policymakers - ensuring that responses are effective, equitable and appropriate.

In this area of our web site you'll find articles and resources focusing on living well with HIV, and telling the real personal stories of people with HIV/AIDS.

Key resources

HIV+ Gay Sex (cover)

A booklet about being gay, having HIV and sex. Second Edition (2002).

Having a Life (resource) – cover image

This ANET resource takes an innovative peer approach to describing the experience of living with HIV/AIDS, based on the personal stories of people living with HIV. Themes covered include treatments, sexuality, disclosure, work, money, pregnancy and fathering children, and more.

Ahead of Time cover image

The impact of HIV on our bodies and on the immune system as we get older is greatly affected by ageing.HIV affects each of us differently. Some people progress to symptoms very quickly, while others live for 20-plus years without any signs of immune suppression or symptoms.

Declaration of rights for people living with HIV/AIDS

Story • 18 November 2005

Full text of the revised Declaration of Rights for People Living with HIV/AIDS, launched at the NAPWA Conference on 19 November. read more »

Adopting a child with HIV

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 2 December 2011

Orphans with HIV often miss out on the opportunity of being adopted due to the ongoing misconceptions people still hold about the disease.

Carolyn Twietmeyer, an American mother of 13 – seven biological and six adopted (of whom two are HIV positive) – spoke about her experiences at an adoption conference in Australia in November. read more »

NAPWA calls for Australia to eliminate HIV transmission, diagnoses by 2018

Media release • 1 December 2011

The National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA) is today calling for our nation to commit to adopting new technology to fight HIV transmission, with the goal of eliminating transmission and new diagnoses before the end of the decade. read more »

Make your experience count

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 25 November 2011

HIV Futures is a national survey of Australian people living with HIV conducted every two years by the Living with HIV program at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University.

It is an anonymous survey asking important questions about the health, treatments, work and financial situations of people with HIV in Australia. read more »

There are more great catches for you!

Positive Living article • Graham Stocks • 25 November 2011

Chances are at some stage a guy will reject you because of your HIV status.

Don't let it get you down, there are a lot more men waiting to get hooked.

Besides, if a guy misses out on you, it's his loss.

www.FearlessLiveMore.org.au

Produced by the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations and the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS read more »

All we want for Christmas

Positive Living article • David Menadue • 25 November 2011

As Christmas Day approaches, we start to fantasise about the things we’d really like: a trip overseas, a fabulous wardrobe, a new car, .. . . while in reality, we’re more likely to end up with a pair of socks and an out-of-date box of chocolates! In the spirit of the season, David Menadue compiles a wish list of things he’d like to see gained in the near future for people living with HIV in Australia. . . . read more »

NAPWA lobbies for PLHIV on DSP

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 24 November 2011

With changes to qualifying criteria for the Disability Support Pension due to come into effect on 1 January, NAPWA has been lobbying for certain considerations to be made when assessing HIV positive applicants. read more »

Progress on criminalisation

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 24 November 2011

Some countries have made significant progress in recent times by reforming laws around HIV transmission and exposure offences, Edwin J Barnard from the UK told people at the conference. read more »

Criminalisation and the sexual transmission of HIV - Policy position – January 2007

Policy paper • Graham Stocks • 10 November 2011

NAPWA is the national peak organisation representing people living with HIV/AIDS in Australia. Through leadership in advocacy, policy, education and prevention, NAPWA strives to minimise the adverse personal and social effects of HIV/AIDS. read more »

You never know your luck

Positive Living article • James May • 2 September 2011

James May thinks that finding intimacy is one of the biggest challenges for people living with HIV.

While it can be tough for anyone to form a lasting connection, having HIV can make it even tougher. HIV can undermine your self esteem and your sexuality. And while things may be looking up these days, it is still really hard to disclose your status. read more »

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Recently updated entries from the NAPWA Clinical Trials database.