personal stories

Tales from the network

Graham Stocks — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:43:58 -0800

There is a Network of Workers located at AIDS Councils and PLHIVPerson (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHA. Organisations around Australia, who understand the variety of treatment issues faced by positive people. We call them the Treataware Outreach Network (TON).

As an HIV positive peer support worker, Cipri Martinez sees a variety of people with a lot of different issues. And being able to help them out, he says, is what makes his job worthwhile.

Pages from an abandoned journal

Graham Stocks — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:33:34 -0700

As a young man, John Rule remembers trawling through bookshops looking for a history, some way to understand the burgeoning of gay life that he was a part of in Sydney at the time.

Positive Voices on PLWHA Victoria website

Graham Stocks — Thu, 06 May 2010 23:00:43 -0700

‘Changing Voices, stories of living with HIV’ is a series of biographies and videos of people living with HIV, who speak as public educators to audiences such as secondary schools, universities, health care workers and community groups.

Tobin: Making a sea change

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:04:03 -0700

Frocks and footy. Nature and yoga. Cabin fever and isolation. Tobin’s sea change has at times been a tricky mix. Tobin had been living in Sydney for years when he decided on his sea change. As Tobin puts it, ‘Things weren’t going well. Deep down I wanted to make changes.’ ‘HIV was one of the reasons for shifting, but there were other factors – a relationship breakdown, work not coming in, and the stresses of living in a city.

Steven: Surviving long-term

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:54:38 -0700

Even among long-term survivors, Steven has survived more than most. Steven has been near death a number of times, and has always found the strength to pull through. Despite numerous obstacles, Steven has always been able to find the strength to work out ways to make the best of his situation and develop new strategies to manage his health.

Ron: Being pro-active

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:26:43 -0700

After more than 20 years experience of living with HIV, Ron has worked out how to keep his life balanced. He works at remaining self-aware, and he has developed strategies to help manage competing pressures from work, his relationship and HIV, and to stay in control of his physical and mental health.

Scott: Living within boundaries

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:05:19 -0700

Over the last eighteen months Scott has stopped smoking and cut his drug use. He’s had to find different ways to fill the weekends. Doing that without getting bored was a struggle at first, but Scott has now managed to get into a groove.

Jorge: Determined to stop smoking

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:27:50 -0700

Having overcome discrimination and isolation after being diagnosed with HIV in his native Columbia, moving to Australia with little English and less money, it isn’t surprising that Jorge had the determination to stop smoking by going ‘cold-turkey’.

Deanna: Exercise can transform you

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:40:42 -0700

Eight years ago Deanna was overweight and having trouble with antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). Becoming pregnant was the impetus for a change in how she approached managing her health. Deanna transformed her body shape and health through exercise. Now she works a personal trainer and runs fitness programs for other people with HIV.

Beware the Grim (or, how I manage my depression)

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:07:00 -0800

Many HIV-positive people struggle with depression. Graham Douglas-Meyer shares his strategies for dealing with this most common form of mental illness.