NAPWA

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 »

From the Executive Director's report:

NAPWA has again, this year, provided high-level health and policy advocacy on behalf of PLHIVPerson (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHA. across the country and this has been in direct response to the emerging issues raised by our member organisations and their constituents. This reporting period has also brought us to the midpoint for both the NAPWA Strategic Plan, and the 6th National HIV Strategy. read more »

NAPWA regularly receives requests to endorse or support research in the area of HIV. Such support may take the form of active involvement as an investigatorA medical researcher in charge of carrying out a clinical trialA clinical trial is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Trials are in four phases: Phase I tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; Phase II expands the study to a larger group of people; Phase III expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IV takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. 's protocolA study plan on which all clinical trials are based. The plan is carefully designed to safeguard the health of the participants as well as answer specific research questions. A protocol describes what types of people may participate in the trial; the schedule of tests, procedures, medications, and dosages; and the length of the study. While in a clinical trial, participants following a protocol are seen regularly by the research staff to monitor their health and to determine the safety and effectiveness of their treatment ., help in designing a research project or simply assistance with recruitment. NAPWA recognises the importance of research to improving the health and well-being of PLHIVPerson (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHA. and in most cases is willing to provide support where it is able. read more »

Experiences of HIV: The Seroconversion Study Annual Report 2010 is the latest report from this joint study of The Kirby Institute (formerly the National Centre in HIV EpidemiologyThe branch of medical science that deals with the study of incidence and distribution and control of a disease in a population. and ClinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. Research) at the University of New South Wales and the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University. read more »

The NAPWA Annual Report 2009-2010 is now published.

"This annual report provides a taste of what has been a rich, varied and complex period for us all." read more »

At the 2010 ASHMAustralasian Society for HIV Medicine. The peak Australasian organisation representing the medical and health sector in HIV/AIDS and related areas. conference held last week, NAPWA and the National Centre in HIV EpidemiologyThe branch of medical science that deals with the study of incidence and distribution and control of a disease in a population. and ClinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. Research jointly launched the report “Mapping HIV outcomes: geographical and clinical forecasts of numbers of people living with HIV in Australia”. read more »

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, have asked the Joint Standing Committee on Migration to undertake an inquiry relating to the health requirement in the Migration Act. NAPWA has made a Submission to this enquiry. read more »

NAPWA recently contributed to the Clinical TrialA clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. trial is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Trials are in four phases: Phase IA clinical trial designed to establish whether an experimental drug is safe for humans to take. Phase I studies determine the metabolism and pharmacologic actions of drugs in humans, the side effects associated with increasing doses, and look for early evidence of effectiveness; these studies may include either people with HIV, HIV-negative volunteers, or both tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; Phase IIA smaller clinical trial designed to establish whether a drug is effective. Phase II studies are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug for a particular indication or indications in patients with the disease or condition under study and to determine the common short-term side effects and risks. If there is evidence that the drug is effective, a Phase III study is undertaken, with a larger number of participaants, to confirm this. expands the study to a larger group of people; Phase IIIA large clinical trial designed to establish whether a drug is effective and safe enough for widespread use. Phase III studies include expanded controlled and uncontrolled trials after preliminary evidence suggesting effectiveness of the drug has been obtained, and are intended to gather additional information to evaluate the overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug and provide and adequate basis for physician labeling. expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IVPost-marketing studies to delineate additional information including the drug's risks, benefits, and optimal use. takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. Action Group. NAPWA has been closely engaged in clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. trials involving PLHIVPerson (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHA. throughout its history. read more »

The NAPWA Annual Report 2008-2009 read more »

This monograph addresses the issue of criminal prosecution of people who transmit HIV in Australia, examining the legal, moral and ethical justification for laws criminalising HIV transmission and the impacts of criminalisation on people with HIV. read more »