“I was also living with HIV. Except not in my body, but in the body of the person whom I loved most in the world.“

Globally 50 percent of people with HIV/AIDS are women. In Australia its 10 percent. Being part of a minority has shaped the experiences of HIV positive women in Australia. They are often isolated and their voices are rarely heard or understood.

The HIV Women’s project at Women’s Health Statewide, South Australia is committed to increasing the visibility of women who live with HIV/AIDS.

The beginning of a community / arts project

The following values and approaches guided the project from the beginning to end:

• Consulting with community women in all aspects of the project’s development
• an understanding that HIV impacts on women in many diverse ways
• an appreciation that each woman’s story and experience is unique
• the importance of celebrating women and their resilience

In 2004 the global World AIDS day theme was women girls and HIV/AIDS. To acknowledge and celebrate this theme the HIV Women’s project worked with a group of HIV positive and affected women that is women who are mothers, sisters, partners and daughters of HIV positive people.

The women developed and presented a Forum at South Australian FEAST festival. It was called “Listening to women living with HIV... an evening of stories, conversation and remembrance. The 10 women told of their experiences using the themes of secrets and silence, pain, hope and ended with stories on what sustains them.

For more information or to order a copy of the CD please contact the HIV women’s project:

64 Pennington Tce
North Adelaide SA 5006
Phone: (08) 8239 9624
Fax: (08) 8239 9696
Email: pam.price@health.sa.gov.au

There is no charge for the CD as we would like the stories of women living with HIV to be heard by a broad diversity of people in the community.

Songs in the Blood is an initiative of Women’s Health Statewide, a community service of the Children, Youth & Women’s Health Service. Funded by the Government of South Australia through Arts SA.

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