"Criminalisation is not and has never been an effective public health response to HIV prevention," says a statement endorsed by NAPWA and other Australian community secor organisations.

Ian Coutts, who was a health coach with a pilot program with the Melbourne Positive Living Centre in 2006, has some advice for people who want to develop healthier lifestyles, but feel they’re in a bit of a rut.

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.

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.

Living with HIV is never straightforward and lots of people with HIV say it’s essential to keep a ‘positive attitude’ about life with the virus. Maintaining a sense of humour and remaining optimistic haven’t been measured in clinical trials, but most people would agree these are good skills to have for anyone with a serious illness like HIV.

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.

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.

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’. Discovering how gardening helps him stay grounded, he decided to set up a landscaping business.

ACON’s Healthy Life + is an intensive fitness and nutrition program for people living with HIV/AIDS. The program provides a free gym membership for the length of the program, a personal trainer to motivate and support participants in their exercise and nutrition program and seminars related to health, HIV treatment and nutrition.

Moderate exercise is beneficial to everyone, regardless of whether they are HIV-positive or negative. Moderate exercise is known to stimulate the immune system and can boost your mood, while keeping fit reduces the risk of a range of illnesses.