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.

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.

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.

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

For women living with HIV, the decision to have children can be one of the most difficult choices they make. For women who are diagnosed HIV positive at the time they are becoming mothers, those decisions can be especially urgent and confronting. In this extract from her new book, KARALYN McDONALD shares the stories of several women who have dealt with the twin realities of pregnancy and diagnosis.

Robert Spicer has lived with HIV for 20 years and with HIV-related vision problems for 10. But despite losing most of his sight, he remains fiercely independent and has an inspiring outlook on life. Robert spoke with his partner, BERNIE SLAGTMAN.

Not all my days are the same, but Thursday is the day I do my volunteer work for PLWHA NSW, something I look forward to each week. Going into the office makes me feel good, it gives me purpose and motivation, and allows me to enter an environment that I always find welcoming, friendly and rewarding.