ustralian AIDS Association *
A project by Ivanhoe Grammar School students Patrick Moio, Imogen Money, Thomas Gazis, Elizabeth Simcevski and Angeline Koutsoukos
*this is not a real organisation
HIV/AIDS in Australia
Australia was one of the first countries to respond to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and a leader in prevention and awareness of AIDS during its early years. Fortunately, the Australian Government and Opposition chose to agree to recognise and respond relatively quickly to the AIDS pandemic in the early 1890s.
This was done through the implementation of successful disease awareness campaigns and public health programs such as the needle exchange program, which allowed drug users to inject drugs safely and exchange used syringes for new ones. There was also ample campaigning to try and inform the public about the quickly spreading, fatal disease. Because of this - despite quite large numbers of people in at-risk groups contracting the disease following its discovery - Australia has achieved and maintained a low rate of HIV infection in comparison to many other countries.
In 2012 it was estimated that close to 26,000 individuals were living with HIV in Australia. The first recorded case of AIDS in Australia was in October of 1982, in Sydney. Following shortly after, the first death in Australia from AIDS occurred in Melbourne, in July of 1983. This encouraged government officials to inform the public and social networks of the new and fatal disease upon their shores.
The Sydney Opera House goes red for World AIDS Day
Clips from the Australian 1980s 'Grim Reaper' AIDS Awareness Campaign
As there was a stigma associatating HIV/AIDS with homosexuality, medical institutes and doctors at first worked with lesbian, gay and bisexual communities and organisations to spread the message about protection against the virus. The homosexual/bisexual organisations were instrumental in the rapid creation of AIDS councils. Most of these were formed in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.
HIV/AIDS continues to present challenges in Australia. It was reported by the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation that nearly a third of people infected with HIV and AIDS in New South Wales were living in poverty or were homeless. After a sudden, rapid increase in AIDS deaths in 2011, it is more important than ever for Australians to protect themselves. Continued awareness, prevention and safe sex practices remain the only defenses against the spread of the still incurable Human Immunodeficiency Virus.