Community Update - Spring 08

Spring 08

TasPride Festival Experiences volunteering Reaching Out to The North West World AIDS Day

TasCAHRD Community Update

Contact The Council Staff Kevin Marriott Chief Executive Officer kmarriott@tascahrd.org.au Jude O’Day HIV/AIDS Care and Support Coordinator hiv@tascahrd.org.au Tania Hunt Harm Reduction Coordinator nsp@tascahrd.org.au Amanda Walker Office Manager/Volunteer Coordinator mail@tascahrd.org.au Brian Morris MAN2MAN Program Coordinator M2M@tascahrd.org.au Carolyn Hay Hep C Officer hepc@tascahrd.org.au Mandy Wilton Harm Reduction Officer mwilton@tascahrd.org.au Lee Eggleston Client Support Officer leggleston@tascahrd.org.au Jackie Hill Administration Officer mail@tascahrd.org.au

CONTENTS AGM News ............................................................................................................... 2 From the CEO .......................................................................................................... 3 New Faces .............................................................................................................. 3 Service Delivery State-wide ..................................................................................... 4 More support for people with hepatitis C?................................................................ 4 TasPride Festival ..................................................................................................... 5 Fundraising .............................................................................................................. 5 Mexico International AIDS Conference .................................................................... 6 HIV Retreat .............................................................................................................. 6 TasPride Film Festival.............................................................................................. 7 News from the President.......................................................................................... 8 Tasmanian Sex Workers.......................................................................................... 8 Experiences Volunteering ........................................................................................ 9 Peer involvement in NSP’s....................................................................................... 9 Reaching Out to The North West ............................................................................. 10 Training and Workshop Calendar............................................................................. 10 Community & Social Contacts.................................................................................. 11

Likita Marley Harm Reduction Officer lmarley@tascahrd.org.au Kellie Terry Harm Reduction Officer kterry@tascahrd.org.au TasCAHRD Contact Details: 319 Liverpool Street, Hobart 7000 GPO Box 595, Hobart 7001 T: 03 6234 1242 F: 03 6234 1630 E: mail@tascahrd.org.au W: www.tascahrd.org.au

AGM News Another year for the Association was drawn to a close at the Annual General Meeting held on 24 September. Following the Constitution changes made at the 2007 AGM, no further changes were deemed necessary this year. Of the five Board members due for election this year, all re-nominated and all were elected unopposed, which is hopefully because the members of the Association are happy with the current management!

The current Board membership (with term expiry date) is as follows: President: Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: Public Officer: CEO: Members:

Information and Support Line 1800 005 900 Reader Response Your comments or experiences in regard to any articles in the Community Update Newsletter are welcome.

Call, write or email. Views expressed in this newsletter (or within flyers enclosed) are not necessarily those of the Tasmanian Council of AIDS, Hepatitis and Related Diseases Inc. (TasCAHRD) Neither are such views necessarily those of our funding body.

Contributions are welcomed subject to editing for spacing and clarity. Contributors should supply their contact details—although we do not publish such details unless asked. We’re happy for people to reprint information from this newsletters provided that the Tasmanian Council on AIDS, Hepatitis and Related Diseases and any particular author/s where such exist are credited. This permission does not apply to any graphics or cartoons. Many of these are not subject to public domain and must not be reprinted without permission of original artists/publishers.

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Ian Moore (2009) Dez Hargreaves (2010) Susan Ditter (2009) Anne Sheehan (2010) Sally McLoughlin (2009) Kevin Marriott Eleanor Patterson (2009) Debbie Dunn (2009) Grahame Foster (2010) Wayne Hornsby (2010) John McDonald (2010)

Goodbye ...

The battle is still being waged against HIV/AIDS and doesn’t get any easier.

September saw the passing of yet another brilliant person living with HIV/AIDS, he was just shy of his 46th birthday. This was long and hard battle with anal and prostrate cancer accelerated by his HIV. I was privileged to have supported this very fine person, his family and dearest friend. So goodbye dear friend, the battle for you is over, no more pain and your dignity returned at last.

TasCAHRD Community Update

Jude O’Day, Care and Support

From the Chief Executive Officer It really has been a very busy time since the last issue of Community Update. However, it has also been full of great achievements. For me, I had the good fortune of being able to attend the 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico City as well as take a small break. A big thank you to Amanda for stepping in.

The middle of the calendar year is the time for reporting to members and our funders, and also as a member of other organisations. TasCAHRD’s Annual Report and Business Plan Report are now up on our website tascahrd.org.au.

As you will see, TasCAHRD has achieved a lot. September also saw the Annual General Meeting and I am thrilled that we are continuing with a very supportive set of Board members.

One of our most notable achievements was receiving accreditation from the Quality Improvement Council. No doubt you have read about this over the last few issues and we would like to thank all those who contributed to the process.

The accreditation is valid for three years but we cannot rest as it requires us to focus on continuous quality improvement, much of which is outlined

in our new Business Plan and the Quality Work Plan.

In this edition we also welcome a couple of people to the team - Jaclyn as Administration Officer; Lee as Client Support Officer; Jen who is doing a student placement and Gene as a new volunteer. Each bringing something special to the team. Welcome on board!

Now on to what we have in store in coming weeks and months. In October we will be taking part in some research activities through our Needle & Syringe Program outlets. One being the National Finger-prick survey and the other, which reaches beyond the outlets, being the brief questionnaire about treatment for hepatitis C. By the end of October we have a new publication hitting the streets. MAN2MAN is a new health and lifestyle resource for men in2 men. The focus will be primarily on sexual health however it is intended to provide a broad set of information. It will be available through gay-friendly businesses across the state as well as on the TasCAHRD website. Keep an eye out for it.

TasCAHRD will be well represented at the 6th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference with Carolyn, Tania and I attending. We will be joining other states in staffing a stall at the conference and closely looking at the latest research from other states. Preparation for AIDS

Awareness Week will also take a step up shortly with volunteer recruitment being a key activity.

TasCAHRD has stepped out to support TasPride 2008. This year TasCAHRD in partnership with the Gay and Lesbian Community Centre are presenting the TasPride Film Festival. I encourage you to pop along to see some very thought provoking films and what promises to be a good laugh on the final night. You can check out taspride.com for more details or visit the ‘Coming Event’ section of the TasCAHRD website.

The future also continues to hold a level of uncertainty. The administration of health funding from the Australian Government to the States remains unclear. TasCAHRD has written to Premier Bartlett, Minister Giddings and the Treasurer Michael Aird encouraging them to support the development of National Partnership Programs for HIV/ AIDS and hepatitis C. This would ideally be linked to a new national strategy for each health issue. Lobbying is also happening at a national level through the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations and Hepatitis Australia. It is hopeful this will become clear before the end of the year.

Kevin Marriott, CEO

New Faces Hi! My name is Jaclyn Hill (Jackie) and I am pleased to introduce myself as the new Administration Officer at TasCAHRD. Even though my recent background has been mainly in retail, prior to that I worked in the area of administration which I thoroughly enjoyed. After 5 years in retail I decided that my main passion was for a career in administration and that is when this position became available, so I decided to apply for it! I was really excited when I found out that I was the successful applicant and have now been working in the office for a couple of weeks.

It has been a busy start for me as we have just moved into a new house and in the process of unpacking while settling into this position. Even though it has been a busy few weeks I have enjoyed working here so far as everyone is making me feel welcomed and a part of the team.

Hi I’m Jen, I’m a student on placement from TAFE and I’ve just started my work experience with TasCAHRD. I’m currently studying a certificate four in Community Services and Welfare. TasCAHRD's Hepatitis C Officer Carolyn Hay is kindly supervising me throughout my placement and we are developing a research project about hepatitis C treatment and support.

Before undertaking study at TAFE I worked on the mentoring program with Colony 47s Mara house, I also worked as a kitchen coach at Mara house supporting the young women to develop life skills.

After I have completed my certificate I hope to work in drug and alcohol, youth work or community development.

My goal at TasCAHRD is to learn as much as possible throughout the organisation and to also assist in making the hepatitis C research project a success.

Hi. My name is Lee Eggleston and I am joining TasCAHRD as the new Client Support Officer.

I have been in Tassie for the past 3 years, and live with my partner Wayne on a small farm near Cygnet and plan to grow vegies and will soon be getting some chooks. I have been busy with house renos and clearing blackberry since we bought the farm 12 months ago.

I look forward to my part-time work at TasCAHRD, which will leave me with some time for those farm chores like chopping wood and mending fences!

I previously worked for 25 years in Community Welfare for the Federal Government. My team was based in Canberra requiring lots of travel away.

Having a job based closer to home will be most welcome.

I greatly look forward to working with TasCAHRD staff, stakeholders and clients of the HIV/AIDS Care and Support Program.

TasCAHRD Community Update

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Service delivery state-wide Tasmania is a beautiful place to live and as TasCAHRD is a statewide service I get lots of opportunities to do my job in some of the most gorgeous parts of the State.

Earlier this month Jude (HIV Care and Support) and I responded to two requests for information sessions from the North West of the state. In the morning we co-facilitated a group in Ulverstone and in the afternoon I ran a group in Burnie. We were able to negotiate dates so that we could fit in two sessions and a number of client visits. Feedback from the sessions was very positive with follow up requests from both organisations.

In July TasCAHRD’s Harm Reduction Coordinator and Hepatitis Project Officer visited with staff at Ashley Youth Detention Centre. We talked to Anne Thomas the Clinical Nurse Consultant and Ben Burbury Program Coordinator about running programs for the young people in Ashley. Anne gives Hepatitis C

information sessions to the young people on a regular basis. In discussion with the Ashley staff it was decided that TasCAHRD sessions could compliment and enhance the great work already done by Anne. We suggested using a quiz to engage individuals in the group about their knowledge of HCV. To encourage people to participate we will use stick-on tattoos as rewards for those willing to have a try. This has been used before with good results at other youth focused events.

I would also like to welcome Jen, a TAFE student on placement at TasCAHRD. It is great to have Jen on board. I am getting a lot from having a younger fresher, perspective on things.

Jen and I, along with Mandy (Harm Reduction) recently attended the Youth in Cultures Forum at the City Hall in Hobart. The forum was the culmination of a conference for young people in Tasmania from various cultural backgrounds. Workshops on issues like

If people had more support during treatment for hepatitis C, would more people finish the treatment?

Research from other states of Australia indicates that people having treatment for hepatitis C have a better experience and are more likely to finish if they have good support. We want to know about the experience of Tasmanians with Hep C. We know many people rely on friends and family to help out while they are having treatment. We also know that the experience of having hepatitis C can be very isolating because many people with HCV fear telling anyone about it, let alone asking for help while they have treatment.

STI’s ?

HIV ?

health, education, rules and regulations and discrimination were held over the course of the conference. It was for young people by young people. The forum was a chance for the attendees of the conference to feedback to the, largely older audience, what they had discussed during the workshops.

Feedback was given verbally as well as through music and dramatisations, which made it very powerful and memorable, not to mention entertaining. Attending the forum gave us an opportunity to network with young people and people who provide services for young people. It was also a valuable opportunity to hear about what matters to the youth of Tasmania.

Carolyn Hay Hepatitis C Officer

Hep C Info Line

1300 437 222 hepc@tascahrd.org.au If you have been at risk of just been diagnosed with hep C, and you’d like to talk to someone about it, give us a call.

Whether you’d like information or just a chat, we’re here. It’s confidential & it’s free.

Last year we ran a snapshot questionnaire through our Needle and Syringe Program outlets and with two other services. The results were interesting. This year TasCAHRD has employed an independent consultant to run the survey again. The report will be completed by the end of this calendar year.

If you are interested in having your say about treatment or you know someone who may be interested please contact me.

Safe sex ?

319 Liverpool Street Hobart TAS www.tascahrd.org.au

Carolyn Hay Hepatitis C Officer

Got a question ?

Need to talk ?

For more information email: M2M@tascahrd.org.au or visit our website www.tascahrd.org.au

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TasCAHRD Community Update

TasPride Reborn

In 2008 Tasmania’s annual gay and lesbian festival TasPride has attitude. It has attitude, it has energy, it has colour and if any festival in Tasmania had personality, it’s this one.

The 2008 TasPride festival, presented by the Gay and Lesbian Community Centre Incorporated mirrors the depth and diversity of the wider GLBTI community, its friends and supporters as it hosts a myriad of events, activities, cultural evenings, dinners, walks, rock nights and dance parties across the state.

The local community and interstate visitors alike will be able to celebrate the start of two weeks of festival fabulousness at the party of the year on November 1, the Halloween Party.

And of course a festival wouldn’t be a festival without catering to the couch potato in us all – enter the TasPride Film Festival brought to you by us in conjunction with TasCAHRD. Curl up in the newly renovated State Cinema with a beverage of choice as four queer films make their Tasmanian Premiere.

Lalaland, Hobart’s premier nightclub event returns during TasPride featuring Australia’s #1 female DJ as the special guest DJ joSH. As PRIDE is considered the ultimate of all the seven deadly sins this promises to be an awesome experience for anyone who loves to sin!

Taking centre stage at The Brisbane on Friday the 14th November is Tokyo’s punk, rockabilly trio -Ikochi. With

rockabilly support acts Jonno Zilbar and the No No’s and DJ Kylie Whylie and Azza Matazz in the front bar the night will rock on.

Along with cultural events Queer Desires in Medieval Music, a walk with PRIDE on Tasmania’s beautiful Mount Wellington, Queer Quiz Night and Drag Bingo visitors will be left with a lingering sense of community and pride as the festival winds up on Sunday 16th November with TasPride Festival Family Picnic Day with a free sausage sizzle.

TasPride Festival will take place from November 1 – 16 2008. For more information and to download the festival program please head to the TasPride website www.taspride.com.

Your TasPride Program Guide is enclosed with this issue of community Update

SAFE SEX Products

NOTICE TO ALL TasCAHRD Members & Friends TasCAHRD’s fundraising committee are interested in

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We need lots of suggestions so that we can have ongoing and consistent fundraisers throughout the year instead of relying on one or two big events per year.

available from the TasCAHRD Office, 319 Liverpool St Hobart

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Dams 55¢ So please dig deep for some Lube Sachets 20¢ good ideas and contact Jackie at TasCAHRD on Box of 100 condoms - $15 62341242 or via email at mail@tascahrd.org.au.

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TasCAHRD Community Update

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In October 2008 the Care and Support Program was again host to the HIV Positive Biannual Retreat held over 2 ½ days. A fundamental part of the retreat is to provide an opportunity for HIV positive people the chance to come together to gain peer support, increase their socialisation, raise self-esteem and reduce isolation. It is also intended to promote and explore the health needs of people living with HIV using a Health Promotion framework while having fun.

To achieve this Care and Support staff provided an environment that was a safe place for HIV positive people to be themselves, and to enable them to participate in a range of fun and relaxing activities. These activities included massage therapy, discussion about safer sex and an Art Workshop as well as walking groups, mini golf, tennis and fishing.

It is hoped through the retreat that the participants will gain motivation and a better understanding of the benefits of

participating in regular exercise, good sexual health and also promote the development of further peer support.

The Art workshop run by Penny Malone and held at the Retreat was the first of two workshops to be conducted, and will lead onto an exhibition that will be displayed during AIDS Awareness Week at the Mawson Pavilion on Hobart’s Waterfront.

Jude O’Day, Care and Support

You can help put a stop to HIV/AIDS and support those who are HIV Positive by volunteering to sell Red Ribbons on the street, to your customers or to your colleagues on World AIDS day Monday December 1 Please call 6234 1242 or email redribbon@tascahrd.org.au

At the beginning of August among 13,000 plus delegates, representing over 150 countries Tasmania seemed like small fry at the XVII International AIDS Conference held in the vibrant Mexico City. Attending such a conference reminds you of the global impact of HIV/AIDS. Traditionally much of the conference content focuses on clinical or care and support issues, or perhaps prevention in developing countries. In 2008 there was increased focus on prevention among men who have sex with men and the impacts of homophobia on HIV prevention. It was the first time such subjects made it to the opening plenary and a sustained presence throughout. In part this was due to this target group being increasingly identifiable among other countries where heterosexual transmission has been dominant. If you would like to find out more about the conference you can visit www.aids2008.org or look out for the report which will be on the TasCAHRD website soon.

Photos courtesy of AIDS 2008 Photo Library

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TasCAHRD Community Update

Mon 23 Nov - the Amazing Truth about Queen Raquela wed 5 nov—Football under cover Thurs 6 nov—be like others

and

sat 8 nov—another gay sequel: gays gone wild!

TasCAHRD Community Update

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News from the President Office for the Community Sector In the Winter edition of Community Update, we reported that Ian Moore TasCAHRD had President been recommended for Quality Improvement Council Accreditation by the Quality Management Systems review panel.

We are now pleased to be able to report that TasCAHRD has received accreditation.

Timing of the accreditation is fortuitist considering the changes being proposed for community organisations in Tasmania by the Department of Health and Human Services’ new Office for the Community Sector (OCS) whose role will be to facilitate the delivery of efficient and effective community services for all Tasmanians.

The OCS will become the primary portal through which relationships between DHHS and community sector organisations delivering services for DHHS are managed, and its operations

will be organised around three key framework themes: Quality and Safety, Finance and Performance Management, and Strategic Development.

TasCAHRD, along with other community organisations, has been asked to provide comment on the OCS’s Strategic Plan which outlines the overall framework that will be used to manage all community sector service agreements, that is in part: - to be consumer focused; sustainable; practice transparent governance; be innovative; to work in partnerships to provide integrated service delivery; and practice evidence based decision making.

Community organisations will need to commit to continuous quality improvement, workforce development and training and to undergo regular monitoring, review and evaluation of their all of their contractual requirements. The OCS is also looking at more appropriate models of funding community based service providers that will be outcomes focused, represent

best value for money, and address the needs of the Tasmanian community.

TasCAHRD expects that these changes will pose some challenges in the coming year, but feel confident that the accreditation process we have successfully undertaken has placed TasCAHRD in a sound position to address any requirements that may be forthcoming from the OCS. Membership AIDS Trust of Australia Following some recent changes to the Memorandum of Association governing the AIDS Trust of Australia, TasCAHRD has accepted an invitation to become a member of the ATA. The ATA is a national incorporated charitable organisation whose main purpose is to raise and distribute funds for charitable and educational purposes for people living with or effected by HIV/AIDS in the community. TasCAHRD is pleased to be able to participate in this national fundraising body.

We are all looking forward to what may be a challenging and exciting year.

Tasmanian Sex Workers Scarlet Alliance has been very active in Tasmania lobbying for a funded sex worker project. Following on from the successful Community Forum in September Scarlet Alliance has been working hard to raise awareness of the importance of establishing sex worker organisation for sex workers in Tasmania.

Every other state and territory in Australia has well established sex work organisations that are locally funded through community health streams. The establishment of sex work projects reaches back nearly 30 years to the rise of HIV/AIDS as a public health concern.

Tasmania has not had a locally funded sex work project and has only recently benefited from a short term pilot project (now completed) managed by Scarlet Alliance and known locally as the CASH project (Chlamydia Awareness for Sex workers Health).

This project has found that Tasmanian sex workers are severely disadvantaged in terms of access to information, awareness of their rights, advocacy and representation.

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The implications of not having a sex worker project are far reaching, with the following repercussions;

Sex workers are isolated and have no mechanism to overcome marginalisation and stigmatisation.

The criminalisation of brothels under the Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 has resulted in Tasmanian sex workers being isolated from traditional structures that provide peer support and industry specific information.

Sex workers are unsure of the relevant laws – the majority of sex workers are unaware of the nuances of the Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 and many are under the impression that their sex work practice is illegal.

Without peer support sex workers are less likely to approach mainstream protective services and are more likely to rely on informal avenues of protection and justice.

Sex workers are not keeping up to date on national trends and best practices around health and safety.

The evidence in favour of sex work services orientated around peer education, community development and harm reduction are well documented and the public health benefits are significant.

In the absence of ‘sex worker friendly’ services, sex workers are often unwilling to disclose their sex work status to a service provider or may avoid accessing services altogether. Thus missing out on the benefit of having their specific needs and rights addressed.

TasCAHRD Community Update

For more information about Scarlet Alliance and our work visit www.scarletalliance.org.au Alina, Scarlet Alliance

Experiences volunteering!

Hello there, I am Gene, I am a volunteer at TasCAHRD, and have been for the past 4 months. I volunteer in Reception of a Thursday, which involves general reception work, plus I do a lot of odd jobs as well, including statistics, mail outs and general information.

I underwent training for 5 weeks with Tania, the Harm Reduction Coordinator and successfully completed the Needle Syringe Training manual, which involved 7 topics of harm reduction in the areas of Hep C and other blood borne viruses, safer injecting, treatment options pharmacotherapy eg: Methadone Program, Buprenorphine Program and Subloxone Program which are all treatment options for opioid addictions.

On Wednesdays and Fridays I volunteer in the NSP (Needle Syringe Program) outlet. I enjoy this a lot and

think I am a useful and valuable person in this area.

I had a very colorful background of sex and drugs and rock n roll. I am clean and sober now, and trying to carry the message to other users about health risks and blood borne viruses that are out there. Latest Statistics show that Hep C notifications in Tasmania are on the rise with lots of people diagnosed with Hep C in the last 2 years.

I have really enjoyed volunteering at TasCAHRD and enjoyed the challenge of becoming a valuable person in the field of drugs and alcohol and I hope I can assist many more people with good information and with empathy and understanding of a users opinions and concerns.

The NSP volunteers are involved in a range of program activities such as; undertaking brief interventions with NSP consumers, including the provision of sterile injecting equipment, information and referral, NSP data entry, replenishing the outlet and contributing to the development of TASTE magazine. The involvement of peers in the program has been met with much enthusiasm and support from NSP consumers and staff would like to take this opportunity to welcome Gene to the team!

TasCAHRD NSP outlets will again be participating in the National ‘Finger Prick’ survey, this year held on October 13-17. The survey is an annual event conducted by the National Centre on HIV, Epidemiology and Clinical

To access more information on treatment options for opioid and other substance addictions contact TasCAHRD at 319 Liverpool Street or phone 6234 1242. You can also contact Alcohol & Drug Services Tasmania at St John’s Park Newtown (phone 6230 7901) or the Salvation Army Bridge Centre in Creek Rd Newtown (phone 6278 8140).

Gene, Volunteer

To access more information on treatment options for opiate and other substance addictions contact TasCAHRD at 319 Liverpool Street or

TasCAHRD

Peer involvement in NSP’s An exciting development in the program in recent months has been the reintroduction of peer volunteers in TasCAHRD Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) outlets. Peer volunteers play a vital role in achieving improved health outcomes for individuals and are integral to the success of harm reduction and health promotion initiatives. The development of NSP peer volunteer protocol, including a comprehensive orientation manual, has supported the recruitment of volunteers into the program.

phone 6234 1242. You can also contact Alcohol & Drug Services Tasmania at St John’s Park Newtown (phone 6230 7901) or the Salvation Army Bridge Centre in Creek Rd Newtown (phone 6278 8140).

Research (NCHECR) and is designed to monitor the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C infection and risk behaviours among injecting drug users.

As part of the survey NSP consumers are invited to complete a questionnaire and provide two large drops of capillary blood. For more information contact nsp@tascahrd.org.au or log onto www.nchecr.unsw.edu.au The Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL) will be holding a National Meeting, including the AIVL Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Peer Educator’s Workshop in Canberra on October 27-29. This year, Tasmania will be represented by a strong contingent including two Tasmanian AIVL delegates and two illicit drug users. The Harm Reduction Coordinator has submitted an abstract to deliver a short presentation on ‘supporting the establishment of peer networks in Tasmania’. For more information contact nsp@tascahrd.org.au or log on to www.aivl.org.au

Information & Support Line

1800 005 900

HIV/AIDS Gay Men’s Health Injecting Drug Use

Tania Hunt Harm Reduction Coordinator

TasCAHRD Community Update

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North West Coast STI Project Beats are locations where men meet other men for social or sexual encounters. Many guys use beats as a way to meet other guys. Such locations may include parks, beaches, bush land, public spaces or public toilet blocks.

There are many beat locations throughout Tasmania however this project focuses on those in the North West Coast Region.

TasCAHRD operated beat outreach programs in the South of the state. The North West Coast STI Project is an initiative of the recently rebadged MAN2MAN Program at TasCAHRD (formally Gay Men’s Health) and will initially focus on a few beat locations in the North West Coast region. This project is a health promotion activity and not an attempt to stop beat activity.

Over the last decade in Australia we have seen rising HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) notification rates especially amongst gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Given that casual unsafe sex practices are known to occur at beats there is obviously the potential for HIV and STI transmission happening at such locations. This is especially concerning given that in the presence of an STI the likelihood of getting or passing on HIV is markedly raised.

The aims of the North West Coast STI Project include:

An additional concern with beats is the high percentage of non identifying gay men (MSM) and bisexual men that use beats in Tasmania. This subgroup of men are difficult to reach with our safe sex health promotion messages as they don’t tend to access GLBTI services where such messages and advice is freely offered.

The rationale for the North West Coast STI Project arose because of a spike of syphilis notifications last year among gay men and MSM who appear to have frequented beat locations on the North West Coast. This raises the possibility of similar STI outbreaks occurring at beats in the future plus also the potential for HIV transmission. Some time ago

Reducing the incidence of new STI notifications in gay men and MSM who use beat locations;

Increase the use of condoms and safe sex practices amongst beat users;

Promote beat users to have regular sexual health checks and STI testing;

Raise beat users awareness of where to go to get a sexual health check;

Increase the availability of condoms and lubricant at beat locations; and to

Utilise this project as a template for possible beat outreach projects in Southern Tasmania.

Some strategies currently being considered include:

Investigating the installation of condom vending machines in toilet blocks at beat location;

Erection of a local community services directory noticeboard sign at beat locations displaying

general health related referral information and in particular Sexual Health Service, Working It Out sexuality counselling and TasCAHRD MAN2MAN Program contact details;

Display of posters in poster holders within toilet blocks & cubicles at beat locations;

Running educational workshop sessions for local general practitioner’s and health centres relating to beat culture and STI’s in gay men/MSM

Regular articles on the project to feature in General Practice North West newsletter

Educational sessions regarding nature of beats project with other key collaborative partners

Approaching the Spirit of Tasmania regarding on-board safe sex promotion.

TasCAHRD is working with the local community, relevant organsiations and local councils to inform the project.

Anybody interested in more details regarding the North West Coast STI Project or who may have any useful suggestions or ideas can contact Brian Morris, MAN2MAN Program Coordinator at TasCAHRD on Tel (03) 62341242 or email M2M@tascahrd.org.au Brian Morris MAN2MAN Program Coordinator

Training & Workshop Calendar Event

When

Where

Cost

More info

WORKSHOP: Mental Health -

Friday 19th Dec,

Launceston Library

$145.00

P& P Training (02) 9949 9407

Myths Madness & Medicine

9:30am - 4:30pm

WORKSHOP: Brain Development & Psychopathology

Thursday 18th Dec, 9:30am - 4:30pm

Launceston Library,

$145.00

P& P Training (02) 9949 9407

WORKSHOP: Towards a Better Life

6th & 7th Nov

Launceston Tram Sheds

$275:00

Training & Education for Change (03) 6231 6431

WORKSHOP: Towards a Better Life

4th & 5th Mar

Tasmanian Techno Park, Dowsing Point

$275.00

Training & Education for Change (03) 6231 6431

WORKSHOP: Carers Health & Wellbeing

Friday 14th Nov

Carers Tasmania Hobart

Carers Tasmania 1800 242 636

What Respite Options Do I Have?

Wednesday 3rd Dec

Carers Tasmania Hobart

Carers Tasmania 1800 242 636

Cross Cultural Communication

Wednesday 5th Nov

99 Bathurst St. Hobart

10 10 T a s C A H R D

2 Midwood Street Newtown

9:00am - 5:00pm

9:00am - 5:00pm

Community Update

$20.00

Population Health 6222 7653

Community & Social Contacts & Events Social Contacts and Events Barcode @ Café Central: 76 St John St, Launceston, Friday nights from 8.30pm $5 entry Black Prince Hotel: Happy hour Friday afternoons 5.30 – 7.30 Borderlines: Edge Radio, Hobart's sexuality and gender issue show, every Wed 2-3pm Coven: gothic alternative nightclub at Halo- see Lalaland Diva Bar: 60 Argyle Street, Hobart – Open Fri & Sat 9pm till late League of Gentlemen: Greater Launceston/East Coast, North West, West Coast, Huon, Channel & Bruny Island Chapters Julian Punch- 6239 6606 or e: julian@logtas.org Flamingos Dance Club: 251 Liverpool St, 2nd level- open Fri & Sat nights, check out www.myspace.com/flamingosbar Fruity Bits: Launceston based-Contact Jane at Working It Out - 6334 4013 Lalaland: 1st Saturday month upstairs at Halo 37A Elizabeth St Mall 10pm-5 $10/8, enter Purdy’s Lane ph: 0408 328 456 La Privelage: Lesbian club >35’s Friday nights at Soak/Kaos $5 Country Network: An Australia wide organisation offering hospitality and friendship Phone Dave Arnold on 6228 4166 or go to www.countrynetwork.com.au Soak@Kaos: café and lounge bar at 237 Elizabeth Street SAFE (Spirituality and Faith Exploration) Group: for people exploring their spirituality, call Joc on 62286715 or email: safetas@gmail.com The Lounge: Lesbian and bi women’s meeting place, every 2nd & 4th Tues at Hobart Women's Health Centre The Duke Hotel: Cnr Macquarie and Barracks Streets, Hobart Trade Hotel: 4 Barrack Street, Hobart Open from 11.30am til late, 7am til late Friday and Saturday Wellington Wanderers: Michael 0418 590 262 or Richard 6223 2690 or Juliet 6278 3184 or Michael 6234 2946 GPO Box 1872, Hobart 7001 or e: wellingtonwanderers@yahoo.com.au Saturday 24th November: The Deloraine Big Band 1940’s theme night 1st Saturday every month: 11am-1pm brunch for women at Deloraine Deli- booking name “Ros” 1st December: Dance party in Launceston e: donla_1@hotmail.com 15th December: Christmas Party, Hobart – venue to be announced TasPride Festival: 1-16 Nov 08 Festival Program available from the website www.taspride.com

Community Contact Information Working It Out: Offices -North West- 6432 3643 Sharon North- 6334 4013 Jane and South- 6231 1200 Susan or email: info@workingitout.org.au ECQLS East Coast Queer Life Support Group - North East GLBTIQ group e: ecqls@gmail.com.com GLC: email: glcgeneral@glctas.org Web: www.glctas.org Gay Info Line Recorded message service 6234 8179 Graeme Boughton (RN PCN) Erectile & Sexual Dysfunction Nurse, at RHH ph: 6222 8636 or 0417 012 075 Indigo Solutions: alternative therapies and treasure for the alternative soul PFFLAG: Els - 6234 2372 or Gail- 6440 7140 or email: pflagtas@yahoo.com.au TasUnity: Pat—6344 2357 Q-Soc: Kristal- 0404 331 775 or email: queerep@yahoo.com.au QueerTas: email: queertas-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au Taswomania: www.groups.yahoo.com/group/taswomania Bi Tasmania: 0401 054 003 Transisters: www.yahoo.com/group/transisters TGLRG: 6224 3556 or www.tglrg.org or via www.rodneycroome.id.au Hobart Women’s Health Centre: 25 Lefroy Street, North Hobart or phone: 6231 3212 WILLOW: Launceston based—contact Jane at Working It Out, North 6334 4013 Sexual Health Service: 1800 675 859 Family Planning Tasmania: 6228 5422 Relationship Registration: www.relationshipstasmania.org.au

TasCAHRD Community Update

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Community Update