Five HIV community-based organisations have been awarded a combined $200,000 to support projects aimed to enhance patient centred care, reduce inequity and stigma and increase health literacy of people living with HIV
The five organisations receiving grants are WAAC, Watipa. National Association of people with HIV Australia (NAPWHA), Thorne Harbour Health and HIV/AIDS Legal Centre (HALC)
Over the 10 years of Positive Action Community Grants, ViiV Healthcare Australia has committed and awarded $2M for over 50 community-led projects in Australia
14 April 2025, Australia: ViiV Healthcare Australia is proud to unveil the community-based HIV organisations who will receive funding from the annual Positive Action Community Grants (PACG) program. The program, in its 1oth year in Australia, delivers support to community groups focused on improving the lives of people with HIV, and has delivered $2M since its inception, supporting over 50 projects.
This year, a total of $200,000 in funding has been awarded to five organisations with projects dedicated to boosting health access and awareness in priority populations, strengthening patient-provider relationships, and enhancing health system responses to drive better long-term outcomes.
Ann Maccarrone, Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager at ViiV Healthcare Australia, says that this year's award recipients exemplified the importance of funding community-led initiatives to address stigma and discrimination to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV.
"We are honoured to support the five recipients of the 2024 PACG program, whose initiatives align with our mission to create meaningful and lasting impact for people living with HIV, and to leave no person living with HIV behind. The initiatives led by WAAC, Watipa, National Association of People with HIV Australia, Thorne Harbour Health and HIV/AIDS Legal Centre will expand services for priority populations, ensuring that people living with HIV receive support at every stage of their journey," said Ms Maccarrone.
The projects the Positive Action Community Grants program will be supporting include:
WAAC for the creation of 'The Positive Speakers Bureau', an initiative that empowers people living with HIV to share their stories, fostering greater understanding and reducing stigma and discrimination.
Watipa for enhancing inclusive, person-centred care in Northern NSW through the 'Moments of Choice' storytelling initiative, which captures diverse community perspectives and recommendations to improve healthcare in the region.
National Association of People with HIV Australia for uniting nursing clinical experts and community service providers with a roundtable event on sustainable care models for people ageing with HIV, aiming to improve access and establish a framework for health and aged care services guided by expert insights.
Thorne Harbour Health for showcasing 'Positive Adelaide', a multimedia project that amplifies the diverse lived experiences of people living with HIV in South Australia through online and other platforms, helping to reduce stigma and enhance quality of life.
HIV/AIDS Legal Centre for leveraging technology to create a centralised hub of up-to-date information and resources on HIV disclosure requirements and rights across Australia.
As HIV care has evolved, the focus has shifted from surviving HIV to ensuring that people are living and ageing well.1 However, many people living with HIV continue to experience poor health outcomes and report lower quality of life compared to those living without HIV.2 In fact, among people living with HIV in Australia who participated in the Futures survey, only half (50.5% of 816 participants) report their overall wellbeing (including physical, emotional and mental wellbeing) to be good or excellent.3
Supporting five community led projects into 2025
WAAC is launching the Positive Speakers Bureau (PSB) WA to empower people living with HIV with the skills to share their experiences and challenges, fostering awareness and understanding across diverse audiences. In collaboration with the Positive Organisation of WA (POWA), and with support from Living Positive Victoria (LPV), WAAC is ensuring strong community involvement in shaping the program's development.
"Speakers will engage with schools, healthcare professionals, aged-care workers, police, Aboriginal services, and health students to build empathy, compassion, and inclusivity. This project aims to create safer and more supportive communities for people living with HIV," said Rhys Ross, Senior HIV Peer Educator and Coordinator of the PSB Project at WAAC.
Lucy Stackpool-Moore, Managing Director of Watipa, says that through participatory storytelling with diverse communities in the Northern NSW region, this project aims to gather insights about barriers and opportunities for accessing care and health services to inform the implementation of holistic and inclusive care systems.
"Key moments can shape or break interactions between communities and healthcare workers, and subsequent decisions about accessing healthcare and acquiring knowledge about HIV, sexual health and other health-enabling information. Moments of Choice will facilitate collaboration with healthcare providers and community members to help achieve person-centred care in a culturally safe and tailored approach," said Lucy.
Brent Clifton, Deputy Director of the National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA) says that the roundtable is a vital step towards achieving optimal health-related quality of life for the growing population of people ageing with HIV.
"This one-day high-level event aims to unite nursing clinical experts with HIV community service providers to map the existing health and community care landscape, identify opportunities for interventions that strengthen navigation, and foster inter-professional learning and collaboration. This roundtable will form part of a broader initiative to developing a framework for a sustainable and scalable person-centred approach to care," he said.
Dr Nikki Sullivan, Project Development Manager at Thorne Harbour Health says Positive Adelaide aims to harness the lived experiences of diverse South Australian people living with HIV to help combat stigma and discrimination.
"HIV does not discriminate and people living with HIV often come from many different backgrounds. By shining a spotlight on the real, lived experiences of our community, we can directly challenge harmful misconceptions and break down stigma. This project is an important opportunity for South Australians to share their voices on both local and global platforms, now and into the future," said Dr Sullivan.
Vikas Parwani, Principal Solicitor, from the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre says that for people living with HIV, concerns about disclosing their status can cause significant distress, as disclosure can put them at risk of discrimination, rejection and even violence. In certain circumstances, not disclosing can have adverse legal or health consequences.
"Information about disclosure requirements is critical in protecting people with HIV, especially in the early stages following diagnosis- however, it is not easily accessible. Given that key areas of law differ across states and territories, the need for a resource like this cannot be understated. This collaborative project harnesses technology and involves creating a centralised source of clear, up-to-date information on disclosure requirements throughout Australia," says Vikas.
The PACG program supports grassroots initiatives that directly impact those most affected by or at risk of HIV. ViiV Healthcare recognises that amplifying the voices of people living with HIV is critical in transforming care systems and remains committed and engaged in supporting community activities that work to address disparities and close gaps in care for those living with HIV.
