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The following projects are not funded by the Government
and each year the proceeds from StyleAID
help to raise funds to ensure direct emergency care is
provided to people living with HIV/AIDS and that the Family
Camp is possible.
Serving Today's Youth
The young people of today have always lived in world with
HIV/AIDS. Those of us who grew up in the 50s, 60s and
the 70s without too many concerns, and certainly not the
worry of AIDS, are now aware that their children and other
young people are doing all the things we did and probably
more. What a scary thought!
The AIDS epidemic which began 20 years ago in Australia
is now impacting on our youth in a way parents have not
been trained for, or have any real experience to deal
with.
The WA AIDS Council is committed
to keeping our young people safe and healthy. We want
our young people to get knowledge about HIV/AIDS so that
they are empowered to make safe sex decisions. We want
them to know about the life long consequences of the unsafe
use of alcohol and drugs which leads them to having sex
when they are not in control or sharing needles. For our
young same sex attracted people, we want them to be free
from bullying and harassment and a feeling of worthlessness.
We don't want them to think that suicide is the only option
or that in order to feel loved, having unsafe sex is OK.
The WA AIDS Council runs a number
of programs targeted at keeping our young people safe.
We present information to secondary
school students about HIV/AIDS, safe sex and
safe drug use. We give potency to this information by
having people with HIV presenting their life story and
some of the positive and negative experiences of having
HIV.
The WA AIDS Council has a presence at popular youth events
such as the "Big Day Out"
and the Fresher's Weeks
held at all the tertiary institutions to provide information
and resources.
We attend the Leavers celebration
at Rottnest Island and Dunsborough to ensure
that young people have access to proper information. I
am sure that many parents are worried about their kids
going to Leavers but somewhat relieved to know the WA
AIDS Council is encouraging them to be safe and look after
each other.
The WA AIDS Council operates a mobile
needle and syringe exchange service going to
16 different locations each week. The vans are discrete
and cater for all people who inject drugs. Our aim is
to ensure young people do not share needles, they receive
information about safe drug use and safe sex and provide
a facility for the disposal of used needles. We know that
many young people experiment with drug use and we believe
it is critical they are not left with any infection which
will undoubtedly affect the rest of their life and that
of their family's.
We also provide education and prevention services in
juvenile correction facilities.
These young people have often had very difficult family
lives and HIV/AIDS is the least of their problems. By
giving them skills and knowledge we aim to prevent them
from exacerbating their existing problems.
For our same sex attracted youth we provide a drop-in
centre - the Freedom Centre
and other support services to counteract the negative
opinions of school acquaintances, teachers, family members
and society in general. We know that young same sex attracted
youth are at much higher risk of suicide than their peers,
so by supporting them through this vulnerable period our
aim is to keep them safe and healthy. Our Freedom centre
staff are also involved in training other youth services
in how they can be more sensitive to the needs of these
young people.
And ofcourse for young people growing up infected with
or affected by HIV/AIDS, we offer family based services,
such as the annual family camp
and support services for parents
living with HIV so that they can better deal
with the demands of their children.
Many people that are critical of some of our programs
believe they encourage young people to do things they
otherwise would not do. Remember back to all the things
we did and how we fooled the adults in our lives. We know
that young people are doing them anyway - but hopefully
safely and healthily with the WA AIDS Council's assistance.
HIV Assistance Fund
This is a fund set up by the WA AIDS Council to
provide financial assistance to those most in need. The
purpose of this fund is to provide practical support and
emergency relief to assist the many men, women and children
living with HIV/AIDS maintain a basic living standard.
The Fund may pay a bond and required letting fee to ensure
a client has suitable accommodation. Direct financial
assistance may be given for the payment of Western Power,
AlintaGas and Telstra accounts. Practical assistance is
provided through items such as furniture and bed linen,
heaters for winter and food parcels. At present almost
every third request for help from the Fund is for food
parcels.
Even though the treatment options have improved and people
are living longer fuller lives a new problem has been
created. Many people with HIV/AIDS find they are unable
to support themselves for the term of their illness -
financially as well as emotionally - so it is vital for
the WA AIDS Council to provide this support.
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