The Queensland Government has announced new funding for four new community driven HIV education and prevention officers.

Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC), Dr Darren Russell, said that the announcement reaffirms the Queensland Government’s commitment to reduce the rising rate of HIV notifications over the last ten years.

Dr Russell advised these newly established positions will be hosted by community group Queensland Positive People.

“This relationship allows for the personal experiences of people living with HIV (PLHIV) to help shape the future response to HIV prevention in Queensland.

“The engagement and empowerment of PLHIV to be involved in all aspects of health promotion, prevention and education of HIV within the wider community strengthens the community response.”

Dr Russell said two of the skilled community HIV education and prevention officers will be based in Brisbane, one on the Gold Coast and one in Cairns.

The primary role of these officers will be to raise awareness of HIV transmission and prevention amongst men who have sex with men and other priority population groups. This will include:

  • Outreach interactions
  • Condom distribution
  • Increasing community participation in prevention strategies
  • Increasing rates of testing and promoting advances of new testing technologies
  • Raising awareness of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis