Positive Life NSW

This is an archived copy of a Positive Life NSW newsletter. To subscribe to our newsletters, click here.

Seasons Greetings to all members & friends!

Positive Life NSW would like to wish all our members and friends the very best for a happy, healthy holiday season! Our office closes on Thursday, 24 December and re-opens on Monday, 4 January 2010.

Details of our Christmas BBQ are noted below and we hope you’ll take this opportunity to join the Board of Positive Life to relax and celebrate on 27 December.

We also want to remind you to prepare for the holidays. Stock up on your meds and be aware of the special holiday service hours.

The December/January issue of Talkabout has some practical advice on getting through the holidays, tips on new year’s resolutions, Christmas entertaining ideas and much, much more.

Positive Life NSW Christmas Picnic!

Join us for our annual Christmas BBQ in Centennial Park.

Food will be provided. BYO drinks.

WHEN: Sunday, 27 December 2009, 11am – 2pm

WHERE: Centennial Park, One More Shot Pond, Musgrave Ave, Eastern side of Centennial Park (same place as last year, click here to view a map)

RSVP: with "PICNIC" in subject line by 24 Dec to Kevin at editor@positivelife.org.au or phone 93616011

Christmas & New Year hours of operation for HIV services

The Christmas - New Year period can be stressful as many HIV services close during the holidays. It's wise to stock up on your medicines and make sure you know when services are closing.

We've compiled information about the main Sydney services to help you plan for the holidays.

More details are available at our website

Have your say on insurance

Positive Life NSW will hold small discussion groups and face-to-face interviews in early 2010.

We want to talk with you about your insurance priorities and the difficulties you have experienced when trying to get insurance.

Since HIV is increasingly categorised as a chronic, manageable disease, interest in a range of insurance policies may be increasing as people with successfully treated HIV expect to live into their 70s. Mortgage protection, income protection, life insurance, travel and general insurance may be increasingly sought.

You can email lancef@positivelife.org.au to register your interest or to provide confidential feedback.

Tell us about healthcare

To better understand the issues relating to healthcare access and how we can address the problems you face, Positive Life NSW will be holding small discussion groups and face-to-face meetings in early 2010.

We would like to talk with you about the issues that prevent you from confidently using:

• GPs, S100 prescribers, HIV specialists
• Sexual health centres
• Allied healthcare services
• Mental health services
• Dental services
• Hospital and emergency services

Please email lancef@positivelife.org.au to register your interest or to provide confidential feedback.

Pilot gay mens couples study

If you are an HIV-positive gay man living in Sydney and your partner is negative (or the other way around), you are invited to participate in a brief online survey conducted by the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research.

Relationships of more than two partners are welcome. Your answers are very important for the researchers in preparing a larger study of serodiscordant couples in the future and for the community to build better strategies to prevent HIV transmission.

Please click here for more details.