The Albanese Government is investing $41.7 million over three years to continue progress towards eliminating HIV transmission in Australia by 2030.
The additional funding will bolster current efforts to increase HIV awareness, prevention, testing and treatment in under-serviced populations at risk of acquiring HIV.
More than 30,000 people in Australia are living with HIV.
The funding coincides with World AIDS Day, which is marked around the world on 1 December each year.
Australia has led the world in its response to HIV, in large part because of the partnership between successive governments and the HIV community sector. This partnership will remain critical for continued progress towards virtual elimination of HIV transmission in Australia by 2030.
The funding includes:
- $14.1 million to Health Equity Matters (HEM) and the National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA). This will support HEM’s national leadership as well as activities related to HIV awareness, prevention, testing and treatment, and NAPWHA’s advocacy for people affected by HIV.
- $27.6 million for a range of community led initiatives to increase access to testing and prevention, including training for health professionals engaging with recently arrived and overseas born people at risk of HIV.
The funding will allow expansion of the national network of vending machines dispensing free HIV self-test kits at educational and community sites. The CONNECT program is expected to dispense thousands of tests each year.
NAPWHA’s initiative providing home delivery of HIV self-test kits will also be extended, allowing up to 24,000 tests a year to be delivered to more than 6,000 people at risk of HIV transmission.
Funding certainty will also ensure continuation of the Emen8 website, the National Multicultural Peer Navigation program, and HIV Online Learning Australia.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“Australia can be the first country in the world to achieve virtual elimination of HIV transmission.
“I want to assure you that as we stem the rate of transmission, we are not leaving any Australians behind and will continue offering high quality care to people living with HIV in Australia.
“It is time for all Australians to dismantle stigma and make sure prevention, testing, treatment and quality care is available to every person, regardless of who they are or where they live.”