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Here you will find videos featuring stories told by women living with HIV and also recordings of webinars, which are part of our HIV and health webinar series. You will also learn about Positive Women Victoria, its history, and many of the issues faced by women living with HIV.
EXPLORING HIV STIGMA TRAILER BY STEPH LEE – (a Documentary film project)
Steph Lee, PWV Vice Chair, and living with HIV, is developing a documentary film on HIV-related stigma as a social experiment, but needs funding to make it happen. If you can help by donating some money, even a few dollars, you would be a part of raising awareness of HIV and improving the lives of thousands (potentially millions, if the doco goes global) of people living with HIV in Australia by ending stigma. Let’s end HIV stigma once and for all and raise awareness of U=U. Let’s make this happen!!!
To find out more and to donate visit: Steph’s HIV film Project – Go Fund Me
WATCH EXPLORING HIV STIGMA TRAILER
Steph Lee was also a participant in PWVs Reaching Your Potential program, a skills and confidence building and mentoring program for women living with HIV aimed at providing pathways into HIV advocacy.
REACHING YOUR POTENTIAL PROGRAM
The following five videos were filmed as part of Reaching Your Potential – a skills and confidence building and mentoring program for women living with HIV. The program was facilitated by Positive Women Victoria and funded by a Positive Action Community grant from Viiv Healthcare Australia. Read more about Reaching Your Potential.
The participants of Reaching Your Potential were interviewed by Dee Mason, Joy FM host and broadcaster from Studio Mason with filming and editing by Brent Masters and Mark Harrison from NBS Productions.
CHRISSIE
Chrissie, who moved to Australia from Zimbabwe in 2009, is using her advocacy skills to combat HIV stigma in African communities in Australia. She set up a Facebook page ‘Stop HIV Stigma and has set up a registered charity to raise funds for AIDs orphans in Zimbabwe and awareness to end HIV stigma.
EMILY
Diagnosed with HIV in 2010 while pregnant, Emily works as a peer support worker with Positive Women Victoria and feels her experience can support and nurture confidence in other women living with HIV, especially those newly diagnosed when pregnant.
JESSICA
Jessica was diagnosed with HIV just before Christmas in 2020. She had the test for a sexual health check-up and thought: ‘I’m going to die.’ But she was quickly reassured about treatments and U=U. Jessica, who’d struggled with her mental health before her diagnosis, views living with HIV as a kind of ‘blessing’ because of the support and connections she has made within the HIV community.
JOAVE
Joave grew up in Fiji and was diagnosed with HIV as a 19-year-old when she was pregnant and thought she would always be alone. However, she found love on Positive Singles, an online dating site for people living with HIV and moved to Australia. Joave encourages other women living with HIV to give online dating a go and see what happens.
STEPH LEE
Steph Lee was diagnosed with HIV in 2020 during COVID lockdowns and has turned to social media to raise awareness to end HIV-related stigma and U=U. As an HIV advocate and activist, Steph has big plans. And while taking the step to be public about living with HIV was scary in those early days, it was not long before Steph garnered a social media following.
HISTORY OF POSITIVE WOMEN VICTORIA
BEV’S STORY
Positive Women Victoria was founded in 1988 by two women (Bev Greet and Deborah Gillies) as a result of their isolation following their positive HIV diagnoses. It was a time when HIV was so stigmatised and women were a minority within a minority, making them all but invisible in an epidemic that was overwhelmingly affecting men who have sex with men. WATCH Bev’s story.
WATCH THE RECORDING
A ground-breaking forum and Australian-first, U=U is Your Story Too is a panel discussion focused on the Undetectable = Untransmittable message as it relates specifically to women. The panel shares stories of how the knowledge that U=U has transformed their lives, discussing sex, relationships and motherhood, as well as the health and social impacts of HIV among first nations people. Read more about the Webinar for Women.
WATCH THE RECORDING
This webinar (held on 14/9/2021) explains why diet matters for people living with HIV. Featuring an expert panel, Infectious diseases specialist Professor Sharon Lewin and clinical holistic nutritionist Skye Wiles, you will learn why gut health and diet are so important for people living with HIV, especially as we age. Hosted by Positive Women Victoria.
WATCH THE RECORDING
Learn how to access financial support services and grants, manage debts and nurture your financial wellbeing in this webinar hosted by Positive Women Victoria.
Guest speaker Lynda Horn, a Financial Counsellor with Thorne Harbour Health outlines what services and grants are available to you and shares advice on managing debt, plus she answers attendees finance-related questions.
Hosted by PWV EO Kirsty Machon who has worked in the HIV sector or over 30 years, this webinar was recorded live on 4/5/2022. To book a free appoint with Lynda Horn, financial counsellor, Thorne Harbour Health:
Phone: (03) 98630444 Email: lynda.horn@thorneharbour.org
WATCH THE RECORDING
Menopause and Women Living with HIV webinar, hosted online by Positive Women Victoria, features expert panellist Dr Nneka Nwokolo, an honorary HIV and sexual health consultant from the UK who has specialised knowledge of menopause and women living with HIV. Dr Nwokolo answers questions and outlines the latest research concerning menopause, including HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy), as it relates to women living with HIV.
A Guide to Menopause for Women Living With HIV
You may like to read the recently published A Guide to Menopause for Women Living With HIV developed by the Sophia Forum with expert advice provided by Dr Nneka Nwokolo from the UK. PWV is honoured to have Dr Nwokolo as a panellist for our Menopause and Women Living With HIV webinar. DOWNLOAD the guide.
Dr Nneka Nwokolo has been a Senior Global Medical Director at ViiV Healthcare since 2019 and has over 20 years of experience in HIV medicine. Prior to joining ViiV, she was a Consultant Physician in Sexual Health and HIV Medicine at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and the 56 Dean Street Clinic in London, UK where she has worked since 2001. Her special interests include the sexual and reproductive health of HIV positive women, particularly with regard to contraception and the menopause. She continues to do a monthly HIV menopause clinic in London and is currently involved in efforts to improve access to combination prevention for women. She is the author of many peer-reviewed scientific articles and book chapters. Dr Nwokolo also provided expert advice on the Guide to Menopause for Women With HIV.
WATCH THE RECORDING
Hosted by PWV with guest speaker Alexandra Storey, a counsellor from Thorne Harbour Health. In this webinar, Alex explain counselling options for your emotional support. You will also learn how to access free or low-cost counselling services. Attendees questions are answered anonymously.
Counselling involves talking with an impartial listener in a confidential, non-judgmental, supportive and respectful environment. Counselling helps you work through issues with increased understanding and it can help you develop greater self-acceptance to make positive life changes and decisions.
This webinar is part of PWVs regular series of health and wellbeing webinars for women living with HIV.