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Work, employment and financial issues

For people living with HIV, wellbeing means more than just the absence of illness. Access to income support, employment, housing and other support services are all important.

NAPWHA's HIV Living work aims to ensure that governments and service providers understand and respond to the needs of positive people across the country.

Key aspects of this area of our work include responding to the government's welfare reform agenda, advocating on behalf of positive people in their dealings with government agencies, and developing the capacity of PLHIVPerson (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHA. organisations.

Key resources

Same-Sex Law Reform and Pension Changes: the Case for Savings Provisions & Other Transitional Arrangements
Same Sex Law Reform briefing paper - cover

This briefing paper discusses the impact of changes to social security payments (including the Disability Support Pension) for people in same-sex relationships, which are planned to take effect from 1 July 2009.

Work or pension?

From Having a life • 28 October 2003

Many people come to a point where they have to make a decision as to whether or not to work extra hours and therefore lose the pension and associated benefits. As the stories in this section show, positive people make all kinds of choices around work and the pension. It’s important to figure out what is right for you. read more »

Life insurance ban unjustified: study

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 1 October 2003
living with HIV

People with HIV should not be excluded from taking out life insurance policies, a Swiss study has concluded. read more »

The road ahead

Positive Living article • Glenn Flanagan • 1 August 2003

Deciding to return to the workforce, for many positive people, means trading the certainties of life on the pension for the uncertainties of work. One solution, says GLENN FLANAGAN, is to combine volunteering with part time work. read more »

Mind the gap: Govt, senate on collision course over Medicare

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 1 June 2003

For the second year in a row, the Federal budget has generated widespread concern over proposals with the potential to seriously affect the lives of people living with HIV, especially those on low incomes. read more »

Poverty and financial hardship

Submission • Rob Lake • 27 May 2003

NAPWHA has strongly opposed proposed changes to the Disability Support Pension (DSP) which would restrict eligibility for the DSP to people who are unable to work 15 hours a week (currently 30 hours per week). read more »

People living with HIV/AIDS angry with budget changes to Disability Support Pension: DSP changes are a tax on illness

Media release • 15 May 2002

"People with HIV/AIDS are alarmed and angry with the changes to the Disability Support pension announced in the Budget last night," said David Menadue, Vice-President of the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWHA). read more »

NAPWHA asks gov't to come clean now on welfare reform!

Media release • 20 December 2000

The National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS today called upon the Federal Government to come clean now with the detail on welfare reform. read more »

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External links

NAPWHA's service directory includes these relevant links:

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HIV Clinical Trials update

Recently updated entries from the NAPWHA Clinical Trials database.

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