NAPWA

If your application is rejected, you may have a right to apply for a review of the decision by the Migration Review Tribunal, or the Refugee Review Tribunal. In certain circumstances it may also be possible to seek a review by the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia and the Federal Court of Australia. You should get advice from a migration agent or lawyer. read more »

If you are aware of your HIV positive status when applying for a visa, it is important toinclude as much evidence as possible with the visa application to highlight compassionate grounds for granting residency to you, and to show that granting you a permanent visa would not impose an “undue” cost on the Australian community. read more »

The Health Requirement may be waived for some visa classes, where there are
“compassionate grounds” to do so, and where granting permanent residence to the person would be unlikely to result in: read more »

• undue prejudice to the access to health care or community services of any
  Australian citizen or permanent resident; or
• undue cost to the Australian community.

All permanent visa applicants aged 15 years or over are required to have an HIV blood test.

Members of a permanent visa applicant’s family who are over 15 and listed as dependants on the visa applicaion are also required to be tested. read more »

This AFAOAustralian Federation of AIDS Organisations. AFAO is the peak non-government organisation representing Australia's community-based response to HIV/AIDS. AFAO's work includes education, policy, advocacy and international projects. Factsheet, March 2011, provides general information about how an HIV positive diagnosis may affect your own or a family member’s application for permanent residence in Australia. The policies are quite complicated and the process of applying for a permanent visa for someone with HIV can be daunting. read more »

Agreements are currently being finalised between NAPWHA, the National Centre in HIV EpidemiologyThe branch of medical science that deals with the study of incidence and distribution and control of a disease in a population. and ClinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. Research (NCHECRNational Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research. Based at the University of NSW in Sydney, NCHECR is one of Australia's leading medical research centres and is recognised internationally as a leader in the field of research into HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis. ) and the seven pharmaceutical companies who supply ARVA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. in Australia.

When complete, a national access study will provide antiretroviral therapy to HIV positive people who are legally resident in Australia but ineligible for Medicare access to ARV drugs. read more »

In association with the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHMAustralasian Society for HIV Medicine. The peak Australasian organisation representing the medical and health sector in HIV/AIDS and related areas. ), NAPWHA has developed a simple step-by-step guide for overseas visitors and new residents living with HIV. read more »

There is a Network of Workers located at AIDS Councils and PLHIVPerson (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHAPerson (or People) Living with HIV/AIDS.. Organisations around Australia, who understand the variety of treatment issues faced by positive people. We call them the Treataware Outreach Network (TON).

As an HIV positive peer support worker, Cipri Martinez sees a variety of people with a lot of different issues. And being able to help them out, he says, is what makes his job worthwhile. read more »

HIV s100 doctors are now able to prescribe up to two months supply plus five repeats of HIV drugs, under changes introduced by Medicare on 1 July.

While previously limited to prescribing one month’s supply with two repeats, now doctors have more flexibility in determining what they think is right for the patient. read more »

Understanding symptoms is critical to understanding how someone is experiencing illness. As well as affecting quality of life, particularly bothersome symptoms can impact on adherence to treatment and could be a signal of drug toxicity or some other problem. read more »