AIDS carriers – have you just been diagnosed?

How can I do?

When I first discovered that I was infected with HIV, life seemed to fall into a low profile. You may think that you are the only one in the world who has been unfortunate. Not many people can understand what HIV/AIDS is, and there are many rumours about the unreality of the disease. You may feel sad, angry or confused. Even if you have been infected with HIV for a long time, you will still be confused and worried about the future.

However, please remember that you are not alone! In Australia, there are thousands of people living in HIV or AIDS, and the cultural background is different.

Learning to get along with HIV or AIDS is not an easy task. Getting along with it means that your work methods, lifestyle, and your relationship with your partner, family, and friends need to be adjusted and changed accordingly. Take some time to think about the future instead of rushing, and sloppy decisions.

There are many organizations and institutions in Australia that can provide you with relevant information, advice and support. Many of the people working in these institutions are themselves HIV carriers. Some organizations, such as the “New Jersey Active” organization, are designed for people living with HIV and their families, partners and friends.

“My family came to Australia when I was very young, so I spoke with an Australian accent, just like the locals. Most of the time I feel like an Australian, but my parents’ culture and their beliefs. And values ​​are also important to me. I can’t tell them that I am gay or HIV positive because they don’t accept this fact. This makes it difficult for my friends and even health service workers to understand. I finally found it. Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service. There are many HIV-infected people from non-English cultural backgrounds like me. The staff of the center understand and understand the different cultural backgrounds that I face and need to solve. The contradictions, differences and problems brought about.”

Confidentiality and discrimination

Confidentiality means that no health, medical service or AIDS organization can tell anyone about you. Only with your consent can they tell the person you wish to tell.

In Australia, staff of any organization related to health care and AIDS talk to someone outside of work about your situation, even if it is illegal to talk about services there. Only with your permission can they discuss your questions and circumstances with people outside the scope of work.

This includes not only doctors and nurses, but also social workers, counsellors, interpreters and receptionists. They are not allowed to tell your husband, wife, partner, parents or children about your health without your permission.

Sometimes you may feel that too many people know your privacy. For example, you may see many doctors, nurses, and other staff in the clinic. This is because the staff in the hospital and clinic work together, any related. Your HIV status discussion and information is designed to give you the best possible service.

Discrimination means that an individual or a group of people is unfairly treated for reasons of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, health or religious beliefs. In Australia, it is illegal for any health care worker to discriminate, object, comment and blame, neglect you or refuse to serve you for the following reasons:

• You are a carrier of HIV;
• You will not speak English or your English will have an accent;
• You are not an Australian citizen;
• You are married or single;
• You have a disability;
• You are a male;
• You are a woman;
• You are a woman and have sex with other women; you are a male and have sex with other men; you have sex with men and women; or you are a trans gender;
• You are a male and have a sexual relationship with a woman or you are a woman and have a sexual relationship with a man; or
• You are an injecting drug user.

If you think you have been discriminated against and unfairly treated for these reasons or for other reasons, you can complain. In the “Finding Related Service Organizations” section of this website, there are telephone numbers of anti-discrimination bureaus or committees in various states and territories. The staff of these organizations will tell you if your case has sufficient evidence for a formal complaint. Making a formal complaint does not mean that you want to make a living or create a problem because everyone has the right to be well served and respected.

Who should I tell?

This is often a problem. Being HIV-positive is not a shame. However, there are still many rumours and erroneous messages in our community, so HIV-positive people need to seriously consider who they can tell and trust. The general principle is to just tell people who need to know.

These people include;

• Doctor, nurse, dentist;
• Counsellors and others who provide you with HIV treatment and care;
• All sexual partners.

It is important to tell the people you trust and can help and support you. After a while, you will find out who these are.

In most cases, you don’t need to tell the following people that you are HIV positive;

• Your employer;
• colleague;
• a person who lives and rents a house;
• Classmate; or
• A person with a general social relationship.

Depending on your state or territory, the law states that even if you have a safe sex with anyone, you must tell the other person that you are HIV positive. The AIDS committees in each state and territory will provide you with further advice and advice. Access to HIV / AIDS Legal Center website for the latest information on HIV and the law..

It can be difficult to tell someone about your HIV-positive condition, and you can ask your doctor for advice.

“When I just discovered that I am a positive HIV carrier, I am very scared. I don’t know anything about HIV/AIDS, I don’t know any relevant service agencies, and I don’t know where I can be. As a result, I told my HIV-positive situation to someone I shouldn’t tell. They told other people, and soon everyone seems to know. Fortunately, my family is not in Australia, so at least they don’t need to face it. This problem. My current friends don’t care that I am a carrier of HIV. I participated in a support group for HIV-positive young people. I still tell others that I am HIV-positive, just think more carefully about who I should tell. Nothing.”

What if I am not an Australian resident?