World AIDS Day takes on new focus

World AIDS Day takes on new focus

This year’s World AIDS Day campaign, December 1, is set to take a new, grand scale approach to engaging the public, thanks to a new level of cooperation between the AIDS Trust and various AIDS Councils.

With state AIDS Councils and the AIDS Trust working in tandem to produce a range of events and fundraising opportunities, World AIDS Day is set to make a nationwide impact with a televised community announcement featuring Marcia Hines which will promote the theme of AIDS is still here.
AIDS Trust chief executive Nick Toonen is confident that the new approach will help overcome public complacency.

This is the 20th World AIDS Day and so of course there is a challenge in keeping people engaged, in reminding people that they need to remain focused, that they need to give support.

We’re really focusing this year on developing and raising the national profile of World AIDS Day by working with the AIDS Councils and with some really great corporate partners who have been helping us, Toonen said before singing the praises of Foxtel who produced the television segment, worth close to $500,000, at no cost.

ACON spokesman Michael Badorrek agreed that it was an unparalleled opportunity to reach people.

We are making sure that what we are producing can be used over a number of years without dating. We realised very early on that opportunities like this don’t come around often, so we better make hay while the sun shines.

Efforts will also be made this year to engage people through multiple media, including the internet, to make it easy for people to register as a volunteer, donate money online or order a supporter pack of ribbons to be sold at work.

AIDS Trust bucket collectors will also make a return to the streets, Toonen assures.

That should have some impact on World AIDS Day. People aren’t being approached every day but on the day when everyone in the broader community thinks about and focuses on AIDS.

It is a focus which is more important than ever, Badorrek reminds us.

I think what a lot of people don’t realise is that while people are not dying from HIV anymore and they’re living happy, productive lives, there’s still a lot of challenges that even healthy people with HIV face, let alone the people who are doing it tough with HIV.

There’s still a lot of those people. Just because the proportion isn’t as high any more, doesn’t mean that there’s not people out there who are really doing it tough. People who have age-related illnesses, there’s still a lot of disadvantaged people who don’t have the same access to health care, so there’s a whole range of reasons we need to continue to raise money.

info: ACON is currently calling for volunteers. To register or to find out more information head to www.redribbonday.org.au. To donate money to the AIDS Trust head to www.aidstrust.com.au.
An image from the World AIDS Day print campaign.

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5 responses to “World AIDS Day takes on new focus”

  1. I met my bf just prior to World Aids Day 06, but he finally agreed to dating me on 1st Dec, so it’s a positive day for us.
    I’ve been posting that old 87 Grim Reaper ad on Myspace whenever ppl start talking shit about HIV not being the concern that it was once made out to be. Lol, it always gets them thinking, especially when accompanied by a big “Guess Who is Turning 21 today? Want to be at his 30th?” My mother scared the shit out of me and my sister with that old ad when we were teens, and I love her for it.

    I’m 22, btw.

  2. Also think of the other organisations that ACON has not yet taken over and throw the smaller orgs a few dollars!

    The few orgs I can think of that have not been taken over by ACON:-

    Ankali Project – Provides Social/Emotional Support to people living with HIV/Aids.
    The South East Health provides the staff & accommodation, all donations are used for benefit of volunteers/clients.
    http://www.sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au/albionstcentre/ankali/index.asp

    Stanford House
    Provides emergency accommodation for people living with HIV/Aids
    http://www.lyifeng.com/assets/web/stanford_house/report.htm

  3. Excuse the pun but, gee Oliver, you really do like to accentuate the positive :|

  4. Theres men out there who deliberately spread HIV to get back at Society! World AIDS Day can be a day these people reflect on the damage theyre causing.

  5. The last story about this said it was worth $70,000…. how is it now $500,000? Slightly inflated cost Mr Toonen?

    Webmaster’s note: In the three times the AIDS Trust has called for volunteers for the community service announcement, nowhere has a figure of $70,000 been used.

    http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2008/09/17/has-hiv-impacted-on-you/1738
    http://www.starobserver.com.au/community/2008/09/11/models-wanted/1693
    http://www.starobserver.com.au/community/2008/08/13/red-ribbon-actors-wanted/1166