Brisbane: PrEP at the pub

Brisbane: PrEP at the pub
Image: Sportsman Hotel Brisbane

THIS month the Queensland AIDS Council (QuAC) will be hosting a community forum on PrEP to answer all the questions people have about the HIV preventative treatment.

#comePrepd @ the Pub‘ will be an opportunity to discuss what PrEP means in the LGBTI community and how PrEP is a “game changer” for the many people already using PrEP.

PrEP (Pre Exposure Prophylaxis) is a form of HIV prevention used by HIV negative people who are at risk of acquiring HIV. PrEP involves taking a pill once a day and research has shown it has a high effectiveness rate if taken correctly.

Speakers at the forum include Dr Tracy Schrader from Clinic 30, Health Promotion Officers from QuAC and community members already using PrEP to give a lived experience of PrEP use.

There will also be an update on the upcoming QPrEPd Demonstration Project, which aims to offer PrEP to 2000 participants living in Queensland.

“We are wanting to continue the discussion in the community about PrEP,” QuAC executive director Michael Scott said.

“Whilst PrEP is definitely a game changer in HIV prevention, there are still a lot of people who know very little about it. We hope the forum will provide an opportunity for people to ask questions and air any concerns they may have. We are hoping for a very robust community conversation.”

Scott said there are still many people who are unsure about whether PrEP is right for them and that it is more complex than just visiting a doctor and taking a pill a day.

“QuAC already knows that PrEP is changing our community’s sexual health negotiation, challenging stigma attached to HIV and for some people allowing people to enjoy sex without fear for the first time in their lives,” Scott said.

“Whilst there is a lot of information about PrEP through various websites, the community response to PrEP is vital and must be fully understood, which is one of the reasons QuAC is conducting this forum.”

#comePrepd @ the Pub is on Wednesday August 17 downstairs at the Sportsman Hotel, Brisbane. Entry is free.

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