+ Powerful Women Empowering women towards HIV prevention

• Presented by: Beth HodgeCommunity Development CaLD Officer94820000bhodge@waaids.com

+Presentation Outline

• Rationale• Sharing stories project• Empowering champions• Film screening (2 minutes)

+ WA Stats year 2013

HIV diagnoses 2013 Number, percentage

Male 94, 80 %

Female 24, 20 %

Total Cases 118

Gay/MSM/Bisexual Men 55, 47 %

Heterosexual Men 33, 28 %

Heterosexual Women 19, 16%

Overseas acquired 63, 53 %

Gay/MSM/Bisexual Men 16, 25 %

Heterosexual Men 29, 46 %

Heterosexual Women 13, 21 %

+Sharing Stories Partnership with Metropolitan Migrant Resource

Centre

• Empowers learning through peer education• Is based on WA sexual health research• Is culturally appropriate in tackling sensitive

topics like HIV• Encourages knowledge sharing within

communities• Engages participants through theatre,

filmmaking and community workshops

+Sub-Saharan African communities in Western Australia

•Stigma and discrimination•Late diagnosis•Lack of culturally competent services•Immigration status & access to testing and treatment•Other priorities – employment & education•Pre-migration experiences•Misconceptions about HIV and transmission•Financial difficulties •Cultural and religious factors (can be seen as enablers and opportunities rather than barriers)•Taboo nature of sexual health & related topics

+Empowering champions

‘ Look what we’ve achieved. This is our film. This is our message’.

+Thanks to:

• J. Sergeant. 2014. Discussion paper: HIV and Sub-Saharan African communities in Australia. Australian Federation of AIDS Organisation (AFAO).

• Anne Sorenson & Yvonne Johnson Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre

+Let’s watch

• Presented by: Beth HodgeCommunity Development CaLD Officer94820000bhodge@waaids.com