Nadine Toussaint, (WA AIDS Council) describes the reivigoration of WWAAC's anti-stigma campaign, incorporating social media and community events. This presentation was given at the AFAO/NAPWA Gay Men's HIV Health Promotion Conference in May 2012.

1. One Community Campaign
Nadine Toussaint
Social Marketing & Design Officer
WA AIDS Council

2. Background
• People living with HIV continue to report stigma
and discrimination.
• Despite having some legal protection many
people living with HIV do not feel safe to disclose.
• This burden takes a high toll on health, well being
and capacity to participate in community life.

3. Anti-stigma campaigns to date
• infrequent
• dependent on an emotional, empathic response
(your sister, your brother, your colleague etc.)
• little community participation
• little educative component
• limited applicability beyond the gay community

4. High Court Justice Michael Kirby identified;
“AIDS is a paradox.The best way to fight HIV, and to
command the minds of those who are most at risk, is
to win their trust and confidence by laws and polices
that protect their rights and uphold their human
dignity”.
M Kirby “HIV/AIDS: Anger, Hope and Love” in Through the World’s
Eye (2000) pp82

5. Creating
supportive
environments
Strengthening
Community Action
Develop Personal
Skills
Building healthy
public policy

7. Original Campaign
• Developed in WA in late 90’s targeting gay men's
communities
• Ran as a national campaign in 2000 – 2001
• Predominantly a t-shirt, poster and other print
resource campaign
• Successful yet very specific and limited
application

10. Current campaign
• Started as a simple t-shirt campaign
• A response to the lack of visible public/community
presence for
Pride Fairday
• Had a far more positive response than anticipated

12. Campaign Goal
• To address the issue of HIV/AIDS stigma and
discrimination in the gay men’s, LGBTI and wider
community.
• To engage the community in the message
through a simple community action,
and education.

13. Target Audience
•Initial target group - gay men (due to Pride event)
•Broader target group - entire community in the
lead up to World AIDS Day and beyond.

14. General Strategy
• Engage the community in the message, raise
awareness about the issue and provide basic
information/education to reduce stigma
• Invite individuals to submit a photo statement
taking a stand against HIV/AIDS stigma and
discrimination.

15. Online Initiative
• Develop a photo blog/basic website
www.1community.org.au
• Provide accessible HIV/AIDS information
• Complement site with a Facebook strategy

16. www.facesforfreedom.blogspot.com – Freedom Centre

17. www.thisisoz.com.au – ACON

19. Take Action
What can you do?
•Educate yourself and your community about HIV.
•Challenge peoples misconceptions about people
living with HIV.
•Participate in the 1community project and encourage
others to do so.
•Contribute to organisations that provide support to
people living with HIV.

22. Other Engagement/Promotion
• Engaged with participants prior to the Pride parade –
47 participants
• One Community as Pride float theme
• Distributed materials along with WAD resources
• Displayed images and photographs at WAD event
• Distribution of 1 Community Condom Packs
• Info circulated to other HIV/AIDS orgs and local papers
and radio

25. In 6 months…
• Over 240 individuals have participated
• 127 people like our Facebook page
• 365 t-shirts have been distributed
• 1800 condom packs have been distributed
• T-shirts, and information distributed at a WAD
African community event
• Over 130 participants at University O’Day and
youth events

26. "The way I see it, stigma and
discrimination are far more dangerous
than HIV/AIDS. Fortunately though
(and unlike HIV/AIDS)(yet) there's a
cure for that - education and basic
human decency. So lets all get
educated, be respectful and work
together to fight the virus and not
each other."
- Aram, Perth WA

27. "Empower ourselves by learning more and taking care of
ourselves and each other.“ - Zoe, Perth WA

28. “Be brave, be
accepting, become wise.
Learn all you can. Meet
the challenge with
knowledge and
compassion., not
ignorance and fear”
- Steve, Perth WA

29. “Promote education in our community.”
- HIV Community Educators, Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre

30. Reduce stigma
through
education.
- Anne, Perth WA

32. Success dependent on
• People willing to advocate for the campaign
• To tag themselves on facebook and promote the
message through their networks
• Having trained individuals capable of engaging
with the community to provide campaign
information
• Willingness of community groups and
organisations to support the campaign

33. Future Applications
• Multi-cultural communities
• Platform for stories of people living with HIV and
their supporters
• Providing further information around legal rights
and responsibilities

35. More information
Website:
www.1community.org.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/1community.org.au
Email:
info@1community.org.au