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Board update |
Receiving your newsletter
Our newsletter mailing list is rather old, and whilst attempts have been made to ensure it is complete, we are concerned that people may not be getting their copy. If you previously received Inside Action via email, we changed this to hard copy with the advent of the new look Inside Action due of formatting issues. These have now been resolved, and you may have already noticed Inside Action is available on our website at www.aidsaction.org.au. If you would prefer to receive your newsletter via email, please email reception@aidsaction.org.au with your preferred email address, and we will update these details. Inside Action will then be forwarded to you as an email link to our website. If you would prefer to keep receiving your newsletter in hard copy, you do not need to contact us unless you have a change in address details, or you are receiving this newsletter through a means other than to your preferred address. You can change these details via email, to the above address, by phone on 6257 2855, or by writing to us at GPO Box 229 CANBERRA ACT 2601.
The Constitution of the AIDS Action Council
The Constitution of the AIDS Action Council is the set of rules agreed to by all members which outline how the organization operates, why it exists, and how we undertake the functions that are required of us as an incorporated body. The Constitution was last updated in October 2001, and so it is timely that we review this document to ensure that it continues to reflect the interests of the membership. The Board have listed this as a priority for 2006, and seeks the interest of one member of the AIDS Action Council to provide input to a working group which will be made up of the President of the AIDS Action Council, an ordinary Board member of the AIDS Action Council, and the General Manager of the AIDS Action Council. Your commitment will be to review the constitution (which is available to all Council members at anytime) and attend two to three meetings. These meetings will be held on workdays, generally from 6:00pm. The first will be held in late March/early April, and after that, the group will agree to future meeting dates. The task will be completed by early June 2006. If you would like to be involved, please contact me on rebecca.davey@aidsaction.org.au, or via phone on 6257 2855, by 20 March 2006.
Members attendance at Board meetings
Many of you may know that members of the Council are always welcome at Board meetings. These meetings, generally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month, are the time the Board reviews the work of the Council and discusses strategic matters regarding the future operations of the Council. If you would like to attend any Board meeting, please let reception know by 5pm on the Monday before the meeting. Notification is necessary due to space, agenda items, and catering needs. Also, dates sometimes change, so it is worthwhile checking that a meeting is on. Board meetings include a dinner. This dinner is free of charge to Board members, who are working for the Council at this time. There will be a charge to any other member should they wish to partake in dinner.
Rebecca Davey - General Manager
Board Update
Volunteer Representation on the Board
The Board has recently reviewed the position of a dedicated Volunteer Representative on the Board of the Council. This position is not included in the Constitution, and has generally been a position the Board has co-opted to keep informed of issues in volunteering at the Council. Currently, the Board, itself all volunteers, has a large number of members that also volunteer for the Council in numerous other ways, and there is always at least one Board member at volunteer meetings. In the current climate, and in consultation with the current pool of volunteers, the Board have decided not to have a dedicated position on the Board relating to volunteering. The Board have made a commitment to review this position early in 2007 to ensure the needs of volunteers are recognized by the Council.
Who makes up the Board of the
AIDS Action Council?
We often speak of the ‘Board’, but who exactly are they? Members of the Board are being asked to provide you with a snapshot of who they are and why they do the job they do for the Council. Mike Wight, our Vice President, was the first to take up the challenge!
‘I have a long association with AIDS Councils, starting with attending a peer
education group for young gay men run by the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC) in 1994. This was a pivotal moment in my life and assisted me greatly in coming out to school and family. I was also strongly affected by my best friend becoming HIV positive at the age of 19. In the last years of my university education I volunteered with the VAC to help them run their peer education groups, and continued to
volunteer to run similar groups when I moved to the ACT with my partner at the
beginning of 2004.
‘As a result of this volunteer role, I heard about the Board and expressed my interest. I was seconded to the Board in 2004, and elected as an ordinary member later that year. In 2005, I was elected by the Board to be on the Board Executive, and after the former President declined to run again, I was elected Vice-President at the 2005 AGM.
‘I work in the public service and have a university background in Science, Aquaculture (not much of that in Canberra) and Economics. Just as importantly, I have been active in the Canberra gay community and feel a strong sense of attachment to my new home. I really enjoy the challenge the Board gives me to think strategically and use some of the critical analysis skills I have gained to ensure that the AAC continues to be a successful organisation with outstanding governance and a strategic focus.’
Our other Board members are:
- John Guppy, President
- Kevin Playford, Secretary Treasurer
- Megan Hansford, Executive Member
- Paul Curwell
- Kenn Basham
- Claire Drake
- Alison Gordon
- David Benger
- Leo Hardiman
Community Support Services Unit
Recently, the Unit Manager (Nada) and Treatments Officer (Stephanie W.) have attended the Short Course in HIV Medicine. This was conducted over two days by the AIDS Treatment Project Australia in partnership with the Australian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM), and provided us with up-to-date information on the current
experience of HIV in Australia and the region including emerging treatments and trends.
We often hear about ‘quality improvement’ but what does this actually mean? The development of service standards and principles underpin good practice in any organisation and is part of reviewing and improving the services that we deliver. In 2002, the AIDS Action Council was one of a small number of agencies that were involved in a project to develop generic standards for use in quality improvement – it was aptly named ‘Raising the Standard’. We participated by piloting the standards and a self-assessment process. To ensure that these standards are maintained, this process should be ongoing. To facilitate this, Nada and Volunteer & Events Co-ordinator, Leonie, attended a one day workshop run by ACTCOSS and we shall be looking at re-undertaking the self-assessment process to ensure we continue to deliver good practice across the agency – in both the governance and management area as well as our work with clients, members, volunteers and communities.
It is difficult to imagine that it has been over 12 months since our last retreat at Bateman's Bay. We are hoping to be able to have a combined retreat next year for both men and women. Of course, this takes money so a funding proposal has been submitted to Healthpact. We shall keep our fingers crossed.
Finally, just an update on one of our very important services... it has been wonderful to have a permanent Health Maintenance and Treatments Officer on board. Stephanie Williams is at Westlund House three days a week (usually Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) so please don’t hesitate to introduce yourself when you are in the building. If you are a client, please try and make an appointment with her so that she can ensure you get the time and attention you deserve.
Nada, Stephanie B, Stephanie W and Marcus (PLWHA)
Community Education and Health Promotion Unit
It has been a busy time of year for all the members of the Community Education and Health Promotion Unit. The SWOP Outreach Workers heavily promoted their work during the Summernats events, and Outreach to all brothels has been continuing on a fortnightly basis.
Education and information to schools, colleges and the tertiary education sector always peaks at this time of year as students return to their studies. The Council has had a presence in all Orientation Week activites, particularly pushing its 'Make a Date for a sexual health test' campaign, and as always, distributing countless safe sex products.
Administration and events
Volunteer Information
We are currently holding Core Training for our newest volunteers. There will be a number of new faces around the volunteer ranks, so please say hello. We have 12 people doing this course and more have booked for later in the year.
The volunteers have been busy packing safe sex packs which the education unit have been distributing at the universities.
On 14 February , St Valentines Day, AAC Volunteers in conjunction with representatives from Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT gave away 1200 red roses and safe sex packs to people in Civic at lunch time. It was a very enjoyable and positive experience.
The Council recently attended the launch of the ACT Volunteer of the Year. If you would like to nominate an outstanding ambassador for volunteering from the Council, Leonie can provide you with a nomination form. Did you know that up to 40% of adult Canberrans volunteer at some stage every year - there are a lot of unsung heroes out there, so make sure you say thank you next time you see a person volunteering not only at the Council but all over Canberra.
Events
21st May 2006
International AIDS Candlelight Memorial. We will be starting with the Church service at All Saints again at 5.30pm and following on at the National Museum at 7pm. We will be needing lots of volunteers for this event.
7th October 2006
The Council is organising a ‘Coming of Age Ball’. Please keep this date free and mark in your calendar now. More details soon…..
Did you know…?
The Council has numerous safe sex products for sale, at very low and competitive prices.
Our condom range includes Ansell, Glyde, SAX and Durex condoms, in a variety of sizes and flavours. We also stock the Durex Avanti (non-latex) condom for people with allergies to latex and the Ansell Nuda condoms, which is proving to be popular with users. Condoms are available by the box or by the dozen.
We also stock lubricants, dams in a smorgasbord of flavours, and for the women we also carry the Beppy sponge, which is an alternative for a tampon.
Phone Valan or Mandi on 6257 2855 for prices and product range.
