community liaison & social engagement – where to from here?
DESCRIPTION
Claire Lawrie, Community Liaison & Social Engagement Officer, WA AIDS Council The Community Liaison & Social Engagement Officer is a newly developed role within Positive Services at the WA AIDS Council (WAAC), implemented in response to the changing needs of PLHIV. This presentation provides an overview of the two-pronged role, its objectives and what WAAC aims to achieve in the first 12 months. This presentation was given by Claire Lawrie (Community Liaison & Social Engagement Officer, WAAC) at the AFAO Positive Services Forum 2012.TRANSCRIPT
COMMUNITY LIAISON AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
Claire Lawrie
WA AIDS Council
It’s a braw, bricht, moonlicht nicht the nicht
Bless his wee cotton sock
COMMUNITY LIAISON AND
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
Me at school
“Be brave, be accepting,
become wise. Learn all you can.
Meet the challenge with knowledge and
compassion., not ignorance and
fear”
- Steve, Perth WA
SUPPORT SERVICESClient overview
• TOTAL PLWHIV IN WA = 1200• TOTAL CLIENTS = 383• GAY = 73%• WOMEN = 78• CALD = 70• ATSI = 33
• High contact 71 = Engage regularly for practical, emotional support and advocacy.
• Low contact 57 = Engage less frequently, more for social contact and confidence and encouragement.
Social Engagement
EVENTS• Reclink – free
swim/gym • General Pos BBQ -• Str8 Up dinner• Annual retreat• ARTBOX & Creative
Writing• Family Day• 50 +Focus group to
address ageing with HIV
• Rock and Water
BENEFITS• Health and Fitness• Share experiences• Learn new strategies• Creative expression• Observe resilience and
living well.• Personal development• Cathartic healing• Feeling connected…
Some of the issues PLWHIV raise at events
• Multicultural concerns• Ostracised from family and community• Faith based issues• Mental Health• Disclosing to children• Negotiating sexual relationships• Having a baby• Navigating social media• Ageing• Employment …
Community liaison
WA AIDS COUNCIL
• Non discriminatory policy development
• Awareness raising• Workforce training• Consolidating best practice service
delivery outcomes• Capacity building.
CAPACITY BUILDING
“Coupled with a new notion of shared responsibility, and the building of new coalitions with common goals and common purpose, capacity building is a key ingredient in redressing social exclusion, inequality and vulnerability in our community”
Fitzgerald R.NSW Community Services Commissioner
NSW Health/A framework for Building Capacity to Improve Health