Our CEO Nicolas Parkhill has praised retiring NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner for playing a key part in efforts to end the HIV epidemic in Australia.
Minster Skinner announced today that she will retire after more than two decades in state politics, the last six as health minister.
Mr Parkhill says Minister Skinner has been a champion of new approaches to HIV prevention, helping to create and implement the policy framework that supports NSW‘s contemporary response to HIV.
“Minister Skinner has been an incredible ally for people and communities affected by HIV and has overseen a raft of important advances in relation to HIV prevention, care and support,” Mr Parkhill says.
“The development and implementation of NSW’s ambitious strategy for ending HIV transmission by 2020 was driven by Minister Skinner and the success that the strategy is moving towards will be an important and lasting legacy.
”Making HIV prevention drug PrEP available to thousands of people at risk of HIV transmission through the EPIC-NSW trial was another key achievement, as was increasing HIV testing through the introduction of rapid testing and community-based testing facilities.
“More broadly, Minister Skinner’s keen appreciation of the power of community driven health responses has allowed community organisations like ACON to be bold and innovative in our approaches to HIV prevention, HIV support and LGBTI health.
“And of course, Minister Skinner has worked with people and organisations across the political spectrum to nurture the bipartisan response to HIV which has underpinned the success of NSW’s and Australia’s response to HIV for over 30 years.
“We wish the Minister all the best for her future endeavours and thank her for her vision for and commitment to ending HIV and supporting the health and wellbeing of LGBTI people and people with HIV.”
ENDS
*LGBTI = lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex
