A landmark and Australian-first digital database featuring all health campaigns since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic from NSW’s leading HIV prevention, HIV support and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) health organisation, ACON, has gone live to coincide with World AIDS Day.
The ACON Campaigns Database is a digital archive featuring all the HIV and LGBTI health related social marketing campaigns that the organisation produced since it was established in 1985 in response to the epidemic.
Along with being the first of its kind in Australia, the archive will serve as a significant and permanent record of NSW’s LGBTI history says ACON President, Dr Justin Koonin.
“The database is a digital information and education resource dedicated to promoting over 30 years of health promotion work targeting gay men and broader LGBTI communities in NSW and Australia,”
“The database includes campaigns developed in partnership with the NSW and Australian governments, other HIV and LGBTI health organisations, and a range of community groups,”
“In addition to its important historical value, we hope this database will help inform and inspire contemporary practitioners in the HIV and LGBTI health sectors.”
HIV prevention and support has been at the core of ACON’s work over the past three decades but the organisation’s commitment to general LGBTI health is also documented in the archive.
“While the process of developing, producing and implementing our health promotion campaigns has evolved significantly over the last 30 years, ACON’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of people in the communities it serves has remained firm,” ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill says.
“HIV prevention and HIV support has been and continues to be the core of our work and so this is reflected in the content of this database. However we have produced many other campaigns related to a range of other health issues which impact on our community such as sexual health, mental health, alcohol and drugs, community safety, domestic and family violence, social inclusion and healthy ageing.”
Parkhill says that ACON campaigns have always been informed by four key approaches.
“We believe in self-determination, that people and communities affected by particular health issues should be included and active in any response. We support peer based education, the promotion of health-enhancing information, values and behaviour by people who share similar social backgrounds or life experiences to the target population.”
“We support and promote a positive, life-affirming view of sexual activity in all its diversity. And we believe evidence based responses are essential to building and retaining the trust of our community and organisational partners.”
To view the new campaigns database, please visit: www.aconcampaigns.org.au
ENDS | *LGBTI = lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex
For more information please contact:
David Alexander, ACON Media and Communications Officer
E: dalexander@acon.org.au T: +61 (02) 9206 2044 M: +61 (0)428 477 042