AVC (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex Anti-Violence Committee Inc.) is an action group with the aim of addressing homophobic violence in Townsville and Thuringowa. Its members include representatives from the Queensland Police, Townsville Regional Council, Queensland Association for Healthy Communities, Transbridge, James Cook University Student Association, United Sex Workers North Queensland and the North Queensland Domestic Violence Resource Centre. It also has a healthy number of interested individual members. The AVC meets every month with business meetings alternating with social meetings.
Contact them at: info@glbtavc.org.au
Or check out: www.glbtavc.org.au

Positive Directions is a not-for-profit organisation providing care coordination, information and referral for HIV positive people in Queensland. This service is not LGBT specific; it’s for all people with HIV in the state. PD has an office in Townsville and Belinda Jobst is the local care coordinator.
Contact them at; bjobst@spiritus.org.au
Or check out: www.positivedirections.org.au
Or call: (07) 4721 1384

Queensland Positive People is a peer based not-for-profit organisation promoting the wellbeing of HIV positive people in Queensland. They have a North Queensland Peer Support and Community Development Officer based in Cairns. QPP is not LGBT specific: it’s for all people with HIV in Queensland.
Contact them at: dcouplanjones@qpp.org.au
Or check out: www.qqp.org.au
Or call: (07) 3013 5511

Transbridge is a support and advocacy group for transgender people in the Townsville area. They have connections with sexual health, mental health, AISA counselling and others by association.
24 hr telephone support available on 0412 168 299
Write to them at: 374 Fulham Rd, Heatley, Townsville, Qld 4814
Or call (07) 4779 9229

Hot Tip Spot

STIs and HIV

Did you know that having a sexually transmissible infection (STI) increases your chances of contracting or passing on HIV by up to ten times? It’s true!

This is the case for a number of reasons but there are two main ones; increased immune cells at the sites of infection and sores. HIV replicates in CD4 cells in your blood. These cells are an important part of your immune system and are also the natural ‘home’ of HIV. When you have an STI the concentration of these cells at the site of infection increases as your body tries to fight the infection. Unfortunately this also provides many more targets for HIV to get a hold in your system should you be exposed to it, increasing your chance of becoming HIV positive. STIs also usually cause some damage to skin or mucus membranes in or around the genitals. This damage can provide a route for HIV to enter your bloodstream if you are exposed to it.

To reduce your risk of picking up or passing on HIV always use condoms and lube for anal sex, and get into the routine of having a thorough sexual health check-up at least every six months (or more often if you have a lot of sex partners). Look after yourself and your mates!

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