The Positive Women Victoria (PWV) website is a welcoming online resource created by and for women, femmes, cis and trans women living with HIV. For more than 30 years, PWV has offered peer support, information, advocacy, and opportunities to connect for women living with HIV. The PWV website brings all of this together, making it easy to find the right support, resources, and stories whenever you need them.
Peer Support and Connection
One of the cornerstones of PWV’s work is peer support. Women can connect with others who share similar experiences, whether through one-on-one conversations, supportive group gatherings, or online meetings. Programs like Phoenix for Women provide a safe place for those newly diagnosed, offering guidance on treatment, disclosure, relationships, and living well with HIV. For women in Tasmania, PWV can also offer phone or online support.
Practical Help When You Need It
Practical support is a big focus of the website. Through our services directory, you’ll find links to resources for housing, financial assistance, legal advice, family planning, and culturally safe services. Many of these have national branches, and if not, these services will help connect you to the right service. Counselling is another key resource, with information on both general and HIV-specific options, making it easier to find the right support for emotional wellbeing.
Health and Wellbeing Resources
Health promotion is woven throughout our website. PWV also holds regular health and wellbeing webinars, which can be watched later. Topics include U=U, menopause, gut and liver health, mental wellbeing, financial counselling support, staying safe online and long-term HIV care. You will also find webinar recordings that unpack in ‘plain language’ the HIV science on treatment updates and cure research presented at international HIV science conferences, including our most recent on IAS 2025 Conference on HIV Science held in Rwanda.
STORIES – Watch : Listen : Read
A highlight of the website is the Watch : Listen : Read section. Here, women with HIV share personal stories on video, via our podcast and in creative written stories offering both
inspiration and connection. This section also houses all our webinar recordings, so you can watch these at any time.
Breaking Down Stigma
PWVs podcast Our Stories: Ending HIV Stigma, contains powerful episodes where women speak candidly about their HIV journeys. These conversations help break down stigma, educate the public, and provide vital support to women who may be newly diagnosed.
News, Events and Publications
PWV shares regular news, surveys, and event updates to keep the community connected. The annual Women’s Wellbeing Retreat is a highlight, bringing together up to 30 women with HIV for a weekend of connection, relaxation, and fun. Women from Tasmania are welcome to attend. If you’re interested, please contact us.
PWV also publishes a monthly eNews and a twice-yearly full-colour newsletter, Positively Women, filled with stories, news, and event listings. To protect privacy, these publications are not shared publicly online or via social media. To subscribe, simply contact PWV.
A Living, Breathing Community
Altogether, the Positive Women Victoria website is more than a resource hub—it is a living, breathing community space built by and for women living with HIV, where every voice matters and every story is valued. We hope you’ll visit and explore all that it has to offer. Positive Women Victoria
Heather Ellis – communications and engagement coordinator, Positive Women Victoria Email: comms@positivewomenvictoria.com.au Phone: 0431 781 121
