Twenty-three years ago, as I prepared to move to Australia, I heard a rumour: no one with HIV was allowed into the country. I wasn’t sure if it was true, but the idea shocked me. Could such a policy exist? If it did, I thought, Australia must be a safe paradise!
I had lived in two other countries where HIV awareness was part of everyday life — highly visible in schools, hospitals, bus stops, pubs, and shops. Information about prevention and treatment was everywhere. Yet, after all these years in Australia, I realised how rarely HIV is openly discussed. I barely hear it mentioned.
It wasn’t until a few months ago that I encountered TasCAHRD (Tasmanian Council on AIDS, Hepatitis, and Related Diseases). For the first time, I saw a group actively raising awareness about HIV in Tasmania. Until then, I had assumed that HIV was almost non-existent here — a dangerous misconception
Meeting the TasCAHRD team was a revelation. I discovered that HIV not only exists in Australia, but it also lingers quietly within our communities. Without visible awareness campaigns or regular, open conversations, the risk becomes invisible too, but no less real.
Australia may seem like a sanctuary, but silence is not safety. Education and openness are vital to ensuring people stay informed, protected, and supported. It’s time to break the silence and bring HIV awareness into the light where it truly belongs.
Silence protects no one. Awareness, conversation, and compassion do.
Play a quick game and learn about HIV:
