Positive Living Centre in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Community centre

Positive Living Centre

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 3 9863 0444

Address: 51 Commercial Road, South Yarra 3141 Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Website: https://thorneharbour.org/lgbti-health/hiv-positive-services/positive-living-centre

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24.01.2022 Positive Living Centre and Coronavirus (COVID-19) Service Update 26 October 2020 As restrictions ease in the community following the declining case numbers and according to the Victorian Government Roadmap for Reopening, it’s important to provide you with an update on the Positive Living Centre and the services we will be reintroducing. From November 9th Pantry services will resume as will the ability to access Vitamart and Needle and Syringe Program (NSP). ...Continue reading

22.01.2022 Wearing a face covering helps keep you and others safe. Coronavirus (COVID-19) is spread from close contact with a person with coronavirus (COVID-19). Face coverings help stop droplets spreading when someone speaks, laughs, coughs, or sneezes, including someone who has coronavirus (COVID-19) but feels well. The best way to protect other people against coronavirus (COVID-19) is keeping 1.5 metres apart, wash your hands often, and cough or sneeze into your elbow or tissue. Face... coverings are an additional protective physical barrier to protect you and your loved ones. We are now offering reusable cloth face masks, which have been proudly made by volunteers at Thorne Harbour Health. We have left the elastic undone so you can fit it comfortably and tie it off yourself. The design also means that the elastic can be replaced if it becomes loose. We can provide a medium size and have smaller or larger sizes available on request which can be posted out. If you would like to receive a mask and you are an eligible client, please talk confidentially to our client care staff over the phone on 9863-0444 or email us at [email protected] Take care and stay safe. From all the staff at the Positive Living Centre

22.01.2022 AIDS 2020 - HIV & Ageing update For all HIV Positive Victorians, Tasmanians & South Australians 50 years and up. Want to hear the latest on HIV & Ageing from AIDS2020?... And what about the coronavirus? Are we more susceptible to acquiring or fair worse if we had it? Or does being on HIV antivirals actually protect us from getting it or being sicker if we had it? Jenny Hoy, Director of HIV Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Monash University will give us an update from the international AIDS2020 conference as well as cover COVID-19. Presented by 'Taking Charge', HIV & Ageing project, a partnership of Living Positive Victoria and Thorne Harbour Health 11am-1pm, Saturday 22 August Please Register Here - https://forms.livingpositivevictoria.org.au/civ/event/info *We will email the link to join in to registrants on the morning of the session* For more information contact Vic Perri - [email protected] or Gerry O'Brien - [email protected]

22.01.2022 With Stage Four restrictions now in place, we are experiencing further substantial changes due to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Face-to-face services at the Positive Living Centre are restricted until further notice. While the site is closed, limited services will be offered via phone, email or other online options. These changes have been introduced to reduce the number of people leaving their homes and moving around and thereby significantly reducing transmission... of the virus. The following services are currently available to eligible clients; 1. Client Care and Support via phone or email. Please telephone 03 9863 0444 or email [email protected] Client Care Staff will respond to all incoming calls and enquiries in a timely manner. 2. HALC (HIV Legal Service) offered via phone or email. 3. The David Williams Fund (Financial Counselling and Emergency Relief) provided over the phone or email. 4. Nutritional Support Services will continue to be an important service. The manner in which it will be provided will change. Pantry packages will not be available during Stage 4 restrictions. Please contact the service in order to discuss the options available. A Client Care and Support Worker will discuss your needs and explore a number of possible ways we can assist you. Please note that Vitamart will be suspended during Stage Four restrictions. All other PLC services will be temporarily suspended. We appreciate that the measures we are taking at the PLC may cause some distress or anxiety amongst those who use the services; we hope you understand that these actions are only taken in the spirit of ensuring the health and wellbeing of everyone, especially those who are more vulnerable. If the current situation causes you any concerns or stress we encourage you to talk confidentially to our client care staff over the phone. Contact the Positive Living Centre on 03 9863 0444

20.01.2022 World's Largest Overdose Prevention Training 2020 - ONLINE 27+31 August 2020 Community Health Orgnisations from St. Kilda and surrounds have come together to present this online event for International Overdose Awareness Day. Learn the signs and symptoms of opioid overdose and how to administer the opioid reversal drug, Naloxone. Also included:... What is an overdose and how to respond; Where to go for services or obtain Naloxone; Poem by the founder of International Overdose Awareness Day, Sally Finn; and An opportunity for questions and answers. Thursday 27th August 2020, 5:30pm Register online; trybooking.com/BKZZG or Monday 31st August 2020, 5:30pm Register online; trybooking.com/BKZZH Contact 9537 3177 or [email protected] with any questions

19.01.2022 We’d like to share this virtual performance from the Melbourne Gay & Lesbian Chorus , celebrating 30 years of being the first LGBTQIA+ choir in Australia. We hope you might find this uplifting at this time. The chorus was formed in 1990, when the HIV/AIDS crisis challenged our community in Melbourne. At the time, HIV was having a huge impact in the gay community, and they believed that a choir would help to lift spirits and be a positive expression against homophobia. We look forward to the day when we hear their voices in our centre again.

17.01.2022 PEER SUPPORT NETWORK UPDATE Well, this will be no surprise as Melbourne heads into lockdown. Our Taking Charge - Peer Support Network gathering will still go ahead but will now be ONLINE. We'll still hear all about 'My Aged Care' from Lisa Mylne, Home Care Package Promotions Officer from Latrobe Community Health Service and then have a good old chat and see how we're all going with this new lockdown. Maybe some of you have wonderful strategies to share that deal with these k...inds of situations. As it is online, this may change whether you attend or not. For those who have already registered, you don't have to do anything. You will receive a link to join in shortly. If you wish to or can now attend, please register here: https://forms.livingpositivevictoria.org.au/civ/event/info The link to join in will be sent to you after you register. Taking Charge is a partnership between Living Positive Victoria and Thorne Harbour Health. For more information contact Vic Perri - [email protected] or Gerry O'Brien - [email protected]

17.01.2022 Take a break from the news and social media We continue our series of articles, during Melbourne’s lockdown, featuring a number of methods we hope may be helpful to some people, with a focus on ways to practice self-care. If you watch the news regularly or are on social media often, you may be feeling saturated by COVID updates right now. Of course, it’s important to stay informed, but it may be helpful to try and limit your media intake to a couple of times a day and use tru...sted news sources. If you catch yourself turning to social media for your news or because you’re feeling isolated, it may be advisable to take a break and spend time on another activity, such as those we have been suggesting here over the past month or so. Here are some other strategies and tips that may be helpful in spending less time on the social media feeds, and more time doing what matters to you. Use Screen Time or a similar app to curb your Social Media enthusiasm. Apple has a Screen Time feature and if you’re an Android user you can use Google’s Digital Wellbeing. Using Screen Time gives you a sense of how much time you are spending and allows you to set daily social media usage to a certain number of minutes. This includes Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Messenger etc. Another technique which has proven to enhance happiness and productivity is putting a blanket ban on all social media for the first few hours of the day. Undertake a seven day detox, without feeds, comments and likes. Turn off notifications. This is a simple method to reducing the amount of times you check your feeds, and will eventually reduce the amount of times you’ll pick up your device daily. Maybe all you need is one day off the feeds to feel calm and rejuvenated. If so, Screen Free Saturdays is for you. Quit Social media cold turkey. This is probably the least appealing method for most people as Social Media generally adds some benefits to our day to day existence, but it may be the right method for you. So there you have it. Six ways to take you off the feeds. Do an experiment and give each one a try. Monitor your overall happiness as you go. You might find that less time on social media is exactly what you needed to spend more time on the important things in your life.

15.01.2022 Home is where the heart is. So why not stay there longer? My Aged Care, Commonwealth Home Support Program, Home Care Packages are government programs designed to support older Australians to stay living at home for longer, well into their senior years. But how do they actually work? Our dear friends at Latrobe Community Health will explain it all to you in this webinar. It will also be a great opportunity to ask those questions that have been niggling at you. Presented by T...aking Charge - Ageing Well with HIV. A partnership of Living Positive Victoria and Thorne Harbour Health 11am-1pm Saturday 7 November The presentation will run for 45min to an hour followed by BYO lunch and social. Register now here: https://forms.livingpositivevictoria.org.au/civ/event/info *We will email the link to the session to all registrants on Thursday 5 November* For more information contact Vic Perri - [email protected] or Gerry O'Brien - [email protected]

12.01.2022 We continue our series of articles, during Melbourne’s restrictions, featuring a number of methods we hope may be helpful to some people, with a focus on ways to practice self-care. Declutter for five minutes We are all spending a lot more time at home and it can help to have an environment that feels good to you. Perhaps now is the time to look at that environment and think about how you would like it to be. The idea of overhauling an entire space can be overwhelming; instea...d, explore decluttering for five minutes a day. Pick a shelf to start with, or pick up five things and find a home for them. Here are more five-minute decluttering tips: 1. Designate a spot for incoming papers. This one little change can really transform your paperwork. 2. Clear off a counter. Clear off all papers and all the other junk you’ve been tossing on the counter too. 3. Pick a shelf. Clear all non-essential things and leave it looking neat and clutter-free. 4. Pick up 5 things, and find places for them. 5. Spend a few minutes visualizing the room. 6. Set up some simple folders. Create some simple folders with labels for your major bills and similar paperwork. 7. Pull out some clothes you don’t wear. Do this a little at a time until your closet (and then your drawers) only contains things you actually wear. 8. Clear out your medicine cabinet. Simplify to the essential. 9. Pull everything out of a drawer. Sort the drawer into three piles: 1) things that really should go in the drawer; 2) things that belongs elsewhere; 3) things to get rid of. We don’t need to increase our goods nearly as much as we need to scale down our wants. Not wanting something is as good as possessing it. Donald Horban

11.01.2022 Positive Living Centre and Coronavirus (COVID-19) Service Update The Victorian Government has released a Roadmap for Reopening and as the community progresses down this path we feel it’s important to provide you with an update on the Positive Living Centre, the services currently available and where to from here. ... Melbourne is currently in the Second Step of the plan with an expectation of moving into the Third Step later in October, depending on the health advice. Services available at the PLC currently are: Client Care and Support - via phone or email or other electronic means. HALC (Legal Service) offered via phone or email. The David Williams Fund provided over the phone or email. Pantry is not offered at the moment but nutritional support options are available to you. Please contact the service to speak to a Client Care and Support Worker to discuss possible ways we can assist you. Contact the Positive Living Centre on 9863 0444 The PLC has a plan to re-introduce services at the Centre, while still maintaining the health and wellbeing of our clients. This plan is being guided by the The Victorian Government Roadmap for Reopening, while also considering the unique needs of those that use the PLC. Our advice remains that several groups are still at higher risk when it comes to COVID-19 complications. We will keep you informed in a timely manner regarding developments, including when we will recommence specific services impacted by current restrictions. We appreciate that current circumstances may be causing distress or anxiety amongst those who use the services, especially given how long restrictions have been in place. The health and wellbeing of everyone, especially those who are more vulnerable, is at the foundation of these actions. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding and we do look forward to a time where services at the Centre can return. We continue to encourage you to talk confidentially to our client care staff over the phone, if you have any questions or concerns. For more information please check the following: PLC Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/PositiveLivingCentre/ Thorne Harbour Health Website: www.thorneharbour.org/covid19/covid19servicesupdate Victoria’s Roadmap for Reopening: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19-reo Take care and stay safe.

10.01.2022 Take time and practice mindfulness During this lockdown period in Victoria, we continue our articles featuring a number of methods we hope may be helpful to some people, with a focus on ways to practice self-care. When we are stressed about something, such as coronavirus, our thoughts tend to increase and become more chaotic. Taking a short period of time, such as ten minutes, to practice mindfulness can help produce a sense of calmness. It’s helpful to become familiar with ...the meaning of mindfulness, as well as how it relates to meditation. Mindfulness is the quality of being present and fully engaged with whatever we’re doing at the moment, free from distraction or judgment, and aware of our thoughts and feelings without getting caught up in them. We train in this moment-to-moment awareness through meditation, allowing us to build the skill of mindfulness so that we can then apply it to everyday life. In teaching the mind to be present, we are teaching ourselves to be living more mindfully, in the present, taking a breath, not beholden to reactive thoughts and feelings, which is particularly helpful when faced with challenging circumstances or difficult situations. Mindfulness meditation practices refer to the deliberate acts of regulating attention through the observation of thoughts, emotions and body states. With this in mind, some typical mindfulness activities include: Mindful non-judgmental awareness of breath, body, feelings, emotions and/or thoughts (in sitting meditation practice or throughout the day) Mindful walking meditation Mindful eating Mindful body scan in a sitting or lying down position Listening with non-judgment Here are some suggestions for free mindfulness on line support: Daily Calm is a YouTube channel led byTamara Levitt who guides this 10 minute Daily Calm mindfulness meditation to powerfully restore and re-connect with the present. https://youtu.be/ZToicYcHIOU Insight Timer has over 25,000 free guided meditations, which range from 1 to 90 minutes. You can search by a topic that may be of interest you; for example, stress, learning to meditate, or sleep. https://youtu.be/4ON7dhKHbag Smiling Mind provides meditations that are organised by structured programs, such as mindful foundations, sleep and relationships. https://youtu.be/piXLg1s-9pw

07.01.2022 COVID got you stressed out? If you're 50 years+ and living with HIV, join us on 3 October as our resident meditation guru Renate Vetter helps you melt those cares away with some meditation techniques during the next Taking Charge peer support event. Register today! Taking charge is presented by Thorne Harbour Health and Living Positive Victoria... https://thorneharbour.org//hiv-ageing-peer-support-netwo/

06.01.2022 Chat with someone During this lockdown period in Victoria, we continue our articles featuring a number of methods we hope may be helpful to some people, with a focus on ways to practice self-care. Even at a time when a face to face meet-up is off the table, try to stay in touch with your friends via text, Messenger, WhatsApp, FaceTime, or perhaps even a good old fashioned phone call. We encourage you to ask them how they’re feeling and share your own experiences if you feel s...afe to do so. Talking with someone can help you look at things in a different way or help you to find solutions. Sometimes, we expect those close to us to notice what we are going through. Perhaps they haven’t noticed or are waiting for you to share how you are feeling, not wanting to interfere. If you communicate how you are feeling to someone you trust, they are often willing to listen and are relieved that you have talked to them about how you are feeling. It can be difficult to know how to start a conversation about your feelings or worries. How do you get started? Find the right moment for the conversation, when you have time to talk and not be interrupted. It’s up to you how much you want to share. It’s okay to start by describing how you have been feeling. You may find it hard to talk to others about your feelings and experiences or may feel nervous about how people will react. However, when you let someone know you need their help, they are likely to respond positively. If you have already tried to talk to someone or tried to get help and things haven’t improved for you, don’t give up. There is support available, and talking about your feelings will get easier with time. We continue to encourage you to talk confidentially to our client care staff over the phone on 9863-0444 if you feel that will be helpful. Other useful numbers to have on hand; Lifeline (13 11 14) can be accessed for phone and online counselling, with Lifeline phone counsellors on call from 7 pm to midnight. QLife (1800 184 527) Counselling and referral service for LGBTI people and their families.

05.01.2022 Join our friends at Living Positive Victoria and other organisations worldwide to raise HIV awareness and remember the friends and family we have lost to AIDS, along with all people who continue to live with HIV. International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Sunday 16 May at 5:00PM - 6:00PM with MC Tass Mousaferiadis... Keynote Speakers Suzanne Crowe and Judith Gorst Personal Stories by John & Susan from the Positive Speakers Bureau Performances by Lowrez Male Choir Presented by Living Positive Victoria Supported by Positive Women Victoria https://livingpositivevictoria.org.au/event/2021-iacm/

05.01.2022 We continue our series of articles, during Melbourne’s lockdown, featuring a number of methods we hope may be helpful to some people, with a focus on ways to practice self-care. Make a music playlist Maybe it’s time for a reprieve in the form of music, respite in songs that are significant to you or feel like they were written for this moment. Many artists have already risen to the occasion since stay-home mandates started coming out, performing live on social media and via v...ideo platforms. Some have even written special songs about the current pandemic. But many songs released well before the current crisis also speak to what many are experiencing. Music can make us feel so much better. Get on to Spotify or whatever platform you use, and make a playlist with your favourite songs or those that reflect how you are feeling. Perhaps consider making a group playlist and ask your friends or family members to add five of their favourite songs as well. If you want to put more energy into this endeavour, think about making several playlists for different moods or situations. Just the act of assembling a playlist can be therapeutic and provide a focus for your thoughts and creativity. Here are some suggestions https://youtu.be/hwEbV776Uo4 https://youtu.be/8kVI621fZug

04.01.2022 Make a homemade meal We continue our articles, during Melbourne’s lockdown, featuring a number of methods we hope may be helpful to some people, with a focus on ways to practice self-care. Good nutrition is always important, but especially during stressful times there’s nothing better than a tasty, healthy homemade meal, especially if you made it yourself. In this uncertain time, cooking is one way we can bring some order, and importantly, a sense of pleasure into our lives. ...Whether you’ve got a glut of time on your hands or barely enough hours in the day to throw together lunch, have a pantry full of beans that you don’t know what to do with or a freezer ready to fill, why not explore making a homemade meal. While there’s clearly demand for takeout food, home-cooked meals are a healthier option, and incorporating them back into your life now can also help you focus on your overall health. For many people it may be challenging to get some ingredients at the moment. If you’re running low or not able to get certain things, it’s totally fine to keep it really simple. You could also get creative with substitutions or Google for some ideas. You could ask a friend or family member for their favourite recipe, Check this out for some simple suggestions: https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au//cooking-during-covid-/

03.01.2022 Positive Living Centre and Coronavirus (COVID-19) Service Update The Victorian Government has released a Roadmap for Reopening and as the community progresses down this path we feel it’s important to provide you with an update on the Positive Living Centre, the services currently available and where to from here. ... Melbourne is currently in the Second Step of the plan with an expectation of moving into the Third Step later in October, depending on the health advice. Services available at the PLC currently are: Client Care and Support - via phone or email or other electronic means. HALC (Legal Service) offered via phone or email. The David Williams Fund provided over the phone or email. Pantry is not offered at the moment but nutritional support options are available to you. Please contact the service to speak to a Client Care and Support Worker to discuss possible ways we can assist you. Contact the Positive Living Centre on 9863 0444 The PLC has a plan to re-introduce services at the Centre, while still maintaining the health and wellbeing of our clients. This plan is being guided by the The Victorian Government Roadmap for Reopening, while also considering the unique needs of those that use the PLC. Our advice remains that several groups are still at higher risk when it comes to COVID-19 complications. We will keep you informed in a timely manner regarding developments, including when we will recommence specific services impacted by current restrictions. We appreciate that current circumstances may be causing distress or anxiety amongst those who use the services, especially given how long restrictions have been in place. The health and wellbeing of everyone, especially those who are more vulnerable, is at the foundation of these actions. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding and we do look forward to a time where services at the Centre can return. We continue to encourage you to talk confidentially to our client care staff over the phone, if you have any questions or concerns. For more information please check the following: PLC Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/PositiveLivingCentre/ Thorne Harbour Health Website: www.thorneharbour.org/covid19/covid19servicesupdate Victoria’s Roadmap for Reopening: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19-reo Take care and stay safe.

02.01.2022 With restrictions now in place for the current Lockdown, we must take appropriate action to maintain the health and wellbeing of everyone who uses the Positive Living Centre. Therefore, the Centre will be closed from 4.00pm Thursday 27 May 2021. The Centre will re-open in accordance with State Government advice and we will continue to provide service updates accordingly. Services available during this period are: 1. Client Care and Support - via phone, email or other online o...ptions if required. 2. HALC (Legal Service) will be offered via phone, email or other online options if required. 3. The David Williams Fund (Financial Counselling and Emergency Relief) will be provided over the phone or email. 4. Nutritional Support, normally provided in the form of Pantry, will continue to be an important service. Please contact the service in order to discuss options available to you. A Client Care and Support Worker will discuss your needs and explore how we can assist you. Contact the Positive Living Centre on 9863 0444 or email [email protected] If your call is not answered immediately, please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible. We encourage you to pass this message on to friends and networks, who may not be aware of this closure. We thank all of you for your patience and understanding at this time. If the current situation causes you any concerns or stress we encourage you to talk confidentially to our client care staff over the phone. Take care and stay safe. From all the staff at the Positive Living Centre.

01.01.2022 https://www.aidsmap.com//how-normal-has-hiv-really-become-

01.01.2022 Do you slam? Are you willing to talk about your experiences with a researcher? My PhD research explores injecting practices among gay and bisexual men in Melbourne. We are recruiting men who have injected drugs recreationally, and who identify as gay or bisexual to participate in this research. I am interested to hear your story; learn about your injecting practices, your sex, and your experience of social norms. You will receive $40 for your time and expertise.... Participation involves an in-depth interview. Your privacy and confidentiality are my priority. Service providers will not know whether you do or do not take part in this interview. The study has been approved by the Alfred Human Research Ethics Committee and is endorsed by Thorne Harbour Health. For more information and enrolment in the study, please follow this link: https://is.gd/eoi_socialresearch Or contact me (Sophia) on E: [email protected] Ph: + 61468315305 Help foster inclusive communities for a stigma-free society!