Join us on 26 July 2023 for a Gala Dinner as we acknowledge and celebrate community based HIV care. As Australia heads towards achieving the 95-95-95 UNAIDS goals of diagnosing 95% of all HIV-positive individuals, provide antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 95% of those diagnosed and achieve viral suppression for 95% of those treated by 2030, a significant component of Australia’s success has been community based HIV care for People Living with HIV (PLWH).
Community based HIV care as provided by General Practitioners and other health care professionals (HCPs) has been an vital component of the Australian approach to the management of HIV right from the beginning of the epidemic. This approach continues to be an important component of care provision with slightly over 50% of PLWH reporting full HIV care in the community, either in General Practices or Community Based Organisations (CBO).
Over the decades, many HCPs have been part of the community response to HIV and caring for PLWH. Tonight we seek to acknowledge and recognise a few of the individuals who have made significant contributions to the care of PLWH in our city, Brisbane/Meanjin. We don’t seek to glorify these individuals but rather to take the opportunity to say “We see you, and all that you do. Thank you.” None of these HCPs seek out accolades or rewards, instead carrying out their vocation quietly and humbly. We feel their contributions deserve acknowledgement though and wish to do this in a little way during this Dinner.
Join us at the end of IAS 2023 to celebrate, recognise, share, mingle, network, enjoy, socialise and say ‘Thank you’.
Schedule
6.00 – 7.00 pm Guests arrive, Food service starts @6.00 pm
7.00 – 7.30 pm Guest Speaker: Adjunct A/Prof Marilyn McMurchie
7.45 – 8.00 pm Guest Speaker: TBA
8.15 – 8.30 pm Premier of Short Film
10.00 pm Night concludes
Adjunct A/Prof Marilyn McMurchie OAM MB BS MHP FAFPHM
Adjunct Associate Professor (Discipline of General Practice) University of Sydney
Dr Marilyn McMurchie is a GP and a Director of East Sydney Doctors.
Marilyn started general practice work in Darlinghurst just when Kinsela’s changed from being a funeral parlour to an entertainment venue. The HIV pandemic came to notice at about the same time. Providing care for those affected by HIV became a major part of her work and from 1991 to 1993, she was President of the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine. As a member of the NSW Ministerial Advisory Committee on HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections, that commitment continued until 2013; currently she represents the NSW Faculty of the RACGP on the committee overseeing the implementation of the NSW Ministry of Health’s strategy to eliminate HIV infection. In the 1990s she received a World AIDS Day award and a Gavemer Foundation award then in 2006 was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for services in HIV care and education.
