WE BELIEVE IN CHANGE
The Victorian African Health Action Network (VAHAN) is a small, not-for-profit, community-based health promotion charity. VAHAN works to mobilise Victorian African communities to respond to the challenges of HIV, blood borne viruses and related sexual and reproductive health issues.
African Australians remain somewhat marginalised in the Australian response to HIV, BBV and STI. We need to be more actively involved in the development and implementation of policies and programmes addressing HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, which disproportionately affect our communities.
VAHAN does not claim to represent Victoria’s African communities, but we intend to engage with African communities in Victoria to develop a process through which the concerns of our communities can be considered during the development and implementation of policies and programmes intended to prevent HIV and improve the provision of appropriate treatment and support to people living with HIV.
The formation of VAHAN followed the first national “HIV and African communities forum”, which took place 3–4 February 2011, at Rydges Hotel, Camperdown, NSW. The forum was hosted by the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO), in partnership with an advisory group that included members of various African communities involved in health promotion, research and community development. Among the recommendations arising from the forum was the formation of state- and territory networks of African community leaders, service providers and members of AFAO, to facilitate collaboration and to work toward the formation of a national peak African Australian community organisation to address issues related to HIV, in partnership with other affected communities, service providers and policy-makers.
Victorian participants in the national forum discussed the forum with state peers and sketched out a vision of a Victorian community-based group. We developed a shared vision of African community mobilisation around HIV and related issues: bloodborne viruses (hepatitis B and C), sexual and reproductive health, gender and sexuality. We recognised the central importance of stigma related to HIV, sexually transmitted infections and homosexuality. We also recognised the marginalisation of African Australians in the mainstream health sector generally and the HIV sector in particular, but acknowledged the existence of allies and an atmosphere of goodwill amongst several key stakeholders in the Australian HIV partnership. On 17 December 2014, VAHAN was officially recognised as an incorporated not-for-profit association and was subsequently registered as a health promotion charity.
WE BELIEVE IN ALLIANCES
⁃ National Association for People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA) ⁃ Scarlet Alliance (the national peer support organisation for sex workers);
⁃ Anwernekenhe National HIV Alliance (ANA – representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people);
⁃ Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users’ League (AIVL – representing people that used/have used illicit drugs);
No organisation as yet exists to articulate the concerns of African Australian communities in the development and implementation of HIV/sexual health policy in Australia, at a Commonwealth or state level.
VAHAN intends to work to other state-based organisations emerging from African communities in South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales (with other states and territories to follow), to achieve membership of AFAO and a formal place in the Australian HIV partnership.
NAPWHA
Anwernekenhe National HIV Alliance (ANA)
Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users’ League
AFAO
There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.
STRENGTHEN RESPONSE
Respond as to the challenges of HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs
IMPACT POLICY
African Australians to impact policy through engagement
EDUCATE
Educate and raise awareness to and for affected individuals
BUILD ALLIANCES
Build network to counter the stigma and discrimination
Annual Month of Giving
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CHANGE A LIFE TODAY
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