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2024-2025 Annual Report

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About Queensland
Positive People

About us

Our
strategic plan

About us

President and
CEO messages

About us

Patron
statement

About us

Peer HIV/STI
prevention and testing

Delivering whole of life programs

Peer support
and navigation

Delivering whole of life programs

HIV treatment
and management

Delivering whole of life programs

Community
development
and education

Delivering whole of life programs

Ageing and
disability

Delivering whole of life programs

Stigma and
discrimination

Delivering whole of life programs

Funding
relief

Delivering whole of life programs

World
AIDS Day

Inclusive and innovative services

HIV stigma
campaign

Inclusive and innovative services

Reaching our
community

Inclusive and innovative services

Diversity, Inclusion
and Belonging

Inclusive and innovative services

Volunteers

Enhancing relationships

State of the nation

Enhancing relationships

Community events

Enhancing relationships

Membership

Enhancing relationships

Peer and
staff training

Best practice standards

Advocacy
work

Best practice standards

Supported
research

Best practice standards

Positioning QPP
for the future

Strengthening funding

Tributes

More of the year

Service to
our community

More of the year

Acknowledgements

More of the year

Financial
statements

More of the year

About us

About us

About Queensland Positive People

Strategic plan

Our 2021-2025 QPP Strategic Plan informs delivery of our whole of life programs, ensures our services and inclusive and innovative, promotes enhancing our relationships with our communities and stakeholders, whilst keeping us focused on maintaining best practice standards and strengthening our funding for the future. You can explore our progress towards our goals below.

President and CEO messages

From the President 

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the many lands on which we live and work across Queensland. I pay my respects to Elders past, present, and emerging. I also take this moment to remember all those lives touched by HIV, including those no longer with us, on whose shoulders we stand. I remember especially those we have lost in the past year.

A Year of Transition and Purpose

As I wrote in my President’s letter this year, it was an honour to be elected by the Board as President in December 2024, having previously served as Special Advisor. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to our previous president, Mark Counter. Mark’s leadership, vision, and devotion have shaped QPP into the professional, accredited organisation it is today, and all of us living with HIV in Queensland live better as a result of his contribution.

Sitting in the World AIDS Day Vigil last year in December, knowing that QPP Board was in search of a new president, I remember vividly hearing the incredibly moving stories told to us – the experience of a sister who lost a dear brother to HIV in the early years of the epidemic, blending and contrasting beautifully with the story of a trans woman, whose journey to Australia to escape persecution overseas was derailed by an new HIV diagnosis. Both these people in different eras, from different walks of life and diagnosed in different decades of the HIV epidemic, found hope, support, and community here at QPP.

Dr Ed Pilling

President – Queensland Positive People

CEO report 

A Year of Change and Resilience

2024–2025 has been a year of profound change for QPP, our communities, and the global HIV response. Internationally, the withdrawal of US funding for HIV programs has sent shockwaves across the globe, dismantling decades of progress in just months. This systemic shock has been compounded by ongoing political, economic, and environmental instability, making the global health landscape more precarious than ever.

At the national level, we have witnessed both opportunity and urgency. The federal government has invested significantly in new initiatives following the HIV Taskforce Report, including expanded access to HIV PrEP for Medicare ineligible people and national programs for HIV self-test kits and HIV test vending machines. Together, these developments signal a renewed commitment to achieving Australia’s goal of eliminating HIV transmission by 2030, but they also demand more of us: to align resources, leadership, and community action so that elimination is not just an aspiration but a shared reality.

Queensland: New Commitments and a Clear Vision

In Queensland, QPP entered the year with the state government election campaign that secured commitments from all major parties. Shortly after, the Queensland Government launched the HIV Action Plan 2030, setting an ambitious but achievable target of virtually eliminating new HIV transmissions by 2030. This plan recognises that success requires sustained collaboration between primary care, community organisations, sexual health services, and the communities most affected. Importantly, it places the meaningful involvement of people living with HIV at the centre, alongside a firm commitment to dismantling stigma and discrimination.

QPP has worked tirelessly to ensure our community’s voice shaped these outcomes, and we are proud that our advocacy has secured both political commitments and tangible investments that will strengthen Queensland’s HIV response in the years ahead.

Turning Resources into Action

Building on the diverse government and grant funding secured in 2022–2024, this past year has been about implementation. We have focused on turning opportunity into action, ensuring that funding translates into programs with real and lasting impact.

One of our most significant achievements was securing funding for a s100 prescribing Nurse Practitioner at the RAPID Clinic. This role, secured as part of an election commitment will expand our capacity to deliver HIV and STI prevention, testing, treatment, and management, including PrEP, PEP, and vaccines. Services will be delivered not only onsite but also via telehealth and outreach, enabling us to reach more people, more equitably.

We also celebrated policy reform momentum. In partnership with the National Association for people with HIV/AIDS (NAPWHA) and the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre (HALC), QPP successfully advocated for the Queensland Law Reform Commission to review the state’s criminal code regarding the transmission of serious disease. This marks a critical step toward modernising laws that have long perpetuated stigma and injustice.

At the same time, new programs are helping us respond to unmet needs. The Positive AOD Life Support (PALS) Project, funded by the Queensland Mental Health Commission, is co-designing resources that integrate lived experience to build resilience, reduce stigma, and support people living with HIV to manage alcohol and other drug-related harms. Our Better Connect+ program, funded by the Queensland Department of Seniors, is tackling social isolation for people over 50 by offering affordable, accessible activities that affirm community, connection, and wellbeing.

Expanding Support Across Queensland

Through the Life+ Program, we have continued to support hundreds of people living with HIV across Queensland via case management and peer navigation services, operating consistently above capacity and managing waiting lists. We made a strategic expansion into the Townsville region, where a dedicated worker now supports a growing number of referrals.

Our legal partnerships remain vital, with HALC continuing to provide advice and representation to over 100 clients. We have also been successful with securing ongoing funding to 2029 with our Aged Care Navigator role through the Care Finder Program – ensuring older people living with HIV have sustained support to navigate the complexities of aged care.

Social connection has remained a pillar of our work, with more than 100 community events across Queensland drawing strong attendance and affirming the importance of peer-based engagement.

RAPID: Innovation and Reach

RAPID continues to lead the way in innovative HIV and STI testing. Over the past year, we tested more than 8,000 people across Brisbane and through outreach in universities and sex-on-premises venues. We have extended access with the distribution of HIV self-test kits across regional and rural areas, and began planning the rollout of targeted testing for Latin American and international students through English language schools.

Three of our peer testers are also contributing to the Health Equity Matters National Peer Contact Tracing project, ensuring that Queensland continues to inform national best practice.

Despite disruptions such as the temporary shortage of Abbott Determine HIV Early Detect point of care tests in early 2025, RAPID adapted swiftly, introducing self-testing with Atomo kits and turning a challenge into an opportunity to normalise and destigmatise self-testing.

Challenges and Equity

With success comes strain. Demand for QPP services has grown relentlessly, requiring us to manage waiting lists, close clinic doors when capacity is reached, and navigate complex needs that stretch our resources.

We continue to face a “postcode lottery” of services, where funding tied to local geographies prevents us from offering programs statewide. This inequity drives our advocacy for more consistent and sustainable investment.

Externally, the increasing toxicity of social media presents a growing challenge. We must weigh the costs of managing harmful narratives against the potential of reimagined community engagement strategies.

Leadership, Learning, and Looking Forward

QPP’s participation in the Social Impact Leadership Australia Program (SILA) has been another significant area of growth and learning this year. By investing in leadership, we are equipping both our organisation and the sector with the capacity to sustain the HIV response into the future. This commitment to adaptive leadership is central to our identity: we learn, evolve, and respond to disruption with resilience and purpose.

As we reflect on the year, we must also look forward. Cost-of-living pressures, the housing crisis, and the growing complexity of client needs demand not only more resources but new ways of working. Our partnerships with communities in Papua New Guinea and Fiji, built in response to rising referrals from PALM scheme workers, are one example of how we are adapting to new realities.

None of what we have achieved this year would have been possible without the commitment of our staff, the trust and resilience of our community, and the support and stewardship of our Board. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated staff, whose passion and professionalism make QPP’s work possible every day. To our community members and clients, thank you for your trust, your courage, and for keeping us accountable to what truly matters. I also acknowledge our Board, whose guidance and governance provide the foundation for QPP’s continued strength and direction. I am deeply grateful for the collective effort that continues to drive QPP forward.

The challenges ahead are significant—but so too are the possibilities. Adaptive change is not a choice, but a reality we embrace. With courage, collaboration, and conviction, QPP will continue to lead with purpose, grounded in our values, and committed to the health, dignity, and rights of people living with HIV across Queensland.

Melissa Warner

Chief Executive Officer – Queensland Positive People

Patron statement

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The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG^*

Patron – Queensland Positive People

^*Former Justice of the High Court of Australia.  Patron of the Kirby Institute for Infection and Blood Borne Diseases (2011 – ); Members of the WHO Global Commission on AIDS (1989-1994); Commission of the UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights (2001 – 2017).

Delivering whole of life programs

Delivering whole of life programs

Peer HIV and STI prevention and point of care testing

A year of growth, impact, and innovation at RAPID

This year, we supported more people than ever before—delivering 22,214 tests across 8,651 occasions of service, our highest numbers to date.

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HIV Self Testing Program: access across Queensland

Expanding horizons: new projects and initiatives at RAPID

At RAPID, innovation and adaptability have always been at the core of our approach.

Partnership with Pathology Queensland

Nurse Practitioner service – now in motion

Vending machine access: testing at your fingertips

A new clinic for Latin American students

Closing Thoughts

Peer support and navigation

Peer navigation program  

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In collaboration with sector partners, our Peer Navigation team brought their extensive knowledge, expertise, and lived experience to a range of national initiatives, including the following:

• Presented at the Health Equity Matters Leadership Forum on our innovative approach to peer navigation and social groups for Latinx communities under 30
• Delivered three presentations at the inaugural Health Peer Navigation Conference (co-hosted by NAPWHA and Gilead), showcasing our innovative peer navigation work across different contexts
• Participated in a NAPWHA podcast recording
• Co-facilitated the NAPWHA led consultation for women from diverse cultural backgrounds with the Commonwealth Department of Health
• Hosted a visit from KPAC, a national coalition of key population networks in Papua New Guinea,  sparking ongoing information exchange and collaboration around peer work and culturally competent approaches when working with people from Papua New Guinea.

Social groups

QPP recognises that meaningful social connection plays a critical role in improving quality of life and overall wellbeing. For people living with HIV, opportunities to connect with peers are particularly important, not only because they reduce experiences of isolation and stigma, but because they foster a strong sense of community and belonging.

Our social groups also serve as both a soft entry point into QPP’s broader support services and a sustainable pathway for people to remain connected after exiting more intensive forms of support.

Since the commencement of the Community Engagement Officer in 2023, QPP’s social groups have continued to grow and thrive. In the last financial year alone, QPP hosted 106 events across Queensland (a 30% increase on the previous year).

There were 653 attendances in total, and we now have 328 active social group members, indicating strong and growing community engagement among people living with HIV across the state.

Social groups for the past 12 months have included:   

• Brisbane BBQ 
• Women’s Group 
• Youth Group
• Transgender and gender diverse*  
• Sunshine Coast 
• Gold Coast 
• Cairns 
• Townsville
• Rockhampton 
• Bundaberg
• Hervey Bay 
• Toowoomba 

*Denotes new group offerings in the last 12 months. 

In addition to our regular monthly social group offerings, we delivered a range of one-off events for the community. Many of these provided opportunities for members of different groups to meet and connect across their diverse lived experiences and deepen a sense of community and belonging.

Key events included:

• Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day
• Lone Pine Sanctuary excursion
• Botanical Gardens excursion
• Two ‘Let Them Know’ disclosure workshops (delivered in collaboration with Living Positive Victoria as part of a Gilead Sciences funded national project)
• Trauma informed storytelling (in collaboration with QPASTT)
• International AIDS Candlelight Memorial
• IDAHOBIT Day (International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia)
• Women’s Connect ‘Queens and Crowns’ Celebration
• International Transgender Day of Visibility
• National Day of Women Living with HIV – Belly Dance Class (‘Move for Awareness’)
• National Day of Women Living with HIV – Online Forum (in collaboration with NAPWHA)
• Community Memorial for Garth Wong

HIV treatment and management

Continued success supporting people to engage in care and overcome barriers 

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Community development and education

Community education

Positive AOD Life Support (PALS) project

Ageing and disability

Aged Care Navigation

Better Connect+ – fun activities, but not solo

At QPP, we recognise the importance of providing meaningful opportunities for people living with HIV to connect with others and mitigate the harmful impacts of social isolation.

October 2024 saw the commencement of the newly funded Better Connect+ program, made possible thanks to funding by the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety.

Better Connect+ is a social connection initiative specifically designed for people living with HIV aged 50 and over, while also welcoming participants of all ages (including those not living with HIV) who are seeking meaningful connection and inclusion.

It supports participants to get out of the house, meet others with shared interests and build meaningful social connections through a range of engaging activities. The program recognises that being active and connected is essential for wellbeing, and that everyone deserves opportunities to enjoy life with others.

Better Connect+ offers a diverse calendar of free and low-cost activities. Its aim is to celebrate the diversity of our community by creating opportunities for genuine friendships, shared experiences and long-lasting connections.

Service offerings have included:

• Art gallery visits
• Fortnightly movie club
• Fortnightly Yoga sessions
• Tennis group
• Guided walking tours
• Seaworld ‘Sea Jellies’ experience
• Monthly Mature Long-Term Survivors Group

Already we have seen over 71 event attendances within this short period this program has been running. Each quarter has seen a steady increase in new participants, alongside higher rates of regular attendance, demonstrating the value of Better Connect+ and the strong demand for peer-led social connection opportunities.

Stigma & discrimination

The QPP and the HIV/AIDS Legal Service partnership continues to demonstrate community need

Despite improved health outcomes for people living with HIV, misunderstandings about HIV mean stigma and discrimination remain significant challenges for the community.  

The QPP/HALC partnership enables Queenslanders living with HIV to access legal information, advice, referrals, assistance with legal tasks and representation services where the matter directly relates to their HIV status. Representation services include assistance with visa applications and discrimination and/or privacy complaints as well as dispute resolution services and attendance at courts/tribunals relating to HIV and immigration, discrimination, disclosure, employment, child protection, domestic violence, financial and consumer matters.   

In 2024-25, the QPP/HALC partnership provided legal services and information to 105 people living with HIV in Queensland. Most of these clients were born overseas. Seven clients were homeless or at risk of homelessness, at least 83 were experiencing financial disadvantage, and four were experiencing or at risk of family violence. 

Services included legal information to improve legal literacy for people living with HIV, tailored legal advice, and assistance with legal tasks. Ongoing representation was provided to clients with legal matters directly related to their HIV status where they could not afford private representation, and where there was not another suitable service to refer them to.  These services were in a range of areas, including discrimination, wills and estate planning, immigration (skilled visas and protection visa), unfair dismissal and other employment-related issues.

222 services were provided in 2024/2025 across both the clinic and through client representation services. This included:

• 132 counts of advice
• 24 legal tasks
• 16 information services
• 7 referrals
• 3 dispute resolution services
• 6 court/tribunal representation services
• 16 other representation services

A snapshot of those matters included:

• 46 instances of legal advice and 9 legal tasks to assist clients with lodging partner visas or the health waiver – this would have saved those clients approximately $4,000-$8,000 each in legal fees, and many have since reported that the visas were granted. Some of these tasks involved sponsors who were also living with HIV and would face detriment if their partner had to depart Australia.
• 16 services were related to discrimination.
• 185 services were immigration-related, including 26 related to protection visas.

During this reporting period, HALC also assisted in the review of the QPP Disclosure Guide, which provides up-to-date information on the legal requirements surrounding disclosure of HIV status to employers, sexual partners, insurers and other external parties.

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A cross-workforce approach to challenging stigma: The development of a HIV, Hep B and Hep C stigma reduction module.

In early 2024, QPP received funding from Queensland Health to develop a stigma reduction module aimed at addressing stigma towards people living with blood-borne viruses, specifically HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. The module has been designed for healthcare workers (public and private), police, corrective services staff, and those who work in legal institutions such as the Department of Public Prosecutions.

Development of the module was informed by consultation with representatives from these workforces, alongside individuals with lived experience of HIV and hepatitis.

This collaborative approach ensured that the module speaks to both the realities of those impacted by stigma and the practical needs of the professionals who engage with them. A diverse project reference group of experts also guided the process, providing critical review and advice to strengthen the content and its application across different settings.

The project builds on the success of the ‘Hi’ stigma reduction campaign delivered in 2023. By incorporating familiar design elements from that campaign, the module maintains consistency while expanding the reach and impact of our stigma reduction efforts. Importantly, an interstate government agency has already expressed interest in adapting the module for their own public-sector workforces, highlighting the relevance and value of this work beyond Queensland. To support wider uptake, the module has been released under a Creative Commons licence, making it freely available for adaptation and use by other states and territories.

Funding relief for people living with HIV

Continuing positive impact: the HOPE Fund’s year of community support and empowerment

The Hats Off Positive Endeavour (HOPE) Fund was established on 1 February 2006 by co-founders David Bermingham and Simon O’Connor to support people living with HIV in need across Queensland.

The Fund is an initiative of Oz Showbiz Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and QPP, in partnership with the Queensland Council for LGBTI Health (QC). The grants committee comprises of a representative from each organisation who decide the outcome of each application. 

At the core of this fund is the belief that everyone living with HIV deserves opportunities to thrive.  The HOPE Fund is dedicated to empowering individuals by supporting small grants that promote health, well-being, and inclusivity for people living with HIV. The grants are for goods and services to people living with HIV who are experiencing financial hardship, have a demonstrated material need, or are looking to improve their lives.

Together, we are building a more inclusive, healthy, and hopeful future for all people living with HIV in Queensland.

Fourteen people living with HIV were supported through The HOPE Fund in 2024/2025 with the total amount awarded being $12,032.17.

The balance of The HOPE Fund at 30 June 2025, after all grants were awarded and paid, was $77,414.69.

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We extend our deepest gratitude to our committee, our partners, donors, volunteers, and the incredible individuals we serve. Your support, passion, and dedication are the driving forces behind this initiative.

Easing the impact of the increasing cost of living – the Emergency Treatment Fund (ETF)

The Emergency Treatment Fund (ETF) is a QPP-managed program, funded annually by Queensland Health, that provides short-term financial assistance to people living with HIV in Queensland who are experiencing financial hardship, including those who are ineligible for Medicare. The fund aims to support early and sustained engagement in HIV treatment and related services.

Assistance may cover clinical consultations, medication costs, food, communication expenses (e.g., phone credit), travel, and emergency accommodation. Requests for other essential expenses that could affect treatment adherence are also considered.

In the past year, the ETF supported 93 people living with HIV—82 Medicare-eligible and 12 Medicare-ineligible individuals. As in the 2023–2024 financial year, a notable increase in total ETF expenditure was observed. More specifically, percentage increases were observed regarding accommodation, food and medications.

Increasing support for increasing needs – the CCF

The CCF is an annual grant provided by Queensland Health to QPP, aimed at supporting people living with HIV who have complex needs. To access the fund, individuals must be referred to QPP by the HIV Public Health Team. The fund’s primary purpose is to offer practical assistance that helps remove barriers preventing engagement in HIV treatment and care.

The CCF supported 44 people living with HIV on 96 occasions, with assistance covering areas such as medication, housing, transport, accommodation, and communication needs. This was a substantial increase for support from the CCF compared to the previous year.

Applications to the fund are submitted by HIV Public Health Team and QPP case managers on behalf of those receiving collaborative support. A committee, consisting of representatives from QPP and the Communicable Diseases Branch, is responsible for assessing these applications.

Inclusive and innovative services

Inclusive and innovative services

World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day 2024 – It starts with me

Held on 1 December, World AIDS Day is the longest-running awareness initiative of its kind. Since 1988, World AIDS Day and the iconic red ribbon raises awareness about issues surrounding HIV/AIDS and commemorates those lost to the pandemic. While fundraising is no longer a primary focus, funds raised for World AIDS Day across Queensland are donated to The HOPE Fund.

The 2024 national message for World AIDS Day was ‘It starts with me’. This message It was one of personal empowerment, and about ensuring people have knowledge about HIV related information, such as PrEP, U=U, support options, fighting stigma and importantly, acknowledging those who have been lost.

QPP in partnership with Queensland Council for LGBTI Health (QC) and the Queensland World AIDS Day Alliance (QWADA), led by the HIV positive voice, continued our curated messages to reflect the ongoing HIV response.

Our World AIDS Day awareness social media campaign reached over 337,500 people, with almost 560,000 impressions, adding an additional 10% on the 2023 campaign.

This campaign featured a series of messages developed to raise awareness, inspire remembrance, and provide contextual health information about HIV. This campaign was delivered in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Vietnamese.

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To accompany our social media campaign, our World AIDS Day awareness digital billboard and street media campaign had a total of approximately 110,000 views during HIV Awareness Week (90,000) and on World AIDS Day (20,000), again an almost 10% increase on the previous year.

• A total of 42 boards/sites displayed the colourful creative during this period, right across Queensland, with an additional 3 iconic sites in high exposure locations in Brisbane added on World AIDS Day. These locations included Alexandra Hills, Ascot, Brisbane City, Browns Plains, Cannon Hill, Carindale, Chapel Hill, Chermside, Fortitude Valley, Highgate Hill, Ipswich, Indooroopilly, Moorooka, Morningside, Salisbury, Shailer Park, Spring Hill, Stafford, Taringa, Windsor, Woolloongabba, Blackwater, Bundall, Bundamba, Bundaberg, Cairns, Gympie, Maroochydore, Mackay, Mount Isa, Rockhampton, Roma, Southport, Surfers Paradise, Townsville, and Toowoomba.
• A media pack with World AIDS Day messages including Wear the Red Ribbon, U=U, PrEP, HIV Support and Stigma & Discrimination was available in 5 languages for download, featuring the ‘It starts with me’ message.
• The Brisbane Candlelight Vigil, hosted by QC was held at The Old Museum. QPP assisted QC by MC’ing the vigil, with QPP’s then new President Ed an impactful address.  The vigil was attended by more than 100 people, including dignitaries, community, and healthcare professionals.
• The Cairns Vigil, held at the Cairns Esplanade, was attended by at least 45 community members, and was also attended by members of the QPP team who played important roles in the service.  
• Both candlelight vigils included a reading of lives lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic commemorating those the community have honoured and remembered throughout the 40+ year history, with both vigils offering opportunities for the community to gather afterwards.
• Many buildings and structures around the state were illuminated in red throughout World AIDS week and on World AIDS Day, with local councils and the Queensland Government again continuing their support.

QPP and QC worked collaboratively to implement and promote the Regional Grants Program. Six World AIDS Day grants were awarded to community groups across regional Queensland, hosting events for their communities. Through this program we were able to raise awareness and amplify the HIV positive voice through the following events:

• Bundaberg – Red BBQ – Bundaberg Gays and Surrounding (17/11).
• Bundaberg – World AIDS Day & HIV Awareness Stall at Bundaberg Hospital – QClinic (29/11)
• Nambour – World AIDS Day Remembrance – QC Naamba (29/11)
• Maroochydore – Red BBQ – LGBT+ Community BBQ (30/11)
• Mt Isa – World AIDS Day Luncheon – North West Hospital and Sexual Health (2/12)
• Townsville – Red Morning Tea – QC Gurambilbarra (29/11)

In addition to collaborating on the World AIDS Day Vigils and regional events, several other events were supported with in-kind assistance for promotion, resources, and organisation. These included:

• Inala – World AIDS Day Information and Red Ribbon stall – ECCQ (30/11)
• New Farm – World AIDS Day Brunch – Merthyr Road Uniting Church (1/12)
• Mackay – World AIDS Day Reflections Coffee Meetup – Queensland Positive People (1/12)
• Brisbane – Labyrinth Walk ‘A Walk for World AIDS Day’ – St John’s Cathedral (1/12)

HIV stigma campaign

Changing the conversation about HIV in North Queensland

In late 2024, with once off funding from Queensland Health, we extended our Hi Campaign to focus on North and Central Queensland. The existing campaign collateral developed by Queensland Positive People (QPP) and Wonderkarma, was used allowing the campaign to maximise it’s reach.

The campaign helped to change the conversation about HIV, by addressing misconceptions, and combating misinformation, to reduce persistent stigma surrounding HIV. To raise awareness on HIV stigma, engaging visuals and multi-channel outreach was implemented, including social media, popular news site display banners, and video content.

The campaign ran in Cairns, Mackay, Townsville, and Rockhampton, and in more regional Queensland areas from the 10^th of October until the 31^{st of} November. This was designed to slightly overlap with the annual World AIDS Day awareness campaign, giving further opportunities for regional Queenslanders to update their knowledge of HIV.

We reached half of the approximately 2 million Queenslanders living in regional Queensland.

The campaign resulted in over 5,000 people clicking through to learn more about HIV to the www.qpp.org.au/hi mini site, with many users taking notable periods of time to explore the information, videos and resources available.

Whilst some of the social media comments received were negative in nature, these simply reinforced the pervasive and inaccurate views that the campaign set out to confront. While this comes as no surprise, the many positive public sentiments expressed, outweighed the negatives, and further demonstrated that updating the public knowledge of HIV has value and makes a significant difference to the level of HIV stigma that exists, especially outside of capital cities in Australia.

Reaching our community

Communications that reflect who we are

At QPP, we have an incredible team. Everyone bringing their expertise, professionalism, lived and living experiences, and passion to ensure our clients and community can live well.

The goal of how people see and connect with us, is to reflect the spirit and depth of experience our team brings to their work, the trust our clients share with us, to support them to live well. We spoke last year about evolving how we communicate, as QPP itself evolves. Melissa spoke in her CEO report about adaptive change being a reality we embrace, and this is especially true for how we communicate.

We’ve picked our battles with the algorithms, bots, and trolls of social media, we’ve renewed and strengthened our relationships with our referral partners and stakeholders, we’ve refreshed and innovated our collateral, and we’ve made significant efforts to ensure quality, trusted information about HIV is available to all Queenslanders, no matter their background or spoken language.

We’ve updated our HIV Disclosure Guide, produced a Queensland edition of The Facts series, based on Living Positive Victoria’s edition, made a meaningful impact on HIV stigma in regional Queensland, and collaborated on a learning module to reduce stigma in healthcare, police, corrections and other government services.

We’ve connected to well over one and a half million Queenslanders in the past year, speaking about HIV and the work that QPP does, and showcasing our vibrant, courageous and caring community, that way it deserves to be.

We’ve been a voice for those where it’s still not safe for them to speak for themselves. We’ve given visibility to our community so it’s safer for them to be in the light. We will continue to evolve, continue to listen, and continue to be the face of people living with HIV in Queensland that we hope you can be proud of.

Diversity, inclusion and belonging

Building a culturally competent organisation  

Diversity and inclusion are central to Queensland Positive People’s ability to deliver responsive, high-quality services to the communities we serve. Our clients and members reflect a broad range of identities, cultures, and lived experiences. Harnessing this diversity, strengthens our organisation and improves our impact.

At QPP, diversity, inclusion and belonging are not static goals. We are embedding these commitments into our systems, policies, and daily practices to ensure that every employee, client, and community member, feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute and thrive.

Guided by our organisational values and obligations under the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld), we are building an inclusive workplace culture that is intentional, accountable, and sustainable, where every person is empowered to contribute and thrive.

Creating a culture of belonging is a collective responsibility, central to our vision of a supportive and equitable future for all.

We also recognise that the acknowledgement of privilege must lead to tangible actions that remove barriers, amplify diverse voices, and drive meaningful change.

QPP acknowledges and respects Nigooli as the custodian of the cultural knowledge represented on the artwork featured above and in our Reconciliation Action Plan.

Key actions in 2024–2025 included:

• Endorsement by Reconciliation Australia of our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
• Development of a Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Policy.
• Development of a First Nations Cultural Responsiveness Policy.
• Development of the Reasonable Adjustments Policy and Procedures.

Priorities for the next two years:

• Continue reviewing QPP systems through the lens of anti-discrimination and inclusion.
• Implement the Innovate RAP.
• Leverage diverse perspectives in service delivery design through the Community Advisory Group.
• Ensure safe, inclusive practices and a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

QPP’s ongoing journey in diversity, inclusion, and belonging is driven by the belief that inclusion is not a project with an end date—it is a way of working, leading, and engaging with our communities. Our progress in 2024–2025 reflects this commitment, and our future priorities will continue to embed equity and respect into the fabric of our organisation.

Enhancing relationships

Enhancing relationships

Volunteers

Community Advisory Group

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers 

State of the Nation

Community events

The CWC Cabaret

In August 2024 and March 2025, long time venue and supporter, The Sportsman Hotel was filled to capacity for our Citizens Welfare Committee (CWC) Charity Cabarets. These events, a much-anticipated highlight of the Brisbane drag scene, have been running every year for more than 30 years, helping to raise much-needed funds for people living with HIV in Queensland. A unique and diverse cavalcade of over 30 performers, donate their time, talent, and enthusiasm all to raise funds and support QPP.

Both events included an array of drag identities from all Brisbane queer venues, as well as some of Queensland’s best-loved performers from years gone by. Betty Nature was the master of ceremonies, performer, and organiser extraordinaire for this year’s events, as they have been for over 30 years.

With Betty at the helm, all of the performers, and with the generous raffle donations from both The Den Fortitude Valley and The Sportsman Hotel, the two events raised a total of $2,900.32. Their contributions, together with the generosity of the patrons, help us raise funds that make a substantive impact to the quality of life of people living with HIV in Queensland today.

We thank Betty and all the performers, sponsors, and patrons for their continuing support of CWC. The proceeds help provide peer support events and activities that foster empowerment and resilience by enhancing self-esteem and social connectedness among our diverse, and sometimes isolated, positive community.

You can keep up to date with the next CWC event by following the Facebook page.

Membership

Become a QPP member

Best practice standards

Best practice standards

Peer and staff training

Staff training and professional development helps us better serve our community

Advocacy

HIV, human rights and the law

Supported research

QPP research activities

At QPP, we recognise that engaging in research and contributing to the evidence is essential to ensuring that the needs and voices of people living with HIV remain at the centre of the programs and services we deliver.

Consistent with GIPA/MEPA principles, this applies equally to our research activities, with people living with HIV actively involved in guiding and shaping the questions we ask and the knowledge we generate.

Participating in research provides valuable insight into the lived experiences of our communities, allowing us to design targeted initiatives that respond to real-world challenges. This evidence-informed approach also strengthens our advocacy, enabling us to influence policy, secure funding and deliver impactful, community-led programs.

In 2025, we also represented QPP and showcased our work at the ASHM Conference with the below posters:

Furthermore, we have been involved in several impactful research projects spanning a range of topics including:

• Peer Navigator/Nurse partnerships 
• Building a better picture of LGBT Sistergirl and Brotherboy Ageing and Caring in Queensland 
• HIV health and the law 
• Anal cancer in people living with HIV 
• Neuro HIV and ageing
• Safe and deadly healthcare
• Developing inclusive models of care tailored for LGBTIQASGBB+ individuals
• Linkage to HIV Peer Navigator Support
• Utilisation of pre-travel consultation among people living with HIV
• Strengthening models of peer lived and living experience
• Health and policy systems
• System level impacts of peer led work 

Strengthening funding

Strengthening funding

Positioning QPP for the future

Positioning QPP for the future

More from the year

More from the year

Tributes

Vale Garth Wong

QPP Board, staff and friends were deeply saddened by the news passing of one of our QPP team, Garth Wong in September 2024.

Garth was a committed supporter, advocate, and volunteer for the HIV community for 39 years, and his loss is being deeply felt here at QPP and will be throughout the community he loved.

He was involved with QPP since before it was incorporated, volunteering to host and cook for the weekly ‘Drop-In Lunch’ which evolved into the QPP BBQ still held today. Garth led the creation of our Mature Age and Long-Term Survivors (MALTS) group which combined his passions for good food, nutrition, and creating spaces for people to connect. He recognized, well before any of the now overwhelming research confirms, the power of social connection and its impact on our overall well being. He became one of our first Peer Navigators in 2016, where he brought his lived experience and caring character to all he helped on their journey with HIV.

We estimate that Garth personally prepared and served more than 5,000 meals to people living with HIV and their loved ones at his social events and gatherings, filling both their bellies and their hearts, right up until earlier this month.

His quiet nature and joyful spirit, together with his generous work, will have a lasting impact on the people with HIV in our state, and the team at QPP. We know that Garth has touched many lives, and his loss will be felt across our community, and he continues to be here at QPP. We miss you Garth.

Service to our community

Acknowledging Mark Counter 

The story of Queensland Positive People (QPP) cannot be told without recognising the enormous contribution of our former President, Mark Counter.  For decades, Mark has been a leader, a mentor, and a tireless advocate, guiding organisations, communities, and governments through times of change and growth, and helping to shape the national HIV response into what it is today.

Mark’s connection to the HIV response stretches back to the earliest days of the epidemic.  He was among those who stood up when silence due to the threat of stigma and discrimination was the necessary option for most, lending his voice, energy, and sharp political instincts to the cause of people living with HIV.  Over the years, he has held leadership roles across the sector at state and national levels – from Principal Policy Advisor in HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health at Queensland Health to former President of NAPWHA and former board member of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, now known as Health Equity Matters  – always championing the idea that people living with HIV must be at the heart of the response, recognised not just as advocates but as professionals,  leaders and experts in their own right. 

Mark has been closely connected with QPP since the early days at the Allen Street Centre.  He supported the organisation’s incorporation and helped secure Queensland Health funding at a critical stage, laying the foundations for QPP to grow into Australia’s largest positive organisation.  An ‘ideas man’ through and through, Mark was always looking for innovative ways to strengthen QPP and improve the health, experiences, and lives of people living with HIV. 

His ability to connect foresight with practical action has helped shape not only QPP but also the sector more broadly, leaving a lasting mark on the way peer organisations operate and evolve.  Today, QPP stands as a testament to that vision: employing more than 40 staff, delivering accredited programs across the HIV care cascade, and contributing nationally to reforms in law, policy, and practice. 

Yet Mark’s impact goes far beyond organisational milestones.  He has been a steady hand in moments of crisis, a fierce defender of peer voices, and a mentor to countless people who have gone on to shape the sector themselves.  He has never lost sight of the bigger picture – that the HIV response is not just about medicine and policy, but about human rights, dignity, community and freedom from stigma and discrimination.

Those who have worked alongside Mark know his sharp intellect is always balanced with warmth and humour.  He is as quick with a perfectly timed quip in a meeting as he is with a word of encouragement in a tough moment.  His leadership has been marked not just by strategic foresight, but by generosity of spirit.

As he steps into retirement with his partner, their dog, cows, and chickens, and the simple joys of tending to fruit and vegetables in the hinterland, we know that Mark’s contributions to QPP and the wider HIV sector will continue to resonate well into the future.  His wisdom and mentorship are not lost to us; they are embedded in the culture and resilience of this organisation and the community it serves.

Mark, from all of us — thank you for your lifetime of service.  Your vision, courage, and humanity have left an indelible mark.  You leave behind a legacy that will inspire not just this generation, but many to come.

Some of the many people and organisations we would like to thank

Financial Statements