Queensland Positive People celebrates our 37th Birthday!
Founded on February 26, 1989, we’ve been leading the way with peer-led advocacy and support for the HIV community for nearly four decades. As we celebrate this milestone today, it’s incredible to look back at how much has changed, and how far we’ve come.
The world in 1989 was a vastly different place. When QPP was founded, the community was fighting for visibility and basic rights in the face of a terrifying epidemic. Today, we celebrate progress that once felt like a distant dream.
We thank everyone that’s joined us for the journey together, and think deeply about those we’ve lost along the way.
We stand proudly today on the shoulders of giants.
Treatment: From “Pill Fatigue” to Simple Success
- Then (1989): Treatment options were limited, often involving high doses of AZT, which carried severe side effects. By the early 90s, some people with HIV were taking up to 20+ pills a day on a gruelling schedule.
- Now (2026): We live in the era of U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable). Most people manage HIV with just one pill a day or even long-acting injectables every few months. Treatment is now highly effective, with minimal side effects.
Life Expectancy: From Months to Decades
- Then (1989): A diagnosis was often seen as a terminal sentence, with life expectancy often measured in just a few years.
- Now (2026): With early diagnosis and consistent treatment, a person living with HIV today can expect to live a near-normal lifespan, comparable to someone who is HIV-negative. We are now proudly supporting a generation of “Positive Elders.”
Quality of Life: From Survival to Thriving
- Then (1989): The focus was on survival and palliative care. Stigma was pervasive and dehumanising, often leading to isolation and loss of employment.
- Now (2026): The focus has shifted to living well. QPP continues to lead the way in holistic support through their full journey. From testing and community education through RAPID, peer navigation with Life+, and supporting people as they age with Aged Care Navigation. While challenges like age-related comorbidities remain, the goal is no longer just “staying alive,” but thriving.
While we’ve come a long way, we as always, will continue to work towards a world where people living with HIV can live in good health, and free from stigma, discrimination, and criminalisation.
