Our Stories: Ending HIV Stigma

Our Stories: Ending HIV Stigma

Our Stories: Ending HIV Stigma is a podcast about women, by women living with HIV in Australia to challenge the myths and stereotypes that feed HIV stigma. We share our stories of achieving our goals, navigating sex and relationships, and our journey through pregnancy and motherhood in this new era of Undetectable equals Untransmittable (U=U). Our stories are real, unfiltered and always inspiring. Hosted by Heather Ellis, a journalist and author, who has lived with HIV since 1995. Contact us at: info@positivewomen.org.au Website: www.positivewomen.org.au/tell-the-story/podcast This podcast has been supported by an unrestricted grant from Gilead Sciences Pty Ltd and made possible by Positive Women Victoria. Listen for free from your mobile device on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever you download your podcasts.

Episodes

Chrissie’s Story: My experience at AIDS2024 as an HIV advocate

August 15, 2024 • 18 mins

Chrissie has been living with HIV for 24 years. Originally from Zimbabwe, Chrissie lives in Australia’s Northern Territory with her family where she works as a social worker.

But Chrissie is also a leading HIV advocate and social media influencer, and was awarded a scholarship to attend AIDS2024, the world’s largest HIV conference held every two years globally. In July, AIDS2024 was held in Munich, Germany. 

Check out Chrissie's Fa...

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Mati’s Story: Near the end, HIV treatments gave Mati life, love, nine grandchildren and a new career

November 26, 2020 • 34 mins
Mati, from Zimbabwe, a mother of three, a church leader, and with a career in finance, had a HIV test for a life insurance policy. She was 39 years old and it was 1994, before effective HIV medications were discovered and her diagnosis spelled the end. Or so she thought…. Today, Mati is a social worker, has a new career as a HIV peer treatments facilitator, and has found love again.
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Jane’s Story: It was the Age of Aquarius, long before HIV and the era of AIDS.

November 10, 2020 • 27 mins
Jane has been living with HIV for 31 years and is one of Australia’s HIV elders. Her story begins in the United States during the sexual revolution of the sixties. It was the Age of Aquarius. Long before HIV and the era of AIDS. A time of carefree sexual adventure, of making love not war.
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Georgina’s Story: HIV never stopped her volunteering as a sewing teacher in Africa

October 27, 2020 • 32 mins
Georgina Whitchurch has been living with HIV for seven years. Her story begins in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), in southern Africa.After a career in hospital management in Australia, Georgina followed her passion for sewing and joined the Australian Volunteers Program. As a 64-year-old retiree, she took on the role of teaching sustainable sewing skills to women at an Eswatini village, but the charms of a local man, soon changed he...
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Sarah Feagan’s Story: After a bohemian life of self-discovery, HIV stigma nearly killed her

October 12, 2020 • 33 mins
Sarah Feagan has been living with HIV for 12 years. Her story begins in Melbourne. As a troubled teen, Sarah left home and her youth became a rollercoaster of homelessness, and drugs, which evolved into a bohemian life of self-discovery. After falling in love with a partner who didn’t know their status, later Sarah was diagnosed with HIV at 21, but while effective treatments were available, this was not enough and stigma nearly ki...
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Batsirai’s Story: In Africa, safe messages were everywhere, but not in Australia

September 28, 2020 • 35 mins
Batsirai’s story begins in southern Africa. As a teenager in the late 1990’s, she recalls a scary time when people were dying from AIDS. Safe messages were everywhere. Then the family moved to Australia, but there were no billboards, no TV adverts, no news of HIV and she assumed it was safe here. Batsirai’s revealing story highlights the importance of continuing to have public discussions of HIV among all our communities to encour...
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Brittney’s Story: After a surgery mishap in childhood, HIV never held her back.

September 25, 2020 • 23 mins
After a surgery mishap, Brittney contracted HIV when she was nine years old. Brittney, not her real name, has been living with HIV for 21 years. Growing up with HIV navigating friendships, relationships, university and now a new mum, HIV has never held her back. For more details on topics discussed in this episode, please visit:Positive Women Victoria: https://positivewomen.org.au Episode 2: Brittney’s StoryTranscript / Show Notes ...
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Charlotte’s Story: A Bali travel adventure changed her life

September 20, 2020 • 28 mins
Charlotte’s story begins in Bali, Indonesia. Like most young Australians, she yearned to travel and volunteering at an orphanage in Bali when she was 18 years old was a natural step after working at a childcare centre in Melbourne. But orphanage tourism didn’t sit well with her and she moved to Bali’s Kuta Beach and its nightclub scene. Things soon spiralled out of control. But after falling pregnant, she overcame her drug addictio...
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Introducing Our Stories Ending HIV Stigma

September 20, 2020 • 1 min
A podcast about women, by women living with HIV in Australia to challenge the myths and stereotypes that feed HIV stigma.We share our stories of achieving our goals, navigating and relationships, and our journey through pregnancy and motherhood in this new era of Undetectable equals Untransmittable (U=U). Our stories are real, unfiltered and always inspiring.Hosted by Heather Ellis, a journalist and author, who has lived with HIV ...
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