PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM

Every eight seconds: AIDS revisited
National Library of Australia, Canberra, 29-30 November 2000

HIV is now infecting new victims at the rate of more than one every eight seconds. Although Australia has been successful in limiting the disease relative to some other countries, the concern is that this has bred complacency.

Set within an historical and global context – particularly Africa, Asia and the Pacific – this symposium examined current developments and future directions in dealing with HIV/AIDS. The aims of the symposium were:

• to outline and discuss current strategies for education, prevention, treatment, and cure;
• to identify common issues across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and technological sciences relating to HIV infection and AIDS; and
• to help overcome the Australian complacency about HIV infection and AIDS by promoting greater public awareness of the issues related to it.

Held during AIDS Awareness Week, the symposium was hosted by the National Academies Forum and the National Library of Australia, with support from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, Queensland Health and the AIDS Action Council of the ACT.

Speakers' CVs, abstracts and papers

Entertainment provided by the Canberra Gay and Lesbian Qwire

Supported by

	The National Library of Australia is the pre-eminent source for the documentary record of Australia and its place in the world. Its collections and services underpin Australian cultural life and intellectual pursuits. Two of the Library's key objectives are to ensure that the Library provides effective and open access to its own collections and to information sources elsewhere; and to ensure that Australians, wherever they live or work, have access to information resources in Australia and overseas.
	In pursuit of the goals of the fourth National HIV/AIDS Strategy, the Commonwealth will retain its leadership role, including through the promotion of best practice and intersectoral action across portfolios and jurisdictions. The Department of Health and Aged Care will continue to be the principal Commonwealth agency responsible for coordination of the national response to HIV/AIDS, within a 'whole-of-government' approach.
The HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and Sexual Health Section, Communicable Diseases Unit, Queensland Health, develops and oversees the implementation of policy and strategies for the treatment and care of people living with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and other sexually transmissible infections. In conjunction with the community sector and government agencies, this Section develops education and prevention strategies to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and other sexually transmissible infections.

The following organisations supported the attendance of speakers:
The Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) is the national peak body representing the community response to HIV/AIDS in Australia. Our members are the State and Territory AIDS Councils, the National Association of People Living With HIV/AIDS, the Australian IV League representing injecting drug users, and the Scarlet Alliance, representing sex workers.
Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland Key Centre for Geographical Information Systems, University of Adelaide National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research National Centre in HIV Social Research, University of New South Wales Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men's Health Centre