Well, Well, Well

This week Michael and Rachel speak to Cal about the PrEP shortage, how we can access PrEP online, the and what strategies we can use to keep ourselves protected like using PrEP on Demand – and everything in the HIV toolkit.

You can find out more about PrEP and HIV by heading to Emen8 , PAN (PrEP access now) and What Works

Read Emen8’s article ‘How to get PrEP in Australia during a supply issue’

Check out PAN’s map of pharmacy availability, or check out PAN’s guide on how to buy PrEP quickly and easily online if your pharmacy is out of stock.

This year marks a decade of PrEP in Australia! Read more about PrEP’s history in the article ‘10 Years of PrEP in Australia’

This week’s podcast image supplied by Canva Premium

This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

This episode originally aired Thursday, September 12 2024 on JOY.

This week Michael and Rachel speak with Kade Matthews from Proud 2 Play about the benefits of playing sport and mental health. We find out who and what Proud 2 Play is and how our LGBTIQ+ communities can find a a sports club, no matter our skill set, and find a safe place to play sport.

For more information head to Proud 2 Play 

This week’s podcast image owned by JOY 94.9.

This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

This episode originally aired Thursday, September 12 2024 on JOY.

Michael and Rachel speak with Ada Cheung, Principal Research Fellow in Endocrinology Medicine at Austin Health about how hormones impact, and form part of prostate cancer treatment.

We spoke with John and Bryan earlier this year about Prostate Pride – listen here

You can connect with Prostate Pride here

This week’s podcast image supplied by Canva Premium

This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

This episode originally aired Thursday, September 5 2024 on JOY.

Michael speaks to LGBTIQA+ Communities Portfolio Manager at Victoria Police, Jeremy Oliver about recent cases of violence against men using dating and hookup apps, like Grindr and social media platforms like Snapchat.

Following a series of violent assaults targeting gay men, Thorne Harbour Health is calling on communities to exercise caution when using apps and social media. A growing number of incidents have recently been reported where offenders pose as legitimate users on online platforms like Grindr, Scruff, and Snapchat to lure gay and bisexual men to public spaces where they are vulnerable to assault and robbery.

We discuss tips for keeping safe online, how to report incidents of violent behaviour, and what Victoria Police is doing to keep our community safe.

Resources

Check out Thorne Harbour Health’s 10 Tips for Keeping Safe on Hookup Apps

Community members are encouraged to make a report via the Police Assistance Line and Online Reporting website or, if they prefer, they can ask to speak to a LGBTIQA+ Liaison Officer. In case of an emergency, they should always call Triple Zero (000) in the first instance.

Thorne Harbour Health has also published a list of strategies and steps individuals can take to look after themselves when using dating apps and hook-up platforms at: thorneharbour.org/appsafety

Experiencing assault, threatening behaviour or homophobic violence can impact our mental health. Thorne Harbour Health also offers a range of services, including counselling and support groups. If you’ve been a victim of any online or in-person crime, it might help to speak to someone about how it’s affecting you. Call our friendly intake team on (03) 9865 6700 to find a service.

Media

Check out the media release: Thorne Harbour Urges Communities to Exercise Caution on Gay Apps Following Attacks

This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

This episode originally aired Thursday, August 29 2024 on JOY.

Michael and Rachel speak with Jean Hailes CEO Sarah White about Women’s Health Week, and the importance of striking up Courageous Conversations. We discuss elements of women’s health such as the inquiry into women’s pain, menstruation, and menopause.

To find out more about Jean Hailes check out their website

and find out more about Women’s Health Week for information and activities happening across the weerk

Check out Women’s Health at Thorne Harbour for more information

This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

This episode originally aired Thursday, August 29 2024 on JOY.

International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) – held on August 31 every year – is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind.

In light of the day we speak with Senior Alcohol and Other Drug Clinician Bianca from Thorne Harbour SA about how to respond to an overdose, why substance use is so stigmatised, and how to get support if you or someone you know is struggling with substance use.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at [email protected]

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria at thorneharbour.org and in South Australia at samesh.org.au.

We are sharing everyday stories by Everyday People. This past year, Thorne Harbour has been connecting with our community to showcase the diversity of our multicultural LGBTIQA+ and PLHIV communities, and take a look at the personal narratives of people’s experience with mental health. As people who come from non English speaking backgrounds, we connected to share the impact of migration stress, identity, and their connection to culture as a protective factor when thinking about good mental health – and how they have responded to periods of mental ill health.

This project, Everyday People, has centred the voices of our community first and foremost – sharing their stories in their chosen language, and made available in English also. We’re going to chat to three incredible community members who share their stories of mental health with us. If you’d like to hear their stories in full, head to everyday-people.au – and if you’re looking for ways to improve your own mental health or combat social isolation, check out the resource page for places you can get support that are affirming for you.

Michael spoke with Sasja, Boudie and Emil about their experience sharing their stories.

This episode was recorded on the lands of the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples, Wurundjeri land, and Noongar Whadjuk land. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

This episode originally aired Thursday, August15 2024 on JOY.

The HIV Science as Art exhibition brought twelve artists with HIV together with scientists to create original work that reflects the concepts of their scientific work at the International AIDS Conference 2024 in Munich, Germany.

These works represented a diverse spectrum of artistic expression – from fashion design and painting to photography, sculpture and video.

All originals were then auctioned off with the proceeds being used to support programs and services for people living with HIV.

In this episode we’ll hear from scientists, artists and curators about their work and their experiences.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at [email protected]

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria at thorneharbour.org and in South Australia at samesh.org.au.

As this episode went to air on JOY 94.9, we’d just passed 3 decades since the Tasty nightclub raid on August 7th 1994, which saw LGBTIQ+ patrons detained by Victoria Police for up to 7 hours, and strip and cavity searched.

Following this event, we saw successful legal action from patrons against Victoria Police resulting in about 6 million dollars in payouts, a formal apology in 2014, and the creation of the LGBTIQA+ Liason Officer program which aims to create mutual trust between our diverse communities and police.

We speak with Stephen and Gerry who were at Tasty that night about their experience and the lasting impacts the event has had.

We also hear from Skye Bartlett from SAMESH in Adelaide about a world first exhibition – Style and Spirit: The Fashion of Chester Weinberg.

Chester Weinberg was the first fashion designer to die of AIDS-related illness in 1985 and HIV stigma saw Chester written out of history books.

Skye is curating the exhibition, and tells us about Weinberg’s life, death, legacy, and relevance in the fight against HIV stigma today.

Here on Well Well Well, we delve into the issues impacting and surrounding the health and wellbeing of our gender, sex, and sexuality diverse communities, and people living with HIV.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health & wellbeing.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at [email protected]

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria at Thorne Harbour Health and in South Australia at SAMESH.

From the 2024 International AIDS Conference in Munich, Germany, Cal brings us stories from the AIDS Global Village including:

Louisa from northern Germany speaking about their work in reaching vulnerable populations offering counselling and testing via their mobile testing van

Yianny from Tackle HIV which educates young people on HIV, and sexual health and reproductive rights using football as a point of connection

Kai and Chi-Wei from Taiwan speaking about HIVStory

Professor David Gere from the University of California speaking about his work as Co-Director of Through Positive Eyes

Maggie Czarnogorski, the Head of Digital Innovation and Implementation Science at ViiV Healthcare speaks about a virtual reality experience aiming to better educate people on the stigma and discrimination that people living with HIV face

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health & wellbeing.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at [email protected]

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria at Thorne Harbour Health and in South Australia at SAMESH.