World AIDS Day

Every year on 1 December, our incredible volunteers take to the streets and hand our red ribbons around Melbourne and beyond during the World AIDS Day Street Appeal. They help us raise awareness about the contemporary issues surrounding HIV and help us keep the conversation going about why HIV Still Matters.

All the funds we raise for World AIDS Day go directly back to supporting our work at Thorne Harbour. You can also donate directly to Thorne Harbour here to help us continue our work to end HIV or donate to the David Williams Fund to help us provide financial support services to people living with HIV. Find out more about The David Williams Fund here.

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV and show their support for people living with HIV. It is also an important opportunity and to commemorate people who have died. Our annual World AIDS Day Memorial at the Positive Living Centre is an emotionally-charged event with performances and the display of the heritage listed AIDS Memorial Quilts. The event is a collaborative effort undertaken by Thorne Harbour Health, Living Positive Victoria, the AIDS Memorial Quilt Project, the Catholic AIDS Ministry and Positive Women Victoria.

The Red Ribbon has become the global symbol of HIV/AIDS awareness. First worn in 1991 by the Visual AIDS Group in New York, the following year the uniquely 'Victorian Red Ribbon' was created by Brent Lacey. While it was cheaper to produce, the unique shape offered another more significant point of difference - the inverted 'V' design is to allow the ribbons to be turned upside down a create a 'V' for 'Victory' the day a cure for HIV is discovered.

In 2022, we introduced the Red Ribbon Making Workshops to continue that community legacy, and we provide ways for organisations and businesses to get on board, for more information contact us at: WorldAIDSDay@thorneharbour.org

Thorne Harbour Health offers a virtual World presentation for workplaces - designed to raise awareness, educate and engage people around HIV & AIDS.

We set up the event, create the staff invitation and deliver the presentation to your workplace using Zoom (we are happy to use your own virtual infrastructure should this be required). During the presentation, we cover:

• Introduction to HIV & AIDS
• A look back (local and global history)
• What do things look like today?
• The Red Ribbon
• Video presentation (hear from someone living with HIV and their personal story. This is usually the most powerful part of the presentation).
• Questions and close event

For more information, contact us at: WorldAIDSDay@thorneharbour.org

The World AIDS Day app offers a virtual way for you to take part and donate this World AIDS Day. The app offers both the global red ribbon as well as the Victorian signature red ribbon. It also offers watch faces and wallpapers in a variety of World AIDS Day inspired designs.

The World AIDS Day app is freely available in App Store and on Google Play, or visit our World AIDS Day App page for more details.