World AIDS Day

Every year on December 1st, our incredible volunteers take to the streets and hand out red ribbons around Melbourne 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 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 occasion to commemorate people who have died. Our annual World AIDS Day Memorial at the Positive Living Centre is an emotional, yet joyous event with performances and the display of heritage listed AIDS Memorial Quilts. The event is a collaborative effort undertaken by Thorne Harbour Health, Living Positive Victoria, the AIDS Memorial Quilt Project, 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 provide ways for organisations and businesses to get on board. For more information about the workshops, contact us at: WorldAIDSDay@thorneharbour.org

Thorne Harbour Health offers a virtual World AIDS Day presentation for workplaces - designed to raise awareness and educate people about 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
• Personal presentation (hear from someone living with HIV and their personal story. This is usually the most powerful part of the presentation).
• Questions and myth busting

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