Page 441 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 February 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
One is a telephone counselling information and referral service that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Another telephone information service aimed specifically at heterosexual and bisexual men is planned to begin in the near future. Another project is aimed at men who visit "beats" or public places for sex. The AIDS Council has workers who visit these venues and educate patrons about safe sex and other HIV issues, as well as distribute condoms, lubricant and other safe sex materials.
The AIDS Council also has a dedicated women's education officer who undertakes a number of education projects, one of which is aimed at women partners of bisexual men. Of course, Madam Speaker, women are not at risk of HIV infections from only bisexual partners; they are at risk from partners who have unprotected sex or who share needles. The ACT Government funds community based organisations to educate women who inject drugs or are the partners of people who inject drugs. The ACTIV League has a number of projects specifically aimed at educating drug-using women about self-esteem, all sexual health issues, including hepatitis, and HIV transmission issues. Women are at risk from a number of other sexually transmitted diseases as a result of unprotected sex.
ACT Health funds a part-time HIV education officer at the Family Planning Association. This project offers education to doctors, nurses and other health professionals involved in educating people, predominantly young women, about sexual health issues. We are therefore funding a number of education projects aimed at educating women to protect themselves from HIV infection as well as other sexually transmitted diseases. Madam Speaker, at the Gilmore clinic, formerly the STD/AIDS reference centre, there are trained staff who deal with the delicate issue of contact tracing and education of people who are diagnosed with HIV infection. In the case of bisexual men, these negotiations deal with the issue of informing and protecting their women partners. The educational messages are reinforced every time the person visits the clinic. I am confident that the ACT Government is doing all that it can to ensure that we achieve the right balance between educating women to protect themselves and educating other risk groups such as bisexual men.
Breast Cancer Screening Program Launch
MR BERRY: Madam Speaker, yesterday I was asked a question about invitees to the breast screening program opening at the City Health Centre. I was reminded when I went up to my office that the Leader of the Opposition was, in fact, included on a list of invitees. It is true that Senator Reid was not and that neither was Mrs Carnell. The Leader of the Opposition declined but did not send anybody in his stead and obviously did not tell the Liberals that he had been invited and had declined.
Legislative Assembly - Telephone Numbers
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, I have a response to the question you asked me earlier today. My faithful secretariat has given me advice as I asked. Mr Stevenson, you are correct. The advice to Telecom was to give one number, 205 0172, for all members. This advice was given by the secretariat. Action will be initiated immediately to ensure that a recorded message on that number will give members' office numbers out of hours.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .