Ageing Well with HIV project is a partnership between the Burnet Institute, Thorne Harbour Health, Living Positive Victoria, Alfred Health. The project aims to address the psychosocial and health needs of older people living with HIV (PLHIV) through the development and refinement of an online platform designed to enhance the reach, sustainability and effectiveness of existing programs.

Since the advent of highly effective HIV antiretroviral therapies and associated dramatic reductions in mortality, there has been a significant increase in the population of older PLHIV. This change has led to the recognition of an emergent and critical need to develop effective and community-acceptable service models to cater for the support and healthcare service needs of older PLHIV.

Services provided to older PLHIV are predominantly done through conventional face-to-face models. While there are distinct benefits associated with programs that bring people together in supportive environments, these face-to-face models also carry limitations in the number of people able to be reached and their geographic coverage. To enhance equity of access to support programs, this partnership will develop an online platform that seeks to augment and expand the reach, capacity and sustainability of existing peer support services, particularly those run by our community partners. The platform will be designed to provide information, community support and social networking opportunities to promote community participation and creation of social networks for PLHIV as they age.

Timeline

• 2018 - 2022