La Trobe University > Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society > Our work > Blood-borne viruses and other stigmatised conditions

Blood-borne viruses and other stigmatised conditions

Since our foundation, ARCSHS has conducted groundbreaking research that has shaped responses to HIV and other blood-borne viruses in Australia.

Formerly called ‘social responses to HIV and viral hepatitis’, this research theme has thus far focused on issues related to diagnosis, treatment, care, clinical practice, sexuality, risk, pleasure, wellbeing and quality of life in the context of HIV and viral hepatitis.

Research in this area has informed national strategies, policy, and clinical and community practice.

Our projects include:

Theme convenor:

Dean Murphy

Latest updates

HIV Futures publications

HIV Futures is a research series about the health and wellbeing of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Australia. Each study forms part of a series of cross-sectional surveys that have been run every two to three years since 1997. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, the aims of the study are to provide information about factors that support physical and emotional wellbeing among PLHIV.

Take the HIV Futures 11 Survey

HIV Futures 11

The study is designed to inform the Australian National HIV Strategy and guide community and clinical service provision for PLHIV. In order to explore the complexity of factors that support health and wellbeing among PLHIV, the HIV Futures series surveys a broad range of issues, such as financial security, housing status, antiretroviral treatment use, general health issues, stigma and discrimination, clinical and support service use, aging, drug and alcohol use, sexual health, relationships, and social connectedness.

If you have any difficulty accessing these documents, please email us.

HIV Futures 11 page

HIV Futures 10

Quality of life among people living with HIV in Australia [2022]

Thomas Norman, Jennifer Power, John Rule, Jimmy Yu-Hsiang Chen, Adam Bourne

HIV Futures 10 is a study of quality of life among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Australia. In each iteration of the HIV Futures study, a cross sectional survey of the Australian population of PLHIV is conducted. Data were collected for HIV Futures 10 from mid-2021 to early 2022.

For more information, visit our HIV Futures 10 page.

Key findings summary PowerPoint slides

HIV Futures 9

Quality of life among people living with HIV in Australia [2019]

Jennifer Power, Stephanie Amir, Graham Brown, John Rule, Jen Johnson, Anthony Lyons, Adam Bourne and Marina Carman

HIV Futures 9 (PDF, 7.4MB) is a national survey of people living with HIV in Australia, conducted from December 2018 to May 2019.

Participants completed a 148-question online or hardcopy survey covering quality of life, health, treatment, stigma, ageing, and related issues.

HIV Futures 9 - Executive summary

HIV Futures: Community Impact Report

Research Impact and the Australian HIV Response [2018]

Jen Johnson

This case study examines the impact of ARCSHS’ HIV Futures series on Australia’s HIV partnership response. Using interviews, citation analysis, and publication review, it highlights how the series has informed policy, advocacy, and service delivery, and identifies the themes most influential to the HIV sector, drawing on insights from a wide range of community and sector leaders.

Research Impact and the Australian HIV Response

HIV Futures 8

[2016-2018] HIV Futures 8 was released as a series of broadsheets:

HIV Futures 7

The Health and Wellbeing of HIV Positive People in Australia [2013]

Jeffrey Grierson, Marian Pitts and Rachel Koelmeyer

HIV Futures 7 (PDF, 1.13MB)

HIV Futures 6

Making positive lives count [2009]

Jeffrey Grierson, Jennifer Power, Marian Pitts, Samantha Croy, Thomas Clement, Rachel Thorpe and Karalyn McDonald

Futures 6 (PDF, 0.4MB)

HIV Futures 5

Life as we know it [2006]

Jeffrey Grierson, Rachel Thorpe and Marian Pitts

HIV Futures 5 (PDF, 0.5MB)

HIV Futures 4

State of the [Positive] Nation [2004]

Jeffrey Grierson, Rachel Thorpe, Mark Saunders and Marian Pitts

HIV Futures 4 (PDF, 0.7MB)

HIV Futures 3

Positive Australians on Services, Health and Well-Being [2002]

Jeffrey Grierson, Sebastian Misson, Karalyn McDonald, Marian Pitts and Mary O’Brien

HIV Futures 3 (PDF, 0.5MB)

HIV Futures 2

The Health and Well-being of People with HIV/AIDS in Australia [2000]

Jeffrey Grierson, Michael Bartos, Richard de Visser and Karalyn McDonald

HIV Futures 2 (PDF, 0.3MB)

HIV Futures 1

Health, Relationships, Community, and Employment [1998]

Douglas Ezzy, Richard de Visser, Michael Bartos, Karalyn McDonald, Darryl O'Donnell and Doreen Rosenthal

HIV Futures Community Report (PDF, 0.05MB)

The first HIV Futures Survey drew together the largest sample of people with HIV/AIDS to have been surveyed in Australia at that time, and was conducted from 1 July 1997 to 5 September 1997. The 925 respondents represented over eight percent of the population of people then living with HIV in Australia. While a substantial number of the participants were gay men living in Sydney, the survey included significant numbers of people living with HIV from smaller sub-populations such as women, rural respondents and people living outside NSW and Victoria.

The survey examined five main issues: health (focused on the anti-retroviral treatments that had recently become available), relationships (including the changing nature of relationships with family, friends and partners, and sexual practice), community life (including HIV/AIDS-related organisations and publications), finances (experience of poverty and changes in accommodation), and employment (movement in and out of the work force).

The study was endorsed and supported by the Australian AIDS Federation Organisation (AFAO) and the National Association of People Living With HIV/AIDS (NAPWA), with assistance from over 75 organisations, government departments, hospitals, clinics and individuals across Australia. The report was supported by a Commonwealth AIDS Research Grant.