The first Victorian HIV/AIDS Strategy (2002–2004) was formulated within the framework of the fourth National HIV/AIDS Strategy (1999–2000 to 2003–2004) and was endorsed as a whole of Victorian government document.

It guided the public health and acute care responses and was the basis of the community and service providers' partnership in relation to HIV/AIDS during 2002–2004. The key outcomes of that strategy are discussed in “An overview of the Victorian HIV/AIDS Strategy (2002–2004)”, in the document below.

With the end of the term of the strategy on 31 December 2004, the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Blood-borne and Sexually Transmissible Infections advised that the priority activities identified in the strategy remained current and that the document did not need to be rewritten. However, the committee identified a number of new and emerging issues to be addressed by government and the funded sector.

As such, the Victorian HIV/AIDS Strategy 2002–2004 and Addendum 2005–2009 is comprised of the text of the Victorian HIV/AIDS Strategy (2002–2004) and the following additional priority issues:

• Improve the recording of Indigenous status in blood-borne virus (BBV) and sexually transmissible infection (STI) notifications;
• Refocus HIV/AIDS health promotion efforts to encourage testing and treatment for HIV and STIs;
• Ensure the direct involvement of HIV positive people in HIV prevention and education strategies;
• Focus on the needs of and issues faced by an ageing population of people living with HIV/AIDS;
• Focus on the BBV/STI needs of Indigenous people in custodial settings;
• Increase the capacity of culturally and linguistically diverse communities most affected by HIV/AIDS to contribute to policy and program development and implementation;
• Improve HIV/AIDS monitoring, treatment, education and support for people in custodial settings;
• Provide education and access to appropriate health services for Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse youth; and
• Develop comprehensive service delivery pathways spanning urban, regional and rural areas.

Implementation of the extended strategy will be documented and prioritised in a new implementation plan, which will be developed in consultation with the committee.

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Victorian HIV/AIDS Strategy 2002–2004 and Addendum 2005–2009 (410kb, pdf)