I have been involved with WAAC since its inception 22 years ago (when I was just a young guy), both as a volunteer, board member and for the past 12 years as a staff member. Currently I am involved in coordinating the agencies fundraising and events as well as working in Education and Prevention services on a range of different projects.

With a range of great workshops on offer and some new ones being planned for launch in 2008, I find my time in Education both exciting and fulfilling, as co-facilitating workshops is one of my many roles within the education team. I find WAAC an incredibly supportive workplace, open to new ideas which make it both challenging and exciting. I believe that the gay community is made up of a phenomenally diverse range of people we need to embrace and celebrate and really enjoy.

I came to the WA AIDS Council (WAAC) the day before ANZAC Day 2006 – portentous in its metaphor of soldering and sacrifice against the odds for freedom and a better quality of life. It was a fantastic day for me because it meant I would be putting my efforts into the community to which I belong, helping people who are my peers and trying to make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

My portfolio here includes the CyberReach online outreach program, WAAC’s involvement in Pride, the Beats Outreach project, Community Development, peer support and assisting my fellow co-workers in workshops and sexual health testing.

I love working at the WA AIDS Council. It is a collegial work environment; enthusiastic, cheerful and passionate. I strongly believe in the mission statement and vision of WAAC – prevention of the transmission of HIV, and education and advocacy around HIV/AIDS. It has a deeply personal resonance for me as I lost my first partner to the epidemic. I don’t consider myself special in this, but I do feel a great need to try to make a difference. In doing so, I hope that I am helping to make a healthier community for us all.

Originally from the central wheatbelt I moved to Perth when I was 17 to study at UWA. After travelling in Europe, the Middle East, Central America and Asia in my twenties I decided to come back to Perth.
My background is in Education and Drug and Alcohol Counseling.

I have been working at WAAC for a bit over a year now- co-facilitating workshops and providing HIV/STI testing to people at the saunas and at the AIDS Council.

I find working at WAAC both rewarding and challenging. The complexities of human sexuality continually fascinates me and I consider it an honour to be able to work with clients on these very sensitive topics.

I started with the Western Australian AIDS Council in 1994 as a volunteer with Support Services as member of a support / palliative care team. As years progressed I also had the privilege of volunteering within the Public Speaking program and the Needle and Syringe Exchange program. From 2003 onwards I have been employed at WAAC where I am currently holding various portfolios within the Community Education Prevention Services Team, such as: Indigenous Gay Education Officer, Mensline Coordinator, Safe Sex Sluts Coordinator, Venue Outreach Officer and Workshops Co-coordinator. These roles though quite different all lend towards the self empowerment of the individual that these project cater too; addressing such issues as self worth and sexual health knowledge.