• ACON history in the area
• Info about the area
• More info

ACON history in the area

Throughout regional and rural NSW, there is a great need for health services for GLBT people and people with HIV. Concerns about confidentiality and homophobia can discourage people from seeking help. A lack of supportive social networks can make it hard for some GLBT people to understand or even acknowledge their health needs - and of course there’s the tyranny of distance which often makes it difficult to get to whatever services are available. ACON works to bridge these gaps in the Illawarra and throughout the Southern region.

ACON’s service delivery to the Southern Region continues to improve with the delivery of face-to-face and telephone counselling, home-based care, support groups, information forums, access to vitamins, accommodation referrals and assistance for clients in crisis. Our office provides needle and syringe services in our local area.  In the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, we developed and implemented a specific campaign in early 2007 to combat a significant increase in new syphilis cases in the area.

For people living with HIV, we provide general health and wellbeing information, refer them to other health and support services and advocate on behalf of their needs.  Our office works with Local Health Networks to improve collaboration and coordination of services in the Southern Region. We provide training to mainstream health care providers on sexuality diversity issues, HIV transmission and treatment, legal issues, values and attitudes, the needs of HIV positive clients and information about ACON services. Further south where we don’t have an office, ACON works with and provides resources to GLBT groups in those areas.

Info about the area

The Illawarra region is conveniently located 1 hour drive south of Sydney and offers the best of everything - dramatic landscapes, pristine beaches, scenic drives and towns full of character. These are just the start of what the region has to offer.

The Illawarra is overlooked from the spectacular lookouts at the top of the Eastern Escarpment as you approach Wollongong, driving south from Sydney. It is this juxtaposition of mountain and beach that gives the whole south coast region its special character and nowhere is this environment better illustrated than here in the Illawarra, where the escarpment actually meets the sea.
The fabulous beaches and the more upmarket accommodation and services available from the larger population centres in the Illawarra offer a mixture of comfort and typical Australian summer pursuits to make your visit or move a memorable one.

Web: www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au
www.tourismwollongong.com

More info

Contact: ACON Illawarra

Tel: (02) 4226 1163

Email: illawarra@acon.org.au