Vision & HistoryOur Vision: A Queensland where all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people achieve the best possible health and well-being and participate fully in the life of communities, free from stigma and discrimination. Our Mission: To enable lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to increase control over and improve their health, as a resource for social, economic and personal development and an important dimension of quality of life. Our History: In November 1984, the Honourable Brian Austin M.P., the then Queensland Health Minister, announced the death of 4 babies following transfusions of HIV-infected blood. The public hysteria which followed prompted about thirty individuals from the gay community to call a meeting in a room of the Alliance Hotel, Brisbane. From this meeting, and others, the Queensland AIDS Council Incorporated (QuAC), was established to coincide with the first AIDS Awareness week in April, 1985. In late 1986 - before government funding became available - QuAC sought support from all church groups in Brisbane for this growing community need. The Sisters of Mercy was the only one to offer assistance. They gave QuAC a little house behind the Mater Hospital in South Brisbane and continue to provide support by accommodating People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The Sisters own the building now known as the Allen Street Centre - a drop-in centre for PLWHA which is operated by Queensland Positive People (QPP). In July 1988 QuAC was incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 and has financial members state-wide. QuAC's members elect a Board of Directors each year which is responsible for the control and operations of QuAC. The Board provides advice to members and clients through sub-committees which undertake some of the more detailed work required. The five Regional Advisory Committees (Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Townsville) are particularly important in ensuring QuAC's activities include regional Queensland. QPP celebrated its tenth anniversary as Queensland's self-help support and advocacy group for PLWHA in March 1999. QPP has its own structure and decision-making processes and operates with significant autonomy through a state-wide Secretariat and committees in the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Brisbane. Movie [QuickTime, broadband] > Recent History: Media Release: Membership Supports New LGBT Health Vision Wider health issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Queenslanders are set to be the new direction for the Queensland AIDS Council. At our Annual General Meeting in October of this year, the members gave in principle support to a new vision statement and set of objects for the organisation. Our proposed new vision is to enable lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to increase control over, and to improve their health, as a resource for social, economic and personal development and an important dimension of quality of life. Support from the membership now allows the Board to move forward with plans to establish a Healthy LGBT Communities Fund, open a Resource Centre in Brisbane and make changes to the structure of the Board. Details on all of these projects and more are provided in the ‘Regeneration’ newssheet. As part of the expanded vision for QuAC, we are looking for a new name. A statewide competition has been launched to find a name that better fits out broadened role and diverse communities. Entries must be in by the 9th December and if your entry is selected you’ll win an iPod Nano. An updated constitution, with a new mission statement, objects, Board structure and name will go to an Extraordinary General Meeting on 28th March 2006. If you wish to vote at the EGM, but are not a financial member, please download a membership form from www.quac.org.au or phone 1800 177 434 for a copy. The Board welcomes your views and suggestions on our new vision. You can add a comment to the ‘Feedback’ section of the QuAC website discussion board or send your thoughts to info@quac.org.au For further comment or quotes, please contact: Paul R. Martin |