Authors
- John Hall1,
- Elizabeth Crock2
- Victorian AIDS Council1,
- Bolton Clarke2
2018
Excerpt
John Hall is the Partnerships Manager at the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC) and has been an advocate in the HIV sector for 30 years. After first volunteering at VAC in 1990, he went on to study nursing, then held several positions at VAC managing the Community Support program. He has served on the VAC Board, and is Secretary of the VAC Research and Ethics committee. John is passionate about utilising the capabilities of broader communities in healthcare settings and has spoken and published about this nationally and internationally.
Dr Elizabeth Crock is the HIV Clinical Nurse Consultant and HIV Team Coordinator at Bolton Clarke (formerly the Royal District Nursing Service). She has worked in their HIV team for 17 years.
Abstract
Authors: John Hall; Dr Elizabeth Crock;
This presentation explores the VAC/RDNS Partnership model, describing its development at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Australia and its adaptation to meet the changing needs of people living with HIV.
In the 1980s, HIV/AIDS was little understood; it was usually fatal, highly feared and stigmatised. VAC was established by volunteer peers to mobilise the community response to this new ‘contagion’, and to build capacity to care for those dying. VAC also advocated and worked with governments, researchers and clinical services. RDNS was a longstanding domiciliary nursing service which historically cared for marginalised members of the community. A formal partnership between VAC and RDNS became the framework that articulated the vital contribution of volunteers, working alongside professional nurses, to ensure quality care for people living and dying with HIV/AIDS.
Key elements of the partnership include empowerment through engagement of clients and affected communities, an integrated and collaborative approach to care based on valuing and respecting each organisation’s skills, and responsiveness to changing needs.
This unique, dynamic and proactive partnership illustrates a successful model of integrated services for people and their significant others facing life-limiting illness or requiring palliative care in the community. It can inform service development in other settings.
Dr Elizabeth Crock is the HIV Clinical Nurse Consultant and HIV Team Coordinator at Bolton Clarke (formerly the Royal District Nursing Service). She has worked in their HIV team for 17 years.
Abstract
Authors: John Hall; Dr Elizabeth Crock;
This presentation explores the VAC/RDNS Partnership model, describing its development at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Australia and its adaptation to meet the changing needs of people living with HIV.
In the 1980s, HIV/AIDS was little understood; it was usually fatal, highly feared and stigmatised. VAC was established by volunteer peers to mobilise the community response to this new ‘contagion’, and to build capacity to care for those dying. VAC also advocated and worked with governments, researchers and clinical services. RDNS was a longstanding domiciliary nursing service which historically cared for marginalised members of the community. A formal partnership between VAC and RDNS became the framework that articulated the vital contribution of volunteers, working alongside professional nurses, to ensure quality care for people living and dying with HIV/AIDS.
Key elements of the partnership include empowerment through engagement of clients and affected communities, an integrated and collaborative approach to care based on valuing and respecting each organisation’s skills, and responsiveness to changing needs.
This unique, dynamic and proactive partnership illustrates a successful model of integrated services for people and their significant others facing life-limiting illness or requiring palliative care in the community. It can inform service development in other settings.