Wellbeing Times August 2011

HIV Wellness Program - Email: [email protected]

A monthly newsletter from the HIV Wellness Program

Hey and hello!

It’s August already and it’s still feeling like winter. Not much sun around, but plenty of sunshine in our lives.

The great news is that the Wellbeing Café is now up and running. Following the official launch by the Minister a couple of weeks ago, we now have the café set up to deliver social gatherings 4 days a week. You are welcome to come along and check the café out; hopefully you’ll like the new facilities. And the Larder is now open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12 to 2, with access from the café.

With the new premises, and the revitalized services, come new opportunities for you to play a role. We have always relied on a strong and willing band of volunteers to support us in the delivery of our services. Volunteer roles within the HIV Wellness Program are being redefined, and at a recent volunteer meeting it was explained to a small but enthusiastic group how the volunteer program would work in the future.

So, if you’d like to lend a hand, please talk to Sharny, Laurie or myself about what’s available and how to go about getting involved. We look forward to your support and working together in the future.

Another reminder that our full range of Complementary Therapies is now available and being delivered from 414 Elizabeth Street. You are more than welcome.

And for those of you with hair that needs to be kept in place, Elizabeth, our much loved hair-dressing volunteer, will be back in the Wellness Centre on Wednesday 31 August at 11am. It will be wonderful to welcome her back after our move.

Finally, another easy-to-make and reasonably-priced recipe awaits you on page 8, good fuel for chilly days and nights. Hopefully soon we’ll get a hint of spring in the air. Can’t wait!

Till then, take good care of each other.

Andrew Buchanan Manager, Positive Services and HIV Health Promotion

AUGUST 2011

NEWS IN BRIEF: Health Alert! (Page 5)Health authorities in the United States have issued a warning for people taking Simvastatin, also sold under the names of Lipex, Ransim, Simvar, Zimstat and Zocor.

HIV Wellness Program Client Support (Page 5)The Treatments and Client Support Officer is available to provide information around new developments in services and treatments.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIESGenesis In Spring (Page 3)We have now commenced intake for our next Genesis workshop to be held in September.

Nexus (Page 3)Nexus is a monthly discussion group designed to offer newly diagnosed HIV+ gay men a chance to talk about a wide range of issues with their peers.

WORKSHOPS Women’s Wellness, Education and Support Day (Page 4)The next support day will be held on Saturday 13 August 2011.

AUGUST RECIPE Moroccan Lentil Soup (Page 8)Warm yourself up with this delicious and simple recipe.

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NEWSSAVE A FORESTDid you know you can read the Wellbeing Times on-line. Just go to www.acon.org.au/hiv/plc/newsletter.

LIFE COACHINGLife coaching is a practice with the aim of assisting an individual to determine and achieve their personal life goals.

Life coaches use a number of different approaches to help one set and achieve realistic goals. Positions are available.

Contact: Sharny Chalmers at [email protected] to have a discussion and arrange an intake.

SOCIAL ACTIVITESMONDAY AND WEDNESDAY LUNCHEON CLUB & FRIDAY SOCIAL LUNCH

The Monday and Wednesday Luncheon Club service, and the Friday Social Lunch are run from 10.30 until 2pm, and are open to all people with HIV and their carers.

A free lunch is served from 12.30pm offering a wide variety of nutritionally balanced food. The service also provides free health promotion workshops and referrals to other services as well as plenty of volunteering opportunities.

This is also a good time to learn about events that may be of benefit to you. All clients of the HIV Wellness Program are encouraged to come and share a meal and each other’s company.

TUESDAY BREAKFAST

Every Tuesday morning, from 10am to 12pm, a breakfast/brunch is served in the dining room at the Wellbeing Café.

THE LARDER

The Larder is a free grocery item service for HIV + people who are on Centrelink benefits (proof of status and a pension card are required in order to participate in this service). The Larder provides grocery items, and fresh fruit and vegetables on a fortnightly or monthly basis.

When: Monday & Wednesday, 12pm to 2pm

WE HAVE MOVED!The Positive Living Centre and

Luncheon Club and the staff and volunteers of the Positive Services and Health Promotion Unit have

relocated to:

414Elizabeth StSurry Hills

2010

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HIV MENS HEALTH PROMOTIONHEALTHY LIFE PLUS

Congratulations to the participants of the Autumn 2011 Healthy Life Plus crew who have just finished their 3 month journey starting on life changing directions in their health, diet and exercise.

During the last month we had sessions on yoga, motivation and setting goals, nutrition and understanding food labeling.

One of the purposes of Healthy Life Plus is to offer a safe environment where we can support each other in staying on track for your fitness goals.

Our personal trainer Alan Peacock helped to create personalised work out routines for the participants and discussed progress and advancing work-outs to compliment the increased strength and agility each person gained.

In association with Albion Street Centre the participants were able to monitor body mass index, diet and individual nutritional needs.

Gold’s Gym in Surry Hills supported all the participants with a great venue to work, exercise and dance.

Some of the participants were able to meet their weight loss goals and were delighted to see an increase in lean muscle mass.

So what are you waiting for? You can look and feel great for summer by getting the ground work done during spring! Book for an intake with the HIV Health Promotion Team for the Spring 2011 Healthy Life Plus by calling(02) 9206 2101/2102.

Full program info can be found online:http://www.acon.org.au/hiv/groups-and-workshops/Healthy-Life-Plus

Spaces are limited and will fill up fast!

Recently diagnosed HIV

positive?

GENESIS may help you

NEXUSAre you newly diagnosed HIV+?

Do you need to talk?

Nexus is a monthly discussion group designed to offer newly diagnosed HIV+ gay men a chance to talk about a wide range of issues with their peers.

Nexus provides a confidential, supportive and social environment that can help newly diagnosed men by giving them a chance to talk with others who are dealing with many of the same issues.

When: Monday 22 August 2011, 7pm to 9pmWhere: ACON, 414 Elizabeth St, Surry HillsContact: HIV Men’s Health Promotion Team

Call: (02) 9206 2101 or Email: [email protected]

GENESIS IN SPRINGWe have now commenced intake for our next Genesis workshop to be held in September.

Genesis aims to help newly diagnosed HIV positive gay men make sense of the range of issues confronting them. Genesis is peer-facilitated and takes place in a totally safe, confidential and supportive environment at ACON 414 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills. The workshop runs for a few hours on a Friday night then on both Saturday and Sunday.

If you feel that you would benefit from attending the two and a half day workshop, or if you have a friend or colleague that your feel would benefit, now is the time to contact the Men’s Health Promotion Team to arrange an intake interview. Places fill fast for this popular workshop so contact us ASAP to register your interest.

Contact: HIV Men’s Health Promotion Team Call: (02) 9206 2101/ (02) 9206 2102 or Email: [email protected]

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WOMEN AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY HIV PROJECTHere we are in the last month of winter for 2011, and I for one, am already looking forward to the warmer weather making its debut soon!

In the month of August I will be making phone calls to all our clients to re connect and ensure that you are happy to continue as clients of the project, make sure that we have all the correct contact details for you, and ask for your feedback around what things you feel are important to you as the client for the project officers to take into consideration to work on delivering.

All feedback is welcome and feel free at anytime to contact me if you would like to talk more about any ideas that you may have.

WORKSHOPSOur next Women Wellness, Education and Support Day will be held on 13th August 2011. This day will be held at Erskineville again after the last group was such a success there. This day is shaping up to look like a good one, full of information, shared stories and the warm support of other women, along with some guest speakers. Lunch will be provided and if you have children and would like to attend, please let us know as we can arrange to have child care on site for your little ones with some fun activities for them to do. To find out more call or email Jodie on 02 92062104 or [email protected]

Ok everyone, enjoy the last few weeks of the colder days, keep warm, and remember to look after yourselves by eating well, getting some exercise and making sure you are getting enough sleep.

Take care

Contact: To find out more call or email Jodie Nas Jones (02) 96998756 [email protected]. [email protected]

THERAPIESREIKI

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive.

REMEDIAL/SWEDISH MASSAGE

Remedial massage is a therapeutic deep tissue massage that can treat specific health issues, musculoskeletal problems and injuries. It provides a wonderful relaxation if you are stressed and soothes sore, tired muscles. Massage therapy is based on three principles. Firstly that the body is affected by its parts, secondly shortened muscle tissues do not work, and thirdly that soft tissues of the body respond to touch.

LIFE COACHING

The aim of life coaching is to help individuals to determine and achieve personal goals. Life coaches use multiple methods that will help you with the process of setting and reaching goals. The treatment usually runs for 10/12 weeks for one hour per week.

BOWEN TECHNIQUE

Bowen Technique is a gentle form of body work in which very subtle moves performed over the muscles and connective tissue send messages deep into the body, retrieving cellular memory of a preferred, relaxed, balanced way of wellbeing. Bowen can be useful for back pain, nerve pain, headache, digestive and bowel problems, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, knee, ankle, foot problems, sporting and accident injuries, respiratory problems and hay fever or.. just for relaxation!

ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture literally means ‘needle piercing’, the practice of inserting very fine needles into the skin to stimulate specific anatomic points in the body (called acupoints or acupuncture points) for therapeutic purposes. Along with the usual method of puncturing the skin with the fine needles, the practitioners of acupuncture also use heat, pressure, friction, suction, or impulses of electromagnetic energy to stimulate the points. The acupoints (acupuncture points) are stimulated to balance the movement of energy (qi) in the body to restore health.

VITAMIN SERVICE

ACON stocks a great range of multi-vitamins and supplements that can be purchased directly at ACON. We stock everything from a general multivitamin range to digestive enzymes and food supplement powders. with our new naturopath on board it’s the perfect opportunity to discuss your vitamin needs with a qualified practitioner. We can advise you on what items will target specific symptoms you may be experiencing.

LOMI LOMI MASSAGE

Lomi Lomi means “to massage”, “to knead” or “to weave”. Weaving aloha, weaving light, and weaving spirit, weaving consciousness into the unconscious. The massage practice integrates physical and energetic healing techniques with flowing forearm movements, breath, presence, aloha and sacred space.

EDEN COMMUNITY GARDEN

Eden Community Garden is a community garden located behind the Uniting Church in Raglan Street Waterloo. The garden is a place to become refreshed and feel at peace. All are welcome. If you would like to know more about the garden please contact Sharny Chalmers on 9699 8756.



TREATMENTSHEALTH ALERT FOR PEOPLE TAKING THE CHOLESTEROL LOWERING MEDICATION SIMVASTATINHealth authorities in the United States have issued a warning for people taking Simvastatin, also sold under the names of Lipex, Ransim, Simvar, Zimstat and Zocor.

Simvastatin belongs to a class of drugs called ‘statins’ that are used to help lower cholesterol, a health problem experienced by many people with HIV. Cholesterol is a type of fat found naturally in the body that can cause heart problems if your levels are too high.

The warning relates to an increased risk of fatigue, muscle stiffness or damage, especially of the legs, aches and pains, and sometimes passing dark coloured urine or kidney damage. If you are taking medication used to lower cholesterol and you think you may be experiencing these side effects you should talk to your clinician as soon as possible.

They may recommend a change in your cholesterol medication or possibly even a change in your HIV treatments. If you don’t know your cholesterol levels you can ask your clinician for a blood test that will tell you if you need to take any health measures such as increasing exercise or modifying your diet.

If you would like more information about this matter or maintaining healthy cholesterol levels please speak with your HIV Doctor, HIV Dietitian or the ACON Treatments and Client Support Officer.

Zocor (simvastatin): Label Change - New Restrictions, Contraindications, and Dose Limitations

Simvastatin sold under the brand-name Zocor, as a single-ingredient generic product, and sold in combination with ezetimibe as Vytorin and in combination with niacin as Simcor

www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm258384.htm

HIV WELLNESS PROGRAM CALENDAR

REGULAR PROGRAMSCONDOM PACKING GROUPShane and David run a table dedicated to making “safe packs” that are distributed throughout Sydney. Join the group to help us continue this important work at the Wellbeing Café.

EDEN GARDEN GROUPKeith and his band of volunteers meet every Thursday morning. Come and make some new friends, learn some gardening skills and hopefully get some sun (remember your Vitamin D levels). Eden Garden is located in the grounds of the Uniting Church, 56A Raglan Street, Waterloo.

IN-REACH SERVICESBGFA staff member from the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation is available weekly at the Monday Luncheon Club in the Wellbeing Café to answer any questions or issues around the services they offer their clients. This includes practical support, referrals as well as financial counseling and advice. Please ask staff for the dates they are available, alternatively contact BGF direct.

HALCAn HIV/AIDS Legal Centre (HALC) staff members attends the Tuesday Breakfast every 2nd Tuesday from 10am -12pm to answer your legal questions.

This is conducted in a confidential space. Please check the calendar to see which dates they are in attendance. Clients are seen at a first come first served basis so please see reception to have your name put on the list.

HIV WELLNESS PROGRAM CLIENT SUPPORTThe Treatments and Client Support Officer is available on Wednesdays between 12pm – 2pm to provide information around new developments in services and treatments, make appointments with you and assist with referrals.

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AUGUST 2011 – HIV Wellness Program Calendar

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat/Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6/7

8 9 10 11 12 13/14

15 16 17 18 19 20/21

22 23 24 25 26 27/28

29 30 31

Wednesday Luncheon Club10.30am – 2pm

The Larder 12pm - 2pmTree of Hope, Client Support

12pm - 2pm Volunteer Meeting 2pm – 3pm Acupuncture Angie 3pm - 5pm

Yoga 6pm - 7pm



12pm - 2pm Acupuncture Angie 3pm - 5pm

Yoga 6pm - 7pm



12pm - 2pmVolunteer Meeting 2pm – 3pm Acupuncture Angie 3pm - 5pm

Yoga 6pm - 7pm



12pm - 2pmAcupuncture Angie 3pm - 5pm

Yoga 6pm - 7pm


Haircuts by Elizabeth from 11amThe Larder 12pm - 2pm

Tree of Hope, Client Support12pm - 2pm

Volunteer Meeting 2pm – 3pm Acupuncture Angie 3pm - 5pm

Yoga 6pm - 7pm

Monday Luncheon Club 10.30am - 2pm

The Larder 12pm - 2pmBGF 12pm - 2pm

Remedial Fiona 1pm - 4pm Alan’s Exercise Class 5pm - 6pm

Monday Luncheon Club10.30am - 2pm

POS Central WorkshopStress Management 11am - 12pm

Facilitated by Stella and AngelaThe Larder 12pm - 2pm

BGF 12pm - 2pmRemedial Fiona 1pm - 4pm

Alan’s Exercise Class 5pm - 6pm







Nexus 7pm - 9pm




Tuesday Breakfast 10am - 12pmHALC 10am - 12pm

Bowen Ian 1pm - 5pm


Bowen Ian 1pm - 5pm

Tuesday Breakfast 10am - 12pmBowen Ian 1pm - 5pm


Bowen Ian 1pm - 5pm


Bowen Ian 1pm - 5pm

AUGUST 2011 – HIV Wellness Program Calendar

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat/Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6/7

8 9 10 11 12 13/14

15 16 17 18 19 20/21

22 23 24 25 26 27/28

29 30 31

Friday Social Lunch 10.30am - 2pm




(Sat) Women’s Wellness Education

and Support Day11.30am - 3.30pm

Remedial Kane 10am - 3pmLomi Lomi Marc 6pm - 7pm Eden Garden Working Day

Behind the Uniting Church at 56 Raglan St Waterloo

9.30am



9.30am



9.30am



9.30am

NEWS ONLINE:

Did you know you can read the Wellbeing Times on-line.

Just go to http://www.acon.org.au/hiv/plc/newsletter


Shine a Light is a pilot support program that will deliver improved support and educational resources to the gay community. Funded by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) and supported by ACON, Cancer Council NSW, Cancer Council Victoria, Victorian Aids Council, La Trobe University, Monash University, the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand and Male Care USA.

Shine a Light is now wanting to register men from the gay community – both men diagnosed with prostate cancer, survivors of prostate cancer and their partners – to attend three free half day workshops in Sydney to help identify their specific prostate cancer support needs. The Sydney workshops will take place on the 16th, 23rd and 30th August 2011 from 10:00am – 1:30pm at ACON, 414 Elizabeth Street Surry Hills.

The three workshops are a package and men need to attend all three sessions and registration is essential. For more information or to register for these workshops please contact Greg Millan, Men’s Health Consultant on [email protected] or 0417 772 390.

For more information about prostate cancer, speak with your doctor or free call 1800 22 00 99.

Shine a LightBetter Prostate Cancer Support for the Gay Community

Better Prostate Cancer Support for the Gay Community

MOROCCAN LENTIL SOUPINGREDIENTS

• 2 cups red lentils• 2 tablespoons olive oil• 2 spanish onions, finely diced• 4 cloves garlic, crushed• 2 teaspoons ground coriander• 2 teaspoons ground cumin• 2 large carrots, grated• 2 tomatoes, finely diced• 2 potatoes, finely diced• 8 cups vegetable stock• 4 tablespoons lemon juice• freshly ground black pepper• salt to taste• 6 handfuls copped coriander

METHOD1. Rinse lentils and set aside2. Add oil to a large saucepan and heat on

moderate to low.3. Add onions, garlic and spices, and cook

stirring till onion is translucent (clear).4. Add carrot, tomato, potato, lentils and

stock.5. Bring to the boil, then simmer until veges

are soft and lentils are cooked.6. Add the lemon juice, check the seasoning.7. Serve with a sprinkling of coriander

on top, and a chunk of crusty bread alongside.

8. Makes heaps. Enjoy!

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Documents

Wellbeing Times August 2011