Living with HIV
Staying healthy
People living with HIV who are on treatment can live long and healthy lives. They can live as long as people who do not have HIV.
To stay healthy and well:
- find a doctor or health care worker you trust
- go to medical appointments regularly
- take your HIV medication regularly and tell your doctor if you’re taking any other medication
- stop smoking
- limit the use of drugs and alcohol or use none at all
- include exercise in your day
- eat a healthy and balanced diet
- get plenty of sleep
- keep your brain active
- stay socially active.
Having a baby
People living with HIV can have healthy children without passing HIV to their baby.
If you are living with HIV and thinking about having a baby, you should talk to your doctor.
By taking HIV medication:
- women living with HIV can get pregnant without passing HIV to their partner
- women living with HIV can reduce the risk of passing HIV on to their baby to almost zero (<1%)
- men living with HIV can have children without passing it on to their partner or baby.
In Australia, breastfeeding is not recommended for women living with HIV. It is important to speak to your doctor about this.
Click here to read more.
Ageing
People who have HIV are living longer and healthier lives. The HIV medications used today are very effective. They support and protect the body’s immune system and help to prevent many illnesses.
However, people with HIV may develop health problems at a younger age. Monitoring your mental and physical health and having a healthy lifestyle can help avoid many physical and mental health problems.
Except for the staying healthy tips mentioned above, it is also important for older people with HIV to use support services that are available.
You may need some support in your home, for a short time or longer time or you may need residential support (nursing home). The aged care system can be quite difficult to use. A friend, or support person from a service can help you find the right support for you.
Click here to read more.
Our Clinical Concierge Program
Being told you have HIV and living with HIV can be difficult and confusing, especially if you are from a culturally and linguistically diverse background.
Our HIV Clinical Concierge Program provides support to people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, who are living with HIV. It is free and available for people who live in NSW.
We match our clients with a bilingual/bicultural Cultural Support Worker (CSW). Our CSWs understand the culture and language of their clients, what it means to have an HIV diagnosis and how the health system works in Australia. We work with our clients to improve their understanding of HIV and their treatment and help them understand the health system and the services available to them.
Our service is free and confidential.
If you are living with HIV or know someone who is living with HIV, call us for more information and support on 9515 1234 or email SLHD-DiversityHub@health.nsw.gov.au.
If you are a service provider, please use the e-referral form to refer your patient.
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