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NZAF launches Internet safe-sex service

Tue 2 May 2006 In: New Zealand Daily News

The New Zealand AIDS Foundation is launching a new Internet-based service to more effectively connect with men who use the web to hook up for sex. Damien Moore, who previously worked on the NZAF's Positive Men's Health Project, is taking on the new role with the title of ‘Positive Community Support Worker'. In addition to the Internet-based service, Moore's role will include social work, expanding the NZAF's presence at sex-on-site venues, encouraging greater HIV testing, and involvement in special research projects like ‘HIV Futures' – an on-going study of the experiences of New Zealanders that live with HIV and AIDS. "We need a social worker with large community involvement, and Damien is well known in the community," says Eamonn Smythe, NZAF National Positive Health Manager. Moore will develop and maintain an Internet presence, creating an on-line 'positive profile' to challenge unsafe sex behaviours and offer advice on a range of positive health issues, from travel and medication adherence to WINZ and immigration applications. "The growth in the numbers of men-seeking-men hooking up via the Internet is huge," says Smythe, "and it's changing the way we do our jobs." Currently, there is a long waiting list for those wishing to use the counselling services of Auckland's Burnett Centre, and diversifying to include Internet-based services will enable more people to access advice and support on issues of safe-sex and HIV/AIDS.    

Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff

First published: Tuesday, 2nd May 2006 - 12:00pm

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