ACON

Manager
Client Services Officers
Community Health Promotion Officer
Counsellor
AOD/Mental Health Counsellor
Aboriginal NSP Outreach Project Worker
Administration, Volunteer and NSP Coordinator
Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP) Worker
Sex Worker Integrated Care Coordinator (SWICC)

ACON is Australia’s largest community-based gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) health and HIV/AIDS organisation.

The ACON Northern Region Office services the Hunter New England area, and provides outreach to the Central Coast.

We are open Monday - Friday
9am - 5pm

Services at the ACON Northern Region Office:

::: Client Services:
In Newcastle our Care and Support service provides intake assessment and referral to individual support services, care coordination, advocacy for GLBT people and everyone living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Advocacy work includes assistance and advice with homophobia and discrimination. Workshops on GLBT and HIV/AIDS awareness are provided to mainstream services.

::: Community Health Promotion:
The Community Health Promotion Officer works with GLBT people, and supports all of ACON’s community members, through the provision of Health education, information and workshops, support and referrals, distribution of resources, community development, building community capacity, peer facilitator training, mainstream service provider training and organising community activities, events & projects

::: Counselling:
Our experienced counsellor offers one-to-one counselling for all members of our communities, especially people with, or affected by HIV. We also offer a referral service for people requiring specialist care and telephone counselling is available for clients who cannot attend in person, and for rural and regional people living outside Newcastle.

::: AOD/Mental Health Project:
Counselling for people with substance use issues their family and friends and also for GLBT people with co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions. The position also provides education about GLBT issues to mainstream alcohol and drug and mental health services.

::: NSW Users & Aids Association (NUAA):
ACON Hunter houses a NUAA worker who works with people who use drugs. NUAA provides peer education and support, information about drugs and drug user issues, and referral to local services.

::: Aboriginal NSP Outreach Project:
Our outreach project increases Aboriginal access to new injecting equipment and other relevant Alcohol and Other Drug (AoD) services in the Newcastle & Lower Hunter areas of Hunter New England Area Health Service. The position also works to increased Aboriginal cultural sensitivity in NSP and AoD services as well as providing support and referrals about drug related issues for Aboriginal people who use drugs

::: Needle and Syringe Program
Our Needle + Syringe Programs (NSP) provide a range of services for people who use drugs. Easy access to injecting equipment and safe disposal. Access to information, health promotion services and referral to external services Blood Borne Virus service which includes information on HIV and hepatitis C, treatments, alternative therapies and prevention strategies. Access to condoms

::: Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP):
SWOP promotes the health, safety and well being of sex industry workers. SWOP offers health and welfare information and support to sex industry workers and referrals to sexual health clinics. Low cost condoms and lubricant are available for sale.

::: Sex Worker Integrated Care Coordinator (SWICC):
SWICC provides case management using a shared care model to street based sex workers from Islington and surrounding areas. Working with multiple agencies the shared care team aims to provide a wholistic service to address issues and concerns which impact on the client's health and wellbeing.

Other services provided include:
Advocacy and Referral
Vitamin Service
Free Sexual Health Clinic
Distribution of safe sex packs
Safe space / Chill out space
Branch Newsletter and Gay and Lesbian press
Public access computers with internet access
GLBT information and literature including HIV & sexual health
Venue Hire
Lube & Bulk condom sales