Rigour and Vigour Conference: Directions in HIV Prevention

Curtin University of Technology, Australia, will host the Rigour and Vigour Conference: Directions in HIV Prevention tomorrow to coincide with World AIDS Day on Wednesday 1 December.

The all-day conference is a joint initiative between Curtin's WA Centre for Health Promotion Research (WACHPR), the WA AIDS Council and the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations.

WACHPR researcher and lecturer Graham Brown said the conference aims to address the current response to HIV/AIDS and look at future program development.

"Two approaches are essential for a best practice response to HIV/AIDS - rigorous research and vigorous practice - and these have been the hallmarks of the Australian response," Mr Brown said.

"The conference will showcase programs, projects and approaches that have contributed to the Australian prevention effort to date and will assist us to remain rigorous and vigorous in our future response."

The conference features sixteen speakers from 10 state and national organisations and research centres, discussing a range of topics including current HIV/AIDS programs and policy direction.

Executive director of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations Don Baxter will open proceedings with a keynote address on "Jeopardising Rigour and Vigour".

He will outline issues including Australia's HIV research program, its performance against other research programs and its associated challenges.

Mr Baxter has been involved in HIV/AIDS research since the early 1980s, including a range of leadership positions in community-based organisations and appointments to a series of national and NSW government advisory and decision-making bodies.