ACON: Ten Years On: ACON to Host Discussion on U=U Message and HIV Stigma Challenges
Michael Barnett OAM
01-04-2026 - 02:33 PMTen Years On: ACON to Host Discussion on U=U Message and HIV Stigma Challenges
Ten years after the introduction of the Undetectable=Untransmittable (U=U) message, ACON, NSW’s leading HIV and LGBTQ+ health organisation, is convening an important discussion on the ongoing challenges in reducing HIV-related stigma and ensuring the U=U message reaches all communities.
The event, scheduled for Thursday, April 16 from 5pm to 7:30pm at the NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre, will launch ACON’s policy paper examining why the U=U message has yet to achieve a dramatic reduction in HIV-related stigma despite its scientific foundation.
According to ACON’s research, people living with HIV still face significant barriers, including the responsibility of translating scientific information to HIV-negative gay and bisexual men, clinicians’ hesitation to use “zero risk” language when discussing treatment as prevention, and the message’s limited resonance with culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Matthew Vaughan, ACON’s Director of Population Health, will facilitate the discussion featuring an impressive lineup of speakers:
- Dr Nathanael Wells, a medical anthropologist and research fellow, will bring critical insights from his work in HIV epidemiology and social determinants of health.
- Dr Rick Varma, Sexual Health and HIV Physician and Senior Staff Specialist at Sydney Sexual Health Centre, will provide clinical expertise on treatment as prevention.
- Bethany Rodgers, Strategic Policy Lawyer from the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre (NSW), will address the legal and policy dimensions of HIV-related stigma.
- Russ Gluyass, ACON Ageing Program Coordinator, peer support worker, and active community member, will share lived experience perspectives on accessing and understanding the U=U message.
This event comes as part of ACON’s broader efforts to address HIV stigma, including their recent “It’s Time to Think Positive About HIV” campaign which focuses on positive messaging and allyship rather than demonstrating stigma’s harms.
The discussion aims to identify practical strategies for strengthening the U=U message’s impact and ensuring it reaches all communities who need to hear this vital public health information.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to network over drinks at the bar following the formal discussion.