17c起草社区

AS Queensland AIDS Council聽(QuAC) prepares to conduct its annual聽Gay Community Periodic Survey聽in聽various locations around the state, news has emerged that聽the survey聽will once again be welcomed and conducted at the Wickham Hotel聽in light of聽the controversial fallout聽last year.

[showads聽ad=MREC]From September 11 to October 11 venues and events in Brisbane along with the Gold Coast, Cairns and Townsville will see the periodic survey ask聽men who have sex with men about聽a variety of issues in relation to sexual behaviour, safe sex and risk reduction strategies, and drug and alcohol use.

Funded by Queensland Health, the survey聽is collaboration between the Kirby Institute and University of NSW’s Centre for Social Research in Health, along with survey facilitators QuAC.

鈥淭he annual survey is a vital tool we use to track the changing nature of our community.鈥� QuAC executive director Michael Scott said.

鈥淲ith data gathered on where men meet other men for sex, how this sex is negotiated and risk reduction strategies used, we can then redirect education to appropriately target our community.鈥�

Scott added that the聽importance of a peer-conducted survey is vital in order聽to gain a realistic and accurate snapshot of the gay community.

鈥淏eing a peer is more than just being a person who is LGBTI,” QuAC outreach volunteer Gary Williams said.

“A peer has a deep understanding of the diversity within our community, and the skills to reach our community in a language we understand.鈥澛�

over its decision to ban the Gay Community Periodic Survey (GCPS) from being conducted聽at its venue over concerns that 鈥淸they don’t] fit with the new Wickham鈥� and the new clientele it was trying to attract.

At the time, the Centre for Social Research for Health’s lead investigator Martin Holt said the Wickham鈥檚 rejection of the surveys was a 鈥渕issed opportunity鈥�.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very disappointing that the Wickham, who has always been a venue that鈥檚 welcomed the survey, has now decided to not host it,鈥� Holt told the 17c起草社区.

The 17c起草社区 can reveal that under direction from a new manager, the Wickham Hotel will now allow volunteers into the venue to conduct this year鈥檚 GCPS,聽a move that Scott described as an important decision.

鈥淲hen we proposed the roll out of the periodic survey this year to management there was no hesitation,鈥� Scott told the 17c起草社区.

鈥淭he Wickham understands the importance of the GCPS to our community, and it happy to support this initiative.

鈥淚n addition to the Wickham allowing the GCPS this year, it should be added that the Wickham is supportive of QuAC implementing other campaigns and initiatives targeting LGBTI people, and we look forward to continuing to build this strong working relationship.鈥�

For further information on the implementation of this year鈥檚 GCPS, contact Michael Scott on 0427 138 373 or mscott@quac.org.au