MHAHS - Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service

Below are some useful guidelines for co-workers when preparing cultural presentations or reports for the co-worker staff meetings, as well as when writing a co-worker viewpoint for the newsletter MHAHS News:

Guidelines for preparing a “Cultural Presentation” for the co-worker staff meetings

The time allocated for cultural presentations is 30 minutes. Written information presented during cultural presentations may be on PowerPoint and as bullet points. Read More

Guidelines for the “Co-worker Report” at the co-worker staff meetings

The purpose of the “Co-worker Report” is to provide an opportunity for co-workers to share their experience of recent work they have undertaken. It is expected that you prepare some notes, speak from the front of the room (i.e. not from your seat), and speak for 5-10 minutes. Read More

Guidelines for MHAHS News (Editorial)

This guideline is for co-workers working as part of our editorial team on the quarterly newsletter MHAHS News. Read More

Cultural Presentation Guidelines

The alloted time for MHAHS cultural presentations is 30 minutes. The written information presented during cultural presentations may be on PowerPoint and as bullet points.

Some suggested content includes:

Background information about the country and culture, for example:

• History and geography
• Demographics and population information
• Language(s) spoken
• Traditions, food, art, literature
• Religion, beliefs, values
• Economy and tourism
• Consider: How has culture influenced your own personal identity?

Information about HIV & Hep C in the country you are speaking about:

• When HIV/AIDS first appeared (First case of HIV/AIDS)
• Current HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C rates and which populations are most affected (eg homosexual men, heterosexuals, women, injecting drug users, sex workers etc.
• Response to HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C
• Government policies and strategies
• Public education and awareness
• Stigma and discrimination (attitudes to positive people, drug use, sexuality)
• Prevention strategies
• Access to HIV treatments
• Organisations and services for HIV positive people and people living with hepatitis C
• Consider: Does culture influence the response to HIV/AIDS and hep C?
• Some websites that might be useful to find information for your presentation:
• Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS): www.unaids.org
• World Health Organisation: www.who/int/en
• Google search (eg Google “HIV in Argentina”): www.google.com
• Government or health department websites of the country you are researching

We estimate preparation of this presentation would take around 5 hours. If you think it would take longer for you, please contact the Co-worker Liaison Officer.

Example of a cultural presentation

Co-worker Report Guidelines

The purpose of the “Co-worker Report” is to provide an opportunity for co-workers to share their experience of recent work they have undertaken.

It is expected that you prepare some notes, speak from the front of the room (i.e. not from your seat), and speak for 5-10 minutes

The key things you should cover are:

• What projects or tasks you were involved in
• E.g. What was the project or event?
• What was your role?
• When/dates of the task or project
• Challenges you came across or experienced
• What you have learnt or improved as a result of the task
• Enjoyment, satisfaction or frustration experienced

MHAHS News Editorial Guidelines

Aim and purpose

The MHAHS News is the internal co-workers’ newsletter of the Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service (MHAHS).

It aims to increase communication between the MHAHS and co-workers, and provide them with up-to-date information regarding HIV and viral hepatitis.

Published quarterly, in autumn (March), winter (June), spring (September) and summer (December), the newsletter reports the main highlights of MHAHS activities for the previous three months as well as recent, relevant HIV and viral hepatitis issues.

Responsibilities: editorial committee

The members of the editorial committee include the Co-worker Liaison Officer, the Research and Publications Officer and three MHAHS co-workers.

The Co-worker Liaison Officer is responsible for coordinating the overall production and dissemination of the newsletter.

The Publications Officer is responsible for sourcing and/or editing the content for the following sections:

• Around the world
• Co-worker’s viewpoint
• Feature.

The co-worker members of the committee are responsible for the following sections:

• Around the world - selecting content
• Co-worker’s viewpoint - conducting and writing-up interview
• Feature - selecting content.

Process

Co-worker expressions of interest for the editorial committee are voluntary and are invited through:

• co-worker staff meetings
• email
• MHAHS News.

Each editorial committee produces two sequential issues of the MHAHS News and convenes for a period of six months.

Meetings of the committee are arranged by the Co-worker Liaison Officer and chaired by the Publications Officer.

The first meeting of each committee is held face-to-face to discuss the role and function of the committee, and to allocate tasks to the members. Subsequent communication occurs electronically or via telephone. Further face-to-face meetings are convened as needed.

Following publication of two sequential issues of the MHAHS News, all members of the committee participate in an informal review of the process. A brief report/feedback may be given at a subsequent co-worker staff meeting.

Content

• Front page
• Includes editor’s notes, messages as well as recent news items. The Co-worker Liaison Officer is responsible for drafting this section.
• Word limit: 250

• Contents box
• Included on the front page, this details the newsletter content. The Co-worker Liaison Officer is responsible for this section.
• Word limit: 30

• Project news
• This section provides brief updates on current MHAHS projects and activities including main highlights and outcomes. The Co-worker Liaison Officer seeks contributions from relevant MHAHS staff which are edited by the Publications Officer.
• Word limit: 650

• Co-worker’s viewpoint
• This features one co-worker’s perspective of their work with the MHAHS. It is based on an interview with the co-worker, usually conducted by a co-worker who is a member of the editorial committee, and if this is not possible, by the Publications Officer.

The interview seeks to answer the following questions about the co-worker’s experience and may be reported in a question/answer format:

• Where do you come from/family story?
• What you do/did outside the MHAHS?
• What made you join the MHAHS/Why you want to work in this area?
• (Your experience of the initial training)
• What activities/tasks have you been involved in at the MHAHS
• What activities/tasks have you been involved in at the MHAHS
• Client work if you had any (what was easy/what was hard)
• What do you get from supervision (individual and group)
• What do you see are your challenges/rewards of being a co-worker
• What would you tell new co-workers about the work and the MHAHS?
• Other comments

The co-worker Liaison Officer selects the co-worker to be interviewed with the aim of representing co-worker diversity. The interview may occur face-to-face or on the telephone. The Publications Officer edits the interview draft and checks with the interviewed co-worker that it is acceptable to them. A photo, provided by the co-worker, accompanies this item.

Word limit: 600

• Feature
• This includes current or emerging HIV or viral hepatitis issues and often features human interest or research articles. The Publications Officer sources the article and edits it following selection by the editorial committee.
• Word limit: 1000

• Around the world
• Includes brief, international items, covering both viral hepatitis and HIV-related issues and initiatives eg. community development projects, advocacy, research and human interest stories. Items should be geographically diverse and always include at least one with wide global significance as well as one about hepatitis. Items are sourced by the Publications Officer and selected by the editorial committee.
• Word limit: 1000

• What’s new on the MHAHS website?
• Includes an update of new information and resources posted on the website. The update is provided by the Education and Media Officer and edited by the Publications Officer.
• Word limit: 250

• Did you know?
• An occasional item that provides current facts (including the source) about HIV and viral hepatitis. The Publications Officer is responsible for sourcing these.
• Word limit: 100

• Images
• Pictures of recent MHAHS events and activities, and other relevant images are included in the related section of the newsletter. Images are provided by MHAHS staff and/or sourced by the Co-worker Liaison Officer.

Format

The MHAHS News consists of eight x A4 pages, in pdf format. The Co-worker Liaison Officer is responsible for formatting the content.

Dissemination

The Co-worker Liaison Officer is responsible for coordinating uploading the onto MHAHS website and electronic dissemination of the newsletter and uploading to the MHAHS website. Email alerts are sent to co-workers. Hard copies are provided on request only.

Evaluation

An evaluation of MHAHS News will be conducted regularly.