The 86 Fund

In 1986, Australia faced a very serious health, social, and economic threat: HIV spreading rapidly to and from the groups at highest risk of infection, including people who injected drugs, likely causing a widespread generalised epidemic making prevention efforts much more difficult to control.

A small area in eastern Sydney was recognised to be the national epicentre of the epidemic. There was no proven prevention or treatment for HIV at that time and people with HIV infection were generally young and often died agonising deaths. Providing sterile needles and syringes to people who inject drugs (PWIDs) and collecting used injecting equipment had already been vigorously advocated in Australia by some health workers since about 1984 but was strongly opposed and governments were very reluctant to act. Some PWIDs had started discretely distributing sterile injecting equipment.

The 86 Fund has been established to celebrate the establishment and operation of Australia’s first overt and fixed needle and syringe program (NSP) in Darlinghurst in the national HIV epicentre on 12 November 1986. This was operated independently by some staff of St Vincents Hospital in Darlinghurst and without involving the hospital by Dr Alex Wodak AM, Prof Kate Dolan, Mr Gino Vumbaca OAM and others.

The establishment of the first NSP was a partnership of healthcare workers and founding members of ADIC (forerunner to NUAA) including Ms Julie Bates AO and Mr Alan Winchester (deceased in 2008) who were major drivers in the delivery of better treatment of PWID and better access to equipment.

This act of civil disobedience not only raised awareness amongst the public, but it also put the necessary pressure on the NSW government to act before control of the epidemic was lost. The rapid establishment of NSPs nationwide helped maintain low rates of HIV among and from people who inject drugs, making Australia a world leader in harm reduction.

This early acceptance of harm reduction as a critical part of drug policy and programs also had a much greater impact by setting a course for Australia to fundamentally change how health and social services are designed and delivered for all people who use drugs.

In keeping with this history, and under the auspices of HRA, Alex Wodak, Kate Dolan, Julie Bates and Gino Vumbaca have established The 86 Fund to provide financial support for niche pieces of work and activities that will help re-establish Australia’s place as a leader in harm reduction policies and programs.

The 86 Fund will be holding a private event to commemorate the 40-year anniversary of NSPs in Australia soon – check back for photos.