During 1996 and 1997 a whole range of new tests and experimental treatments became available for people with HIV in Australia. Some people with HIV experienced spectacular benefits from the treatments, while others did not.

For the person with HIV, understanding what is happening within their body and making choices about treatments are now very complicated. What does viral load mean? Why should they know what it is? What are combination therapies? What are the side-effects of particular treatments? How serious are they? What is resistance? Which treatment or combination of treatments is best for each individual? When should they start treatment? Do they want to have treatment?

To help HIV positive people educate themselves, HIV/AIDS organisations in Australia and overseas have put together brochures, fact sheets and newsletters outlining the tests and treatments and the results of research as soon as it is available. Some of these are on the web:

HIV treatment - (Education + Resource Centre/The Alfred, Australia)

Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO): includes full-text of AFAO treatments publications such as HIV Herald and Positive Living as well as their brochures on tests and treatments.

AIDS Council of NSW (ACON, Australia): includes a detailed section on treatments.

National AIDS Manual (NAM, UK)