Barbershop Collaboration Breaks Stigma & Boosts HIV Prevention in Australia
In an effort to educate members of the Indigenous community about HIV and sexual health, Cairns Sexual Health Service, a clinic in northern Australia, has partnered with Fresh Start Academy, a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching the barbering trade to young men. This innovative collaboration aims to break the stigma surrounding HIV while providing a safe environment for conversations about sexual health.
The Indigenous community in Cairns has historically faced a disproportionate impact from HIV, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males being diagnosed at a rate nearly three times higher than their non-Indigenous peers. However, there exists a significant stigma around HIV, as well as a historical mistrust of healthcare professionals within the community. This makes it challenging to educate and test individuals for HIV prevention.
Dr. Darren Russell, Program Director at the Cairns Sexual Health Service, highlighted this issue, stating, If we just sit back and wait for the young men to come, they don’t arrive. So we can’t teach them about sexual health and HIV prevention, and we can’t test them. This dilemma led the team to consider alternative solutions that would effectively reach the Indigenous community.
The breakthrough solution came in the form of collaborating with Fresh Start Academy. Recognizing that a barbershop could provide a comfortable setting for open conversations, the Cairns clinic partnered with the organization to involve young local barbers in the HIV prevention effort. Rob Hodge, the founder of Fresh Start Academy, expressed his realization, stating, It was a lightbulb moment. We realized this could go a long way in normalizing the HIV conversation and demonstrating how straightforward the testing process is.
To structure the HIV education curriculum, Rob reached out to Josh Anderson, the owner of the Cartel Collective barbershop in Cairns. Under the program, young men receive free haircuts and engage in conversations about sexual health while in the barber’s chair. This informal setting encourages dialogue, with barbers facilitating discussions about sexual health. Healthcare workers are present nearby to provide accurate information, answer questions, and offer resource referrals as needed.
The success of this collaboration is largely due to the joint efforts of multiple partners. Gilead, a pharmaceutical company committed to advancing health equity and reducing health disparities, provided a grant to support this innovative partnership. Damien Fagan, Associate Director, Medical Affairs, HIV, Australia, commented, When Dr. Russell contacted me and described the work, we both knew that Gilead was the right organization to support the initiative. The program’s success shows that working together with communities disproportionately impacted by HIV is a crucial step to helping end the epidemic.
This unique approach to HIV prevention has proven effective in reaching the Indigenous community in Cairns. By integrating sexual health education into barbershops, trusted community spaces, the project has been able to break down barriers and address the stigma surrounding HIV. The conversations that take place during haircuts not only educate individuals but also contribute to normalizing discussions around sexual health.
Through this collaboration, Cairns Sexual Health Service, Fresh Start Academy, and Gilead have not only contributed to HIV prevention efforts but have also fostered trust and engagement within the Indigenous community. By meeting people where they are and providing vital healthcare resources in a comfortable and accessible environment, this groundbreaking initiative aims to make a lasting impact on HIV prevention in the region.
As conversations continue to flow in barbershops, the hope is that more individuals will be educated about sexual health, leading to increased testing, awareness, and a reduction in HIV transmission rates within the Indigenous community. This collaborative approach serves as a powerful reminder that addressing sensitive health topics requires innovative strategies and partnerships that prioritize community trust and inclusivity.
