2013 - 2023

The mission of the Institute is to:

Honour the leadership of the past;

Value the leadership here today; and,

Inspire leadership for our future.

In recognition of this 10 year milestone and in celebration of all PLDI graduates over these 10 years, ​some of the program alumni have generously shared their PLDI journeys. Listen to their stories in the ​following videos.

PLDI in Australia and New Zealand was initiated and driven by Brent Allan and Mark Fisher, ​under the auspices of NAPWHA, with the support of Living Positive Victoria, Positive life NSW ​and Body Positive NZ. Learn more about the founders:

Brent Allan

“ I had only recently taken on the role as CEO at Living Positive ​in Victoria in 2012, when NAPWHA published the results of a ​stigma audit to better understand the pervasiveness of HIV ​stigma. One of the recommendations from this report was that ​PLHIV develop “a set of  skills and characteristics that offer ​resilience in the face of setbacks in life” ( NAPWHA, 2011). I saw ​this as an achievable endeavour and began researching various ​resilience building workshops, training programs and whatnot. ​One of the programs I located had been running out of Canada ​called the Positive Leadership Development Institute (PLDI) ​which had all the hallmarks of building life enhancing skills to ​improve well-being. And  although the PLDI program was very ​much focused on developing community leaders among people ​living with HIV, it was clear that the outcomes affected levels of ​knowledge regarding PLHIV identity and history, developing ​skills regarding communication and building positive attitudes ​towards a PLHIV identity and community. At the AIDS 2012 ​conference in July, I met with the Director of the Ontario AIDS ​Network who were the originators of the project and it was clear ​that this opportunity was something that could address the first ​recommendation from the NAPWHA stigma audit being “an ​initiative which aims to build the resilience among people living ​with HIV”.  As a priority union my return from Washington and ​the AIDS 2012 conference I began the process of canvassing ​support from partner agencies to send two of the country’s most ​talented PLHIV trainers from Australia, Vic Perri and Brent ​Clifton, to take the course in Canada.”

Mark Fisher

“I was fortunate to witness the benefits of PLDI while I was living ​in Toronto. On moving to New Zealand in 2014 and taking on the ​ED role at Body Positive I was very excited to hear that Australia ​was adopting PLDI. At the time, New Zealand was in need of a ​leadership program to build skills and capacity through the ​GIPA/MIPA principles. A partnership with Australia was a perfect ​way to increase knowledge and awareness of how each country ​was similar yet different as well as build our relationships. We ​are pleased to have been supporting PLDI since 2015 in New ​Zealand and have supported cross pollination of participants ​over the years with Australians attending NZ courses and vice-​versa. The beauty of PLDI is the diversity that it presents where ​people can learn from each other’s journeys and reflect these ​learnings in their leadership styles. We have seen many ​graduates become involved in the sector and become more ​confident with their diagnoses. PLDI presents a true ​collaboration that continues to up-lift people living with HIV and ​grow capacity in a meaningful way.”

Would you like to take part in the PLDI Australia and New Zealand?

The Positive Leadership Development Institute is currently changing hands from

Living Positive Victoria (LPV) to the National Association of People With HIV Australia (napwha).

You can stay up to date with them here.

You can also email Sarah from LPV - sfeagan@lpv.org.au

APPLICATIONS FOR 2024 ARE NOW OPEN, CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Applications close Sunday 21 April 2024 at 11:59PM (AEST)