ACON Unveils Bold Vision With Release Of New Strategic Plan

ACON has released a new strategic plan that charts a path forward and shapes its response to the changing health needs of people from sexuality and gender diverse communities.

ACON is Australia’s largest sexuality and gender diverse community health organisation. Established in 1985, ACON creates opportunities for people to live their healthiest lives.

The Strategic Plan 2019-2022 maps the organisation’s direction for the next four years, setting out its purpose, vision, values and priorities.

It outlines key objectives that will inform and propel ACON’s work as it continues to strive to be a global leader in community health, inclusion and HIV responses for people of diverse sexualities and genders.

ACON President Dr Justin Koonin said: “We are a fiercely proud community organisation. For our entire history, the work of ACON has been designed for and by our communities.

“Our early years were defined by community uniting in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in NSW, and as we have grown, we have been proud to work with an increasingly diverse range of people and communities to ensure their voice and health needs are represented in the work we do.

“ACON remains committed to ending HIV transmission for everyone in our communities, particularly focusing on the needs of those people for whom infection rates are not declining. We will continue to deliver campaigns and programs to eliminate new HIV transmissions, and to supporting people living with HIV to live healthy and connected lives.

“ACON will continue its work in supporting our communities’ health and wellbeing in areas such as mental health, ageing, domestic and family violence, community safety and social inclusion,” Dr Koonin said.

“Partnership is central to who we are and how we work, and we will build upon the close collaborations we already have with federal, state and local government agencies, other not-for-profit organisations and corporate Australia to improve outcomes for our communities.

“The contexts in which our communities live, work and play are constantly changing, and we will work with people in the places that are important to their lives – increasingly in rural and regional areas, in workplaces, on sporting fields, and in many other settings,” Dr Koonin added.

“Our new plan also increases our focus on sustainability and building a workplace that attracts and develops the best people. A strong workforce, and a connected community of volunteers, has been integral to our work over the last 35 years, and will remain at the centre of who we are.”

The plan has been developed in consultation with community, staff and other stakeholders including funding bodies, service delivery partners and research organisations.

“We look forward to working with our communities, our partners and our allies over the life of the plan to deliver better health outcomes for our communities,” Dr Koonin said.

/Public Release.