Meet The Ankali Project

For people living with HIV, stigma and social isolation are serious concerns. Through The Ankali Project, they can access support services that keep them connected to their communities.

We interviewed the Ankali Project to learn more:

Introduction

Q: Tell us about your organisation

A: Based in Sydney and part of the Albion Centre and South East Sydney Local Health District, the Ankali Project is a NSW Health, Population and Community Health service.

We are a community of clients and volunteers. Clients are adults impacted by HIV, and living with loneliness, and/or social isolation.

Q: What is your mission?

A: The vision is to support people living with HIV (PWHIV) by fostering meaningful and supportive relationships with trained volunteers. These relationships provide emotional and social support to reduce isolation and loneliness in clients’ lives.

Q: What are your programs?

A: We have 3 core services – one for supporting clients, one for supporting volunteers, and one for supporting the relationships or ‘matches’ between clients and volunteers.

Our services are about providing opportunities for people to engage in social connection and build their social networks. Both clients and volunteers receive support, but that support differs.

Clients receive social and emotional support through the companionship of their volunteers. Volunteers receive volunteer training, ongoing supervision, and peer support through their volunteer groups. Social work staff review and supervise the matches, and support as needed when there is change for the client, the volunteer, or the relationship.

Journey

Q: What are some of the challenges you’ve been able to overcome?

A: Established in 1985 by Jim Dykes, the Ankali Project initially responded to people living with an AIDS-defining illness. In our earlier years of the 1980s and the 90s, volunteers were present for clients while they were in hospices, or at the end of their life at home. There were many client funerals. Ankali volunteers were present and provided support for clients through this terrible time.

Since then, developments in treatment, testing, and prevention have managed HIV from being a fatal condition, to a chronic, manageable condition for people with access to antiretroviral therapy (ART).

What sadly continues is stigma and discrimination of PWHIV. Those societal constructs contribute to the chronic social isolation and loneliness for PWHIV and so we still have work to do. Our clients are still isolated and lonely. Volunteers are still needed.

Volunteer Involvement

Q: How do you involve volunteers?

A: Volunteers are a fundamental part of our service and community. Since its inception, the Ankali Project has trained and supported more than 2500 volunteers who have supported more than 2500 clients living with HIV. Each year, volunteers contribute thousands of hours of support to clients, and to their support groups.

Volunteer Group Leaders work with staff to support the volunteer workforce and manage volunteer meetings. All volunteers are contingent workers with NSW Health. They are required to attend a three-day training program, attend ongoing volunteer meetings, and adhere to NSW Health policies including the Code of Conduct. Volunteers are ‘matched’ with a client and make a commitment to connecting with a client for 2-10 hours per fortnight, depending on the availability of the volunteer and the needs of the client.

In offering emotional support, volunteers actively listen and offer encouragement, rather than problem solving or providing advice.

Q: How do volunteers help you make a difference?

A: Volunteers make a difference to the lives of clients by reminding clients that they are cared for and included in society. Because stigma and discrimination are social constructs, we need real people to counteract those experiences.

Week to week, volunteers do various activities with their clients. There are lots of people catching up for coffee, lunch, going to movies, on walks, and home visits. People also garden together, crochet, or go sky diving.

Our clients have lots of lovely feedback about their volunteers.

“I’m so glad I met [my volunteer]. We just joke and laugh, and I get to forget that I’m separate from everyone because I’m gay, or positive, or recovering.” – Ankali Client

“My Ankali volunteer is as important to my emotional wellbeing as my GP is to my physical health.” – Ankali Client

Q: What would you say to someone considering volunteering with your organisation?

A: Our volunteers tells us that they like volunteering with us because:

  • There’s flexibility with when you contact and meet your client.
  • You meet incredibly kind, caring, and empathic people in the Volunteer Groups.
  • Meetings with a client are appreciated and valued.
  • Volunteers are supported throughout their volunteer service with training and supervision.
  • You volunteer with a service that has a long history and lots of experience.
  • You are part of a diverse and inclusive community.

Learn more about the Ankali Project

 

Membership

The Centre is proud to collaborate with member organisations like The Ankali Project, doing important work in the community.

“The Centre provides us with support throughout the year with raising the profile of our service, recruiting volunteers, and engaging highly suitable volunteers.” – The Ankali Project

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