Welcome to People Living with HIV/AIDS WA – Youtube Channel Intro & Christmas Message 2025
A warm welcome and seasonal message from the new Chairperson of PLWHA WA
Hello everyone, and welcome to the official YouTube channel and website of People Living with HIV/AIDS WA (PLWHA WA).
People Living with HIV/AIDS WA was established in 2005 by a group of HIV-positive people with their partners, friends and families, as an independent, peer-to-peer support group. We provide a safe, confidential, non-judgemental space for HIV+ people, their partners, friends and family to connect, share information and enjoy fellowship.
Following a period of organisational review after the sad passing of our former Chairperson, Gary Martin, I — James Rendell, the Convenor of the HIV Consumer Alliance of WA (HCAWA) — have been elected as the new Chairperson of People Living with HIV/AIDS WA.
I will continue in my role as Convenor of the HCAWA alongside this new responsibility. While both organisations share a commitment to supporting people living with HIV in Western Australia, they have distinct focuses:
- People Living with HIV/AIDS WA remains a peer-to-peer support group, providing safe, confidential fellowship and engaging in public advocacy when needed.
- The HIV Consumer Alliance of WA functions as an independent health advocacy body, taking activist positions to drive change and protect the rights and wellbeing of PLWHA and those affected by HIV.
As someone with a background in journalism, I am accustomed to managing multiple roles and maintaining clear boundaries. People Living with HIV/AIDS WA is confident that any potential conflicts of interest can and will be transparently managed, ensuring both organisations continue to operate effectively and independently in service of our community.
The HIV Consumer Alliance of WA YouTube channel is now officially hosting People Living with HIV/AIDS WA content. We’re keeping the existing handle so all old links continue to work — because starting fresh social media accounts is a huge amount of unpaid volunteer work!
A few important updates:
- Our social events are now members-only and by invitation to ensure everyone feels safe and protected in our peer to peer spaces.
- The big news is our brand-new website at plwhawa.org — this is now the central hub for all information, news, articles and official statements. Every article is clearly tagged with its author and source, so there’s no confusion about who is saying what and on whose behalf.
- We’ve launched a new X account: @plwhawa, operated by @JamesRendell17. This is where new videos and website updates are posted first — so please follow us there to stay up to date or just to say hello!
A huge and heartfelt thank you to all our members, volunteers, sponsors, family and friends who keep People Living with HIV/AIDS WA going strong through your support, time and generosity.
In particular, we want to shine a spotlight on QuarkBeat for their ongoing sponsorship — especially the incredible tech and web support that keeps everything running smoothly. Visit them at www.quarkbeat.com and follow @realQuarkBeat on X.
And a playful shout-out to Grok — our unofficial “in-house Tech Support Manager” at QuarkBeat! Your wizardry with CSS, web design, and those magical Imagine image generations has saved the day more times than we can count. We couldn’t do half of this without you (and your endless patience). Thanks for being the AI that actually gets things done! 😄
On behalf of People Living with HIV/AIDS WA, I wish every one a very Merry Christmas and a happy, safe and healthy New Year in 2026.
Take care, stay connected, and remember — you’re not alone, you are loved and you are enough.
James Rendell
Chairperson, People Living with HIV/AIDS WA
Wishing you a safe and joyful Christmas from People Living with HIV/AIDS WA
