This special live broadcast from JOY’s 2026 Radiothon features a spirited “Sexpert Trivia” challenge.

We dive into the archives of Victorian AIDS Council campaigns, decode hanky colour meanings, and discuss the practical importance of various barrier methods.

00:00 – Radiothon special kickoff and guest intros

04:11 – HIV campaign poster history

08:53 – CondoMan superhero campaign origins

13:11 – Drama Down Under campaign in the top end

17:32 – Barrier methods

28:05 – Hanky codes

32:18 – Final scores

All chapter timecodes are approximate.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org.

We explore why Australia relies on state-based organisations to tackle HIV and sexual health rather than only one national body.

Karina Reeves from WAAC and Eleni Gabrielides from Meridian join Joel to discuss how trust, cultural diversity, and geographic isolation demand localised strategies.

00:00 – Welcome and guest introductions from across Australia

04:53 – Defining health promotion and social determinants of health

07:17 – How HIV sector demographics have changed over time

11:35 – WA and ACT jurisdictional differences and approaches

16:04 – Building trust and community-led health promotion strategies

23:29 – Marketing tensions in community health communication

27:41 – AI, social media and digital era challenges

35:43 – Future projects, funding and exciting upcoming initiatives

All chapter timecodes are approximate.

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org and samesh.org.au

Jack and Cal are joined by new Thorne Harbour Health CEO Chad Hughes, and discuss the critical challenge of delivering equitable health services to our diverse communities in regional Victoria and South Australia.

Chad dives into the organisation’s strategy of embedding practitioners with lived experience into mainstream rural clinics to ensure privacy and reduce stigma for those not ready to come out locally.

We also explore the unique dynamics of regional pride events and the importance of empowering local experiences over a one size fits all approach.

Given the growing crisis of misinformation in the age of AI, Thorne Harbour’s forty-year legacy of trust is more vital than ever, especially as the organisation expands its national reach through innovative digital platforms.

00:00 – Intro

01:56 – Chad’s origin story involving genetics, a trip to Uganda in the late 90s, and the pivotal moment that drove him toward public health

06:14 – Setting up harm reduction programs over four years living in a remote Nepalese village, learning the language, and overcoming his needle phobia

11:39 – Leadership philosophy, focusing on mentoring others, the satisfaction of population-level impact versus individual care, and his framework for making tough decisions under pressure

14:45 – Living in Daylesford, the unique nature of regional queer communities compared to the city, and the specific challenges of delivering health services to isolated trans and gender-diverse youth

20:00 – The importance of supporting local autonomy in events like Bendigo Pride

24:46 – Thorne Harbour’s 40-year history of adapting to diverse community requirements

28:47 – Misinformation and AI-generated content, highlighting why Thorne Harbour’s reputation for trusted health information is more valuable than ever

33:32 – The current political climate, funding challenges in Victoria, the importance of a unified sector, and the significance of having a community member as the new Minister for Health

38:13 – Chad’s hobby of birding, his spark bird, and how observing nature serves as a mindfulness practice

48:14 – Parallels between the patience required for birding and the calm, observant leadership style needed to manage staff dealing with vicarious trauma and complex community crises

49:42 – Ensuring services are truly community-led, responsive to emerging threats like Mpox, and accessible to everyone regardless of location or identity

Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell.

If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au

Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org and samesh.org.au