A new group, The HIV Caucus, is calling on the WA AIDS Council to change its process for having a HIV positive person on the board of their organisation.
Currently the position is appointed by the board, but the group is calling for the position to be elected from the positive community. A spokesperson for the HIV Caucus told OUTinPerth, “We believe the position should be democratically elected by the positive community and not appointed by the board only. The representative and the position need to be accountable to the community in some way.”
The group argues that HIV positive people need a better way to communicate with the person on the board who is supposed to represent their interests. “We should be able to contact our representative and have they should advocate on our behalf. They are not required to do any of this under the current job description as it stands now.”
The group have requested the issue to be discussed at the upcoming WAAC Annual General Meeting. The group is encouraging members of the organisation who cannot attend the AGM, but care about the issue, to consider lodging a proxy vote with the group. The group is also calling for the Chair of the WA AIDS Council, Samantha Dowling to declare her position on the issue ahead of the AGM, so that members giving proxy votes are aware of her position.
Andrew Burry (pictured) the CEO of the AIDS Council highlighted that the organisation’s board operates under the governance of the organisations constitution which describes how board members can be elected or selected. Burry noted that the ability to appoint board members ensures that there is a good balance between Board members being able to represent expertise and insights from specific communities as well as making sure that the Board is comprised of a good balance of skills and experience to provide the best possible level of governance in the discharging of its legal duties and responsibilities.
“I’m sure that the WAAC Board would be only too happy to receive expressions of interest from any person who would like to serve and can commit to the time required,” said Burry.
Graeme Watson
