Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM) chief executive officer Levinia Crooks voices her concerns about the rise of HIV infections in Australia and discusses what is being due to reduce the toll.  

The reported 8 per cent increase in new HIV infections in Australia, issued from ASHM's Australasian HIV Conference in October, surprised few who work in the sector. There has been concern for some time now we are “dropping the ball” on HIV. The Melbourne Declaration, a joint call to action issued by community organisations, research institutes and health care workers to curb HIV in Australia, was organised before the new infection statistics were released. So recognition of the need for more concerted action has existed for a while.