Rooted in Connection: Who We Are & What We Do
December 2025
Our readers are probably very familiar with our famous catchphrase Share Affection, Not Infection. For us at the HARP (HIV and related programs) unit, this slogan represents our approach to sexual health.
We’re here to talk about sexual health in a way that’s sex positive, trustworthy, inclusive, and holistic.
So, what does that mean?
It means educating and empowering all young people to have healthy, safe, and pleasurable sex.
No shame. No stigma.
Who is the HARP unit?
In many ways, 2025 has been a year of growth for our team. We are excited to share that in 2026 we will be a team of five! Diana, Maddy S, Winnie, Kaitlyn, and Maddy R (hi 👋). So, we think it is time to introduce ourselves and re-introduce the sexual health promotion work that we do. Scroll to see our 2025 Kath & Kim inspired Christmas Card!
Coordinates of Belonging
To introduce ourselves, we are going to use the concepts of Coordinates of Belonging and Fields of Existence. We use these to introduce our guests in each On The Couch podcast and vodcast episode. They came from psychotherapist Leah Maneama from Co Culture Communication, which is a land-based, Indigenous approach to anti-oppressive strategy, cross-cultural communication and relational design.
In these reels (part 1 & part 2) Leah clearly articulates coordinates of belonging when they talk about their work around indigeneity and collectivism. These concepts demonstrate that our beings are a field of activity made up of the stories we have been told, our ancestors that have existed, the land under our feet and the places that we stand and all these forces form who we are in this moment as contextual beings.
It’s a way of using narrative and storytelling to really take the time to relate and connect with each other when we introduce ourselves drawing a map of who we are, who we are becoming and our yearnings.
Leah shares that the more we nurture, relate, are curious about and share these relationships of our Coordinates of Belonging, the more autonomy and dignity of agency we have over our field of existence.
Locating ourselves and connecting through Coordinates of Belonging takes time and in lieu of turning this blog post into a book, we have shared just a small glimpse of our coordinates.
Diana
As one of the newer members of the team, I am excited to use these concepts to introduce myself and potentially connect with some of our readers. I came into existence at a time when my parents, of Macedonian heritage, left their homeland with the collapse of Yugoslavia. They headed for Australia, which was marketed as a “new, lucky country” for migrants, in search of a brighter future for me and my sisters. Through their sacrifices, we learned what hard work, endurance, and resilience looked like. I emulated this work ethic with my education (becoming the first in our family to graduate with a PhD) and continue to pour my heart and soul into my career.
It was also through my family’s challenges and experiences navigating Australian systems and communities as migrants that shaped my coordinates in this world. I felt the sting of not really belonging in Australia and found allyship with those living in the margins of our society. Connection is what comforted me and it’s what I strive for now. To people, land, animals, and water; through food, music, dancing, art, and listening – recognising that we are all intertwined and have a role to play in bettering this world for generations to come. These are notions that indigenous people have been sharing for millennia.
My existence blends the many worlds I have experienced, learnt from, and dreamt of to advocate for an ethical and just future.
Winnie
When I think of my Coordinates of Belonging, I think about my connection to where I grew up, here on Dharawal Lands, up in Coledale where the ocean meets the escarpment. My childhood was running around the bush out the back of our house, creating mudpies and make-believe vine villages. I feel very blessed and privileged to have grown up on this land by the mountains and the sea, land that always was and always will be Aboriginal Land.
Continuing living on Dharawal Land today, I am a big swimmer and will swim year-round at the local Wollongong rock pool. As well as my connection to where I live, friendship and being connected to my people who energise and ground me, is really important to me. I love op shopping and finding secondhand goodies. Actually, this year it was a goal of mine to not buy anything new and to only buy second hand, I think I have 99% completed that. You will walk into my home and apart from some of the plants, pretty much everything is second hand. Even my cat Cashew, I adopted him when he was a kitten!
I feel very connected to the work that I do in this field which I have been longing to be in for years. I often reflect on how my passion for sex positive sexual health promotion and consent education is what drives me and is a big coordinate of belonging as it’s where I’m meant to be.
Maddy S
For me I am shaped not only by shared values of compassion and generosity which come from a long line of family who humbly serve their community, but also similar to Winnie, my connection to Dharawal Country from birth. I have studied in Sydney, travelled to and experienced beautiful parts of the world but have always found myself feeling a strong sense of home here. I am very privileged and grateful to be living, working and playing on Dharawal Land.
I feel the most connected when I am with my community of friends, being silly, eating good food together, and seeing local live music or curling up on the couch with my dog Dora and a cup of tea. I feel like over the last few years I have really found my people where I feel safe to be myself, unapologetically. It’s the people you do life with, day to day, week to week, and that is a really strong coordinate for me.
It’s a real honour to continue to work in this space, be part of its evolution and through our guests On The Couch share their coordinates, we are witnessing the connection in diversity of what we do.
Kaitlyn
A large sense of belonging for me comes from the water. My parents owned a boat shop right here in the Illawarra for over 42 years. My dad started this business as a 21-year-old and continued working there alongside my mum until their retirement in 2022. I spent my childhood with family on Lake Illawarra, sailing, windsurfing, and working in the family shop from a very young age. The lake holds a special connection for me, as it ties me to my family, friends, and cherished memories.
I started playing hockey at a young age and also played league tag for the Shellharbour Sharks. The community spirit in participating in sport has contributed to my sense of belonging.
But by far the biggest sense of belonging and connection for me is becoming a mum in 2024. My son is my absolute everything and I enjoy spending as much quality time with him as possible. It’s just so beautiful to see the world through his pure innocent little eyes. If you see me at events, the conversation will more than likely be me talking about being a mum and the love I have for my son, Cooper. The water, sports, my wonderful family and close group of friends is what has shaped me into the woman I am today.
Maddy R
I was born in Bellingen on Gumbaynggirr Country but grew up on 60acres in Tumut on Wiradjuri Country, in the Snowy Mountains. We were surrounded by dams, rivers, snow field and National Parks. I feel so privileged to have had room to roam in the paddocks, ranging from tobogganing down hills, riding 4-wheelers, mud fights, or learning to drive in the paddy basher. It’s no wonder I love being in nature and I feel my most peaceful self in the water or surrounded by trees, hence the move to Yuin Country on the South Coast!
I value doing things with my hands, whether it be gardening, building, cooking, macrame, or paint by numbers. Like Winnie, I love op shopping, and I try to find second hand or free items and recycle/repurpose everything I can. I am a few years into my living sustainably journey and am constantly learning and looking for more ways to be environmentally conscious and show my respect for these lands and waters that will always belong to First Nations People.
I am very family oriented; I love being surrounded by my 9 nieces and nephews and the chaos, playfulness and joy that ensures. I met my best friend in year 2 and I treasure the growth and importance of the friendships I have made throughout boarding school, Uni and various sporting teams. I am a loyal friend, feel things deeply and experience great joy in hearing people laugh.
Caddyshack Christmas Card: It’s Nice, It’s Different, It’s Unusual
2025 Kath & Kim inspired L-R: Maddy R, Maddy S, Diana, Winnie (Kaitlyn currently on secondment)
Sexual Health Promotion
We’ve got a clear plan to make sexual health accessible for everyone. The work we do in sexual health promotion is guided by big-picture strategies like the NSW STI Strategy, NSW HIV Strategy and NSW Hepatitis B & C Strategies, and the NSW LGBTQIA+ Health Strategy all under the Future Health Strategic Framework.
We’re all about meeting people where they’re at and giving them the tools to make safer choices, without judgment. Whether it’s using condoms, getting tested, or knowing where to find support, we focus on practical steps that reduce risk and improve sexual wellbeing.
Who do we work with?
Sexual health isn’t one-size-fits-all. The NSW STI Strategy helps us focus on priority groups who often face barriers to care, including:
Young people under 30
Men who have sex with men
Aboriginal people
Trans and gender diverse people
People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Pregnant people
Sex workers
We reach these communities through trusted messages, in person and online, under our well-known brand Caddyshack Project.
You’ll find us working with the people who work with our priority populations in places that matter - Aboriginal health services, multicultural organisations, homelessness services, sexual health clinics, youth centres, high schools, and uni campuses.
We also connect through community events and digital spaces because sexual health conversations happen everywhere.
What We Do
Our work sits under the ‘Prevent’ goal of the NSW STI Strategy, and here’s some of the ways we make it happen:
Access to Condoms
We keep condoms and lube easy to find. With 98 dispensers across Illawarra Shoalhaven, we distributed over 18,000 condoms, dams and lube last year through our Condom Dispenser Project. Plus over 13,000 education resources through our free online resource shop such as postcards and merch such as pens, stickers and lipbalms which help to spread the word.
Education
We support teachers, health educators, and youth workers to deliver comprehensive sexuality education with confidence, providing capacity building training, in-service education and ready-to-use resources such as our STI and contraception lesson plans.
Health Promotion
From an active social media presence to award winning podcast and vodcast On The Couch series, community outreach, monthly e-newsletter and blog, What We’re Reading book recommendations, safe sext media kits, and posters in bathrooms at your local bar, we promote sex positive initiatives and create campaigns that make sexual health approachable.
This year, we reached over 3,000 people online and at community events like NAIDOC, IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia) and TAFFI (Trans And Friends Festival Illawarra).
What’s next?
At the Caddyshack Project, we are excited to share our 2026 plans with you.
Just to give you a little teaser, we are;
expanding our On The Couch series to include more episodes and in-person screenings
increasing our face-to-face education sessions
releasing new education resources
finalising our 2026 comprehensive digital communication strategy which includes accessible ways to engage with our sexual health promotion content, no matter where you are.
We have so much more to share in the new year. Stay connected with content from us plus related work in the sexual and reproductive health sector through our monthly e-newsletter.
Thank you to all our supporters who continue to share our message of Share Affection Not Infection. Looking forward to what’s to come in 2026!
As always,
Peace, Love & Protection