Let Them Know: Why and How to Share Your HIV Story

A national HIV disclosure guide by and for people living with HIV

Let Them Know is a peer-led HIV disclosure resource developed to support people living with HIV to decide if, when, and how they might share their HIV status. There is no single right way to disclose. This guide exists to offer information, reflection, and real-world experiences so people can make decisions that feel informed, safe, and right for them.

Whether you are newly diagnosed, have been living with HIV for many years, or are supporting someone who is, Let Them Know is designed to meet you where you are. Alongside the guide, we have created a digital toolkit for clinics, services, and community organisations. The guide is mobile-friendly and designed to be easy to read on different devices. This resource is free to access and share.

Please note: This resource should not be considered a legal guide to HIV disclosure. Its aim is to reflect and affirm the strategies and experiences of people living with HIV in Australia. To understand your legal rights and responsibilities, please refer to the HIV/ AIDS Legal Centre’s HIV Disclosure Guides relevant to your state. Alternatively, contact your nearest HIV community organisation. Links and contact details are available at the end of Let Them Know.

What’s inside the guide

The Let Them Know guide brings together lived experience, practical guidance, and community knowledge to explore:

• What disclosure can look like in different contexts
• When disclosure might feel supportive, and when it might not
• Ways to talk about HIV today, including U=U and treatment
• Managing fear, stigma, and other people’s reactions
• Stories from people living with HIV across different backgrounds and experiences

The guide invites readers to think about HIV disclosure differently, centring choice, agency, and care.” Disclosure is always yours.

Access the guide

You can engage with Let Them Know in the way that works best for you:

• Read the guide online using our web-based reader
• Download the full guide as a PDF to read, print, or share

Both options are free and openly available.

Digital toolkit for clinics and community organisations

Let Them Know Workshops and community sessions

Let Them Know also includes facilitated workshops and community sessions focused on HIV disclosure, stigma, and self-determination.

These sessions are designed for people living with HIV and are delivered in partnership with community organisations and services.

If you are interested in hosting or attending a workshop, please head to the link and send us an email.

Who this resource is for

• People living with HIV
• Clinics and health services
• Peer workers and community organisations
• Anyone supporting conversations about HIV disclosure

About the project

Let Them Know is a peer-developed, community-informed resource created in response to the ongoing realities of HIV stigma and silence.

It builds on decades of community advocacy, shared knowledge, and care, and reflects how HIV is lived and understood today.

Developed by Living Positive Victoria, this guide was made possible through the generosity of Australia’s HIV Positive community and through the support of the ViiV Healthcare’s Positive Action Grant and the National Association of People Living with HIV Australia.

Further support

We also offer one-on-one support where you can talk with a peer navigator in a private and confidential way about your situation and options.