By Sophie Landau

Topic: AIDS and HIV

Wednesday, 1 July 2026, at 6:21 am

Kath Leane, a grandmother, was diagnosed with HIV in 1987. She is one of many Australians taking antiretroviral treatment.

In short:

From today, people with HIV in South Australia can get free antiretroviral treatment.

Until now, people in South Australia had to pay up to $30 a month for this treatment.

What's next?

For people like Kath Leane, free treatment will help reduce the stigma of having HIV.

When Kath was diagnosed, she was told she had only 12 months to live.

Kath said, 'My son was four, and I was pregnant. It was a big shock.'

Kath is now a proud grandmother and has had a full life.

Kath says antiretroviral treatment helped her survive. It stopped HIV from replicating in her body.

Over 30,000 Australians have HIV, and most take antiretroviral treatment.

From today, people in South Australia can get this treatment for free from public hospital pharmacies.

Until now, people in South Australia had to pay for this treatment, but now it's free like in other parts of the country.

Kath said, 'I've met people who can't afford medication. We need everyone to take it.'

Antiretroviral treatment for HIV is now free in South Australia.

This treatment can decrease the virus to very low levels, making it undetectable.

Studies have shown that when the virus is undetectable, it's not passed on to partners or during pregnancy.

Holley Skene from SHINE SA said this treatment was a big breakthrough in preventing HIV transmission.

This news was very comforting for people with HIV.

For a long time, people with HIV worried about passing it on to their partners, which affected their mental health.

Holley Skene remembers when this treatment was first called the 'prevention revolution'.

Treatment should not depend on how much money you have.

The government is spending $213,000 a year to make this treatment free, aiming to end HIV transmission by 2030.

The Health Minister said, 'Treatment should not depend on your bank balance.'

Free treatment will encourage more people to take it, reducing HIV transmission.

This treatment can make the virus undetectable.

The Health Minister said stigma might have delayed making this treatment free.

He said, 'It's sad that governments might not have provided free treatment because of HIV stigma.'

The Minister is proud that the government has changed its approach.

Blair Boyer is proud to have been part of this change.

HIV advocates like Kath Leane welcome the free treatment.

Most people with HIV are over 50 and prefer to get their medication from local pharmacies.

Soon, people will be able to get their medication from any pharmacy they like.

Kath was given only 12 months to live when she was first diagnosed.

Kath hopes free medication will reduce stigma and educate people about HIV.

Kath said, 'Undetectable equals untransmissible. I want to spread this message.'

Kath is lucky to have a good relationship with her grandchildren.

She didn't expect to have this life.

Wednesday, 1 July 2026, at 6:21 am

Wednesday, 1 July 2026, at 6:51 am

See more ABC coverage.

Promotion

Practice Listening