HIV-related Legal Needs, Demographic Change, and Trends in Australia since 1992: A Review of Legal Administrative Data

An enabling legal environment is essential for an effective HIV response. Using legal administrative data from the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre (HALC), Australia's specialist HIV community legal service, this article characterizes the nature and trends in the legal issues and needs of those with HIV-related legal issues in New South Wales, Australia since 1992. At present, approximately 40% of all PLHIV living in NSW receive a legal service from HALC during the most recent five-year period. Clients received legal services relating to immigration law at a greatly increased rate (2010: 36%; 2019: 53%), discrimination matters decreased (2010: 17%; 2019: 5.9%), wills and estates remained steady (2010: 9%; 2019: 8.3%). Most clients identify as male (76.9%), homosexual (55%) and are aged between 35 and 49 years of age (34.6%). This demographic profile of clients changed over time, becoming younger and more likely to have been born overseas, and increasingly identifying as heterosexual.