JAYDEN

My name is Jayden Fisher and I am a proud Aboriginal gay man from the Ghungalu, Birri Gubba, Bidjara and Wakamin tribes through the north and central coast of Queensland. My pronouns are “He/Him”.

I am part of a big family. I am the second eldest of four brothers and four sisters, and come from a close-knit community in Townsville.

Recently, I had the opportunity to work at the Disability Royal Commission. I was fortunate to be in a position to make a difference.  I listened to stories from the community and was able to write policy with a full understanding of what needed to be done to better protect people living with a disability who identified as LGBTQIA+ from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

I was 120kg, the gym has helped me feel good and I’m now 84kg. The gym has also helped me meet many new friends as I feel welcomed and safe with the community at the gym. I love being healthy, the healthy eating was hard at first but I just started cooking my own food and I got better at making healthy feeds. Best thing now is I’m not shame when I go out and into the gym. Looking after myself, also includes looking after my sexual health.

I’m on PrEP to help keep me and my community safe from HIV. I have been on PrEP for about 12 months now, before this I didn’t know too much about sexual health until I had a chat with a health worker at 2Spirits. The health worker talked me through the things that could happen if I wasn’t being safe when having sex. One of my Aunties always said to me “It’s only a matter of time before you get HIV”, and this really made me get onto PrEP. I hope sharing my story will help my other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders get on PrEP to keep our mobs safe.

PrEP was easy to get for me under the Closing the Gap (CTG) program, so I wasn’t ashamed to get it from the Doctor. Before I could get PrEP the Doctor had me tested for HIV and other STI (sexually transmitted infections) and once done, I was able to get onto it. It was pretty simple to get started especially hearing I didn’t have to pay more than $10!

When I registered for CTG with the support of my doctor, it gave me access to PrEP for a small co-payment of only $7.70 (one bottle of 30 pills). If you have a concession card, PrEP is totally free of charge, which is amazing!

Getting my PrEP is easy, once I get my PrEP prescription, I go to the pharmacy once and show my prescription. The pharmacy keeps my script on record so they know I’m registered for CTG and I don't have to tell them my life story every time and they give me a one month supply of PrEP. I just go back every month, tell them my name and I’m good to go.

I take one tablet daily after my dinner as it makes me feel tired and helps me get to sleep – everyone is different so test it out and make an appointment to see your Doctor.

I encourage all mobs to protect themselves from HIV with PrEP. It’s easy, affordable and it works.