About Us
What we do
Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (BGF) is Australia's longest running HIV charity.
Founded in 1984, when a group of friends got together to give their dying mate Bobby Goldsmith the care he needed in the comfort of his home, BGF has gone on to provide that same individualised care to thousands of Australians.
And while HIV treatment has come a long way since 1984, the need for support remains.
Every week we’re seeing more and more people from diverse backgrounds walk through our doors. Young. Old. Gay. Straight. Male. Female. Every race. Every religion. Many of them isolated, all of them in need of support.
From the first generation to age with HIV, to a diverse new generation of people facing stigma within their communities reminiscent of the 80s - we’re here to help. For life.
BGF has no political or religious affiliations, just a deep-seated desire to help people live well on their terms through practical, tailored assistance.
We’re also an equal opportunity employer dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive workplace and services.
And last but not least, we’re a registered not-for-profit. So every donation is tax deductible.
Together we can ensure no one has to face HIV alone.
Who we are
We help people living with HIV to thrive.
Each year we report on the programs and services we provide.
Find all our reports here.
Get up to speed on all the latest developments at BGF and news across the entire organisation.
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Board of directors
Mathew Paine (President)
Mathew is an Executive Director, Human Resources at the NSW Government Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. Mathew brings over 20 years of senior HR experience within the private, not for profit and government sectors in Australia and the UK.
Mathew joined the BGF Board in 2017 and is Chair of the Risk & Compliance Committee.
Linda Bracken (Vice President)
Linda runs her own digital strategy and creative leadership consultancy and is an experienced Non Executive Director.
Previously, Linda was a Senior Executive at the ABC leading audience strategy and digital experience. She has also been the Manager of their youth network triple j and the Head of Content for ABC Radio.
Linda has been a Member of the Advisory Council of the Centre for Social Research (formally the National Centre for HIV Social Research) at UNSW.
A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Company Directors course and the Deputy Chair of The Australian Horse Industry Council.
Linda joined the BGF Board in 2019 and is Chair of the BGF Fundraising & Marketing Committee
Ramon del Carmen (Treasurer)
Ramon is the CFO of Sydney North Primary Health Network (SNPHN). He is also currently a director of Northside Community Forum. Ramon is a Chartered Accountant, and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ramon joined the BGF Board in 2017 and is Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee.
Andrew Smith
Andrew is currently a Senior Manager at Mosman Council where he oversees Community Services.
Andrew brings over 30 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector. He has worked with a range of different community organisations in both the UK and Australia at a national and state level including at the Terrence Higgins Trust, Hepatitis NSW and Save the Children Australia.
Andrew joined the BGF Board in 2022.
Heath Paynter
Heath is an experienced public health policy analyst and advocate. He has over ten years experience in cancer control, LGBTIQ+ health and blood-borne viruses, with a focus on HIV. He is currently the Deputy CEO of Australia’s peak community-controlled HIV organisation, the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO).
Prior to joining the public health sector, Heath practiced law in Melbourne and, before this, was a community development worker in the alcohol and other drug sector.
Heath joined the BGF Board in 2020.
John Walton
John has worked for over 20 years in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Currently John is employed in sales and marketing at ViiV Healthcare. He has an MBA (marketing) and a Masters of Business from the University of Technology Sydney.
John is passionate about social justice, diversity, access to healthcare, and supporting marginalised populations.
John joined the BGF Board in July 2019 and is a member of the Fundraising & Marketing Committee.
David Kay
David has more than 20 years’ experience as a consultant, working across the human services and disability sectors in Australia and New Zealand.
David advises government agencies and large not-for-profit organisations on human services and disability sector reform, program review and evaluation, strategic and operational planning and improvement.
David joined the BGF Board in 2022.
Ben Moh
Ben is currently Head of Major Gifts at Social Ventures Australia. Ben has a strong development and corporate relations background in the arts, retail, education, and hospitality sectors.
Ben joined the BGF Board in January 2022 and is a member of the Fundraising & Marketing Committee.
Community Ambassadors
Etcetera Etcetera
Etcetera Etcetera is a Drag Performer whose time on Australia's Premiere Season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under has cemented her status as an international Drag Race star.
As a non-binary trans and bisexual person, Etcetera Etcetera leverages her social media influence to educate and support trans, non-binary and people whose identities exist beyond a rigid gender and sex binary. Drag is rooted in activism and as a seasoned host and entertainer, Etcetera Etcetera is the perfect Community Ambassador to create light-hearted and inclusive safe spaces to discuss HIV, gender, sexuality and race issues.
David Polson
In 1984 David Polson was amongst the first 400 men diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Australia. As a long-term survivor, David's lived experience and wisdom are invaluable to the HIV movement and LGBTQIA+ community.
David's commitment to advocacy is unmistakable and marked by the 28 HIV drug trials that David has volunteered for - arguably the most HIV drug trials undertaken by a person living with HIV globally. David is an experienced keynote speaker and is passionate about educating to fight HIV stigma and create positive futures for people living with HIV.
Steve Spencer
Steve is a champion for equality and is immensely involved in LGBTQIA+ advocacy and the HIV sector. Born in New Zealand and raised just outside of Melbourne, the 29 year old bisexual man and HIV peer sits on the board of NAPWHA, is a member of the Sydney Bi+ Network and is a co-founder of the PrEP community advocacy network PrEPaccessNOW (PAN).
“I am proud to be a BGF Community Ambassador because I believe in the importance of the work BGF does for its clients and for the HIV response more broadly. There is no better feeling than knowing there is a community here; a community that understands what it is like to live with HIV, and to have these spaces and opportunities to share our angst, our joys, our ideas, and to be given the opportunity to thrive. I look forward to using my ambassadorship to promote caring and greater understanding of the diverse experiences of people living with HIV.
As a proud bisexual man living with HIV I have learnt it is never too late to be your true self and there is nothing to be ashamed about, there is just a full life to live. I’m looking forward to meeting as much of the BGF family as possible."
Terrilee Simpson
Terrilee Simpson is a proud First Nations Wiradjuri woman and long-term survivor of HIV.
Twenty five years ago, Terrilee discovered she was HIV positive after the death of her daughter from an HIV brain infection. Terrilee wasn’t tested during pregnancy because she wasn’t considered a risk – she has been fighting to change this way of thinking ever since.
Terrilee is a Community Support Worker at BGF and passionate about advocacy and leadership for all people living with and affected by HIV, particularly First Nations people, heterosexuals, women and families.
Katherine Wolfgramme
Katherine is a multi-award winning and nominated, internationally recognised Australian Trans Advocate and Gender Diversity Consultant. She is also a Board Director at Qtopia Sydney Pride Museum and Sydney World Pride Rainbow Champion.
She has extensive experience in advocacy as a former Ambassador of The Gender Centre, former Board Associate of Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, former Public Officer of Wear It Purple and Producer of Sydney Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Katherine is renowned and loved in the LGBTQ+ space for her commitment to the community, her advocacy and her determination to raise up those most marginalised and vulnerable, shining a light on inequality and social injustice.
As such, we feel she is a perfect fit to partner with BGF as an HIV ally, amplify our voice and raise awareness of BGF and HIV, particularly in the trans and gender diverse space.
Simon Dunn (in Memoriam)
Simon was BGF's inaugural Community Ambassador, a former Australian athlete and a prominent voice in the LGBTQI+ community.
Sadly, Simon passed away in January 2023.
He was an incredible ally to people living with HIV, through his work with us at Bobby Goldsmith Foundation and the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) in the UK.
In 2018, he was the national face of THT’s National HIV Testing Week Campaign and in 2020, Simon came on board as a BGF Community Ambassador.
Simon believed that the message about HIV was ‘not getting through’ to younger generations and wanted to use his profile to help raise HIV awareness.
He was a selfless, compassionate and kind individual who treated everyone equally, stood up for marginalised and vulnerable people and called out injustice. His legacy will live on through BGF and the lives he touched.
Patrons
Hon. Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG
The Hon. Justice Michael Kirby is an Australian jurist and academic who is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia. With the advent of HIV, Justice Kirby became involved in a number of national and international activities, including the UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights.
Justice Kirby became BGF’s Patron in 2002.
Who was Bobby Goldsmith?
Bobby Goldsmith was one of the first Australians to die from an AIDS-related illness.
That was in June 1984, when Bobby was just 38 years old.
Bobby died with dignity, at home, where he wanted to be. All thanks to the help of his friends, who rallied together money and equipment to make his final weeks as comfortable as possible.
Bobby Goldsmith Foundation is the legacy of that dedicated group of friends – a legacy born out of love, which has continued for over 30 years, and will continue until HIV is a thing of the past.
Our brand. Our message.
The face of HIV is changing. Not only are more and more people from diverse backgrounds walking through our doors, the people we support are now able to lead long, healthy and colourful lives.
And, we felt that our look should reflect that.
From a colour palette as diverse as our community, to photography that captures their humanity – this is the face of BGF.
While our branding has changed, our approach has not. Just as Bobby’s friends rallied around him in 1984, we have and always will remain a group of friends helping people as individuals – meeting them where they’re at, and helping them to move forward through practical and emotional support.
A huge thank you to our friends at BMF, our creative design agency, for making this happen at no cost to us and to Joel Pratley for donating his beautiful photography skills.
