ACON has travelled a long road across 40 years, born in a time of crisis to today being one of Australia’s leading community organisations supporting the health and wellbeing of sexuality and gender diverse people and their families. 

In the uncertain early days of the AIDS crisis, in 1985, a health organisation was created that would, over 40 years, change the lives of tens of thousands of people throughout NSW amd Australia.

That organisation was ACON, known at that time as the AIDS Council of New South Wales.

Driven by community volunteers determined to support and advocate for those affected by HIV, ACON emerged as a lifeline by responding early and robustly to gay men’s health issues, supporting those living with HIV and helping prevent further transmission.

In those early years, ACON only had a small team, but their achievements were pioneering – distributing safe sex information and resources, developing community-led campaigns, providing counselling and support services, and advocating for access to rights and healthcare.

In 1987, ACON’s first official office opened in Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills in Sydney, later followed by branches throughout regional NSW, including in the Hunter, the Northern Rivers and the Illawarra.

As the 1990s unfolded, ACON remained at the forefront of advocacy as new medications became available, changing forever treatment options for people living with HIV.

ACON would eventually become one of Australia’s leading rainbow health organisations, as its mission evolved and its focus expanded beyond HIV to encompass broader LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing.

To reflect this change, in 2007 the organisation changed its official name from the AIDS Council of NSW to instead be known, simply, as ACON.

In the years that followed, alcohol and other drug support, domestic and family violence, suicide prevention, healthy ageing, community safety, social inclusion, trans and gender diverse health, cancer screening and prevention, and disability support were added to ACON’s portfolio.

In 2014, ACON moved to its current premises at 414 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills.

Today, as ACON celebrates four decades of leadership, it stands tall in the Australian health landscape, having grown into a trusted, community-led organisation delivering health and wellbeing programs for LGBTQ+ people across NSW and beyond.

ACON is a dynamic reflection of the changing landscapes of Australia’s LGBTQ+ communities – their struggles, strengths, resilience and enduring solidarity.