ACON has never just been a service provider. From the very beginning, it has been a political voice in advocating for laws, policies and funding that improve the lives of LGBTQ people and people living with HIV.

In the 1980s and ’90s this meant being a fierce advocate during the AIDS crisis for the rights, dignity and health of people living with HIV during. ACON’s work has always been grounded in the lived experiences of the communities ACON serves, whether pushing governments to take urgent action during on HIV/AIDS, challenging stigma and discrimination in healthcare and society, or leading campaigns for law reform, inclusion, and equity.

Over the decades, our advocacy has evolved from crisis response to strategic, evidence-informed policy influence, ACON’s core values of inclusion, justice, and community empowerment have remained constant. ACON has driven change across public health, law, education, and human rights, achieving significant wins in areas such as HIV prevention and treatment, LGBTQ anti-discrimination protections, and improved access to services for trans and gender diverse people, sex workers, and other priority populations.

ACON has made hundreds of formal submissions to state and federal governments, on everything from HIV, LGBTQ ageing, housing, domestic and family violence, cancer and human rights, to legal gender recognition and bans on harmful practices like so-called ‘conversion therapy’. These submissions are not just paperwork, they are strategic interventions shaped by community voices, data and lived experience.

Some reforms have taken decades. Others have been rapid responses to shifting political climates. ACON has worked closely with both allies in government and a wide network of community partners to ensure that LGBTQ health and rights are never left off the agenda.

In 2025, political advocacy remains vital. Disinformation, backlash and legislative delays continue to impact the rights of LGBTQ people, particularly trans communities. But ACON’s policy and advocacy work is grounded in the same values it began with equity, evidence, and the belief that our communities deserve safety, dignity and care.

As we reflect on 40 years of progress, we honour the activists, researchers and policy workers, many of them volunteers, who drafted, lobbied, marched and negotiated. Their efforts have changed laws, funded services, and saved lives.

The work of advocacy is rarely quick or glamorous, but it is the backbone of every gain we’ve made. ACON’s impact lies not just in what it has achieved, but in how it has done it, by working in partnership, centring affected voices, and never stepping back from the difficult conversations that challenge systems of exclusion and inequality.

To find out more, visit acon.org.au/policyresearch.