The David Williams Fund was established to provide emergency financial assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who are experiencing financial hardship. For hundreds of PLWHA living below the poverty line this fund is their lifeline. Not only does it assist with basic essentials, such as food, shelter, and utilities, but it also strives to assist with items that enhance life quality in a way that most people take for granted.

For example, assistance with the purchase of a video or TV has greatly improved the day-to-day enjoyment of people who are too sick to leave their house.

Assistance with re-training has enabled people to return to the work force, increasing self-esteem and confidence.

Assistance with burial costs has allowed people to maintain a sense of dignity while burying the ones they love.

Contributing to the purchase of a fridge has prevented people from having to live out of an esky and compromising their health.

None of this would have been possible without the compassionate support from all the people who have so generously contributed to the fund over the years.

The fund still needs your help as it relies on donation alone.

The last financial year saw nearly $50,000 worth of requests not being approved due to lack of funds.

Please help us ensure that we don’t have to turn away so many people this year.

The David Williams Fund was established in 1986 by the family and friends of David Williams, to provide financial assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) experiencing financial hardship.

Unfortunately, poverty effects a substantial number of PLWHA, and demand for assistance regularly outstrips the funding available.

Each year, the DWF distributes over $100,000 to PLWHA in Victoria. The Fund is totally reliant upon the sale of red ribbons - and the generous sponsorship of M·A·C Cosmetics - to ensure adequate levels of funding are available.

To find out more about M·A·C Cosmetics, please click on the link below.

M·A·C Cosmetics

Who Is Eligible?

To be eligible for financial assistance through the DWF you must:

• Provide proof of your HIV Status;
  

• Demonstrate that you are in receipt of a Social Security Benefit or Pension
  

• Demonstrate financial hardship; and,
  

• Be a resident of Victoria.

What Kind of Assistance?

In general terms, assistance may be provided for any item that will legitimately improve and enhance the health and well-being of PLWHA.

Listed below is a very general guide to items that are eligible for DWF consideration.

• Utilities, eg, gas, water, electricity.
  

  It is a prerequisite of the fund for clients to be on 'Budget Easy Way Payment Plans' for electricity and gas. A maximum of two installment plans may be considered, once every three months.
  

• Telephone service and equipment charges.

  Please note that assistance is not given with call charges.
  

• Two weeks rent or mortgage payments may be considered, once every three months.

  Applications must be accompanied by a tenancy agreement or, if the applicant’s name is not on the agreement, a confirmatory letter from the person to whom rent is paid, and documentation, eg rates notice/tenancy agreement, indicating that the person to whom rent is paid owns/rents the property.
  

• Motor vehicle/bike repairs.
  

• Removal/storage expenses.
  

• Third party car insurance, vehicle registration and licence renewal will all be considered on one occasion only.
  

• Medical, Methadone, Dental and Optical expenses.
  

• One month’s gym membership/exercise class, with a view to a three-month membership if attendance can be demonstrated.
  

• Rates and Body Corporate fees.
  

• Food vouchers.
  

• Funeral assistance (must be prior to applicant’s death).
  

• Clothing.
  

• Childcare and/or respite costs.
  

• White goods, eg, refrigerator, washing machine.
  

• Beds and Manchester.
  

• Heater.
  

• Furniture and household goods.
  

• Travel expenses will be considered on one occasion only.
  

• Television.
  

• Education/retraining.

With the exception of the items below, two quotes from two different retailers/service providers must be presented when requesting assistance for the purchase of items/services. Accounts must accompany all applications requesting assistance with bills.

• Refrigerators;
  

• Washing Machines;
  

• Dryers;
  

• Mattresses and/or Base.

The fund does not assist with:

• Legal costs;
  

• Parking fines;
  

• Personal loans;
  

• Call charges;
  

• Credit card debts;
  

• Pawned items; and,
  

• Accounts already paid.

All applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis. No application is guaranteed that it will be approved until an assessment has been undertaken.

You can discuss your application with the DWF Co-ordinator on the contact number at the top, right hand side of this page, to determine the likelihood of your application being approved.

Payments

Applications are considered on a weekly basis. Cheques may be picked up or mailed out. Please contact the DWF Co-ordinator at the Positive Living Centre (PLC) to find out the weekly application closing and collection dates.

Please note that DWF applications are not accepted by fax.

The Victorian AIDS Council’s David Williams Fund Is proud to announce “STUDY ASSIST” A way to help you gain higher qualifications.

With improved medications, longer life spans and improved social accessibility many people living with HIV are considering various career options, including returning to study. The committee of DWF is proud to announce the pilot project ‘Study Assist’.

Going back to study after years of unemployment can be difficult, not to mention the costs associated with returning to study. The DWF ‘Study Assist’ allocation has been established to contribute towards the cost of further education, i.e. books, enrolment fees, short courses etc. The David Williams Fund is committed to working in a more holistic way to enhance health outcomes through skills development and information acquisition through further education. To be eligible you must be HIV+ and on a Health Care Card. For more information, please call the PLC on 9863 0444

Registrations and guidelines for the ‘study assist’ project can also be downloaded on the link below.

DWF application forms are available from:

• The PLC, at 51 Commercial Road, South Yarra;
  

• The VAC/GMHC, at 6 Claremont Street, South Yarra;
  

• The Social Work Department of the Alfred Hospital; and,
  

• The HIV Co-ordinator at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

DWF Application Forms

To down-load the DWF Registration Form (PDF), please click on the link below. Please note that the Registration Form is for new clients applying to the DWF. If you have previously applied to the DWF, and would like to re-apply, please click on the Subsequent Form (PDF) below.

DWF Registration form (PDF 159KB)

DWF Subsequent form (PDF 122KB)

Study Assist Guidelines (PDF 21KB)

DWF Study Assist Registration (PDF 137KB)

As part of the DWF, a Food Voucher Program also operates for clients to access.

How the DWF Food Voucher Program works:

• Clients must telephone the DWF Co-ordinator on (03) 9863 0444 (or free-call 1800 134 840 for country callers), or come in by 4pm Fridays, to fill out a DWF Food Voucher Application;
  

• Applications made by 4pm Fridays will be processed and available for pick up the following week from 10am on Wednesdays;
  

• DWF food vouchers will be available for pick-up from the DWF Co-ordinator at the PLC, 51 Commercial Road, South Yarra, between 10am and 5pm;
  

• DWF food vouchers will be held for pick-up for a period of 2 (two) weeks;
  

• Please call the DWF Co-ordinator on (03) 9863 0444 (or free-call 1800 622 795 for country callers) prior to picking up vouchers to ensure that they are availabe for collection;
  

• The DWF Co-ordinator is available at the PLC, Mondays to Thursdays, 10am to 5pm;
  

• Please note that the PLC is closed on Mondays, and that the PLC and DWF are closed on public holidays;
  

• A limit of 3 (three) consecutive monthly food vouchers will be provided to eligible clients;
  

• As the fund is not a form of income supplementation, clients who access 3 (three) consecutive food vouchers will be referred to a financial counsellor for assistance with their budget;
  

• In order to access an additional, consecutive voucher - after 3 (three) fooder vouchers have been issued - a client must provide the DWF Co-ordinator with a financial/budget plan, otherwise additional, consecutive vouchers will not be made available;
  

• There is a strict limit of 6 (six) vouchers per year to eligible clients;
  

• For consideration of special circumstances, please contact the DWF Co-ordinator directly, and an independent assessment will be made;
  

• Please note that appointments for consideration of special circumstances will be made on Tuesdays only, and that a clinical supporting letter may be required;
  

• Vouchers will not be posted out unless in extreme cases, ie a client lives in the country;
  

• Please note that if a voucher is posted out, and if it is lost in the mail, another voucher will not be re-issued; and,
  

• Please ensure that if your contact details change that you have advised the DWF Co-ordinator as soon as possible.

These conditions on the DWF Food Voucher Program have been made to ensure that the Program remains viable and fair for all clients.

DWF Food Voucher form (PDF 22KB)